COMMUNICATION

PLAN
K R I S TA

J A C K S O N

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F E B R U A R Y
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N O R T Z

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INTRODUCTION TO MCGRAW
ELEMENTARY
McGraw Elementary is implementing
organizational changes to the way it
instructs learners.
They are implementing iPads and the
Promethean Board into classrooms to
assist in learning
To help the school and teachers,
McGraw Elementary needs a
communication plan.
Communication is essential to the
success of the organizational change.

FOUR REASONS FOR A

COMMUNICATION PLAN
1. To infuse the need for change
throughout the organization.
2. To enable individuals to understand
the impact that the change will have
on them.
3. To communicate any structural and job
changes that will influence how things
are done.
4. To keep people informed about
progress along the way.
. (Tupper, Deszca, & Cynthia, 2012, p.
319)

COMMUNICATION PLAN PHASES

1.

Preapproval Phase

2.

Develop the Need for Change Phase

3.

Midstream Change Phase

4.

Confirming the Change Phase

. (Tupper, 2012, p. 320)

HOW TO LAUNCH THE

COMMUNICATION PLAN : 1
1. Preapproval Phase: McGraw
Elementary had to get top
management approval to start a
different way of teaching.
2. Develop the Need for Change
Process: McGraw Elementary
teachers need to know why the
changes are occurring, and
communication through the whole
process is the key to success in
their organizational change.

HOW TO LAUNCH THE

COMMUNICATION PLAN : 2
3. Midstream Change Phase: McGraw
Elementary will email and have meetings
about progress during the organizational
change.

3.

Feedback is encouraged and needed

during this phase from teachers
because the organizational changes
cannot be a success without feedback.

Feedback is encouraged and needed during this

phase from teachers because the organizational
changes cannot be a success without feedback.

4. Confirming the Change Phase: McGraw

Elementary will have a celebration when the
organizational changes are done.
There will be more changes to come, so
everything is cohesive, and small issues are
fixed.
The employees should be proud and
acknowledged for their excellent work.

Midstream Change Phase: McGraw Elementary will email and

have meetings about progress during the organizational
changes.

4.

Confirming the Change Phase: McGraw Elementary will have

a celebration when the organizational changes are done.

There will be more changes to come,

so everything is cohesive, and small
issues are fixed.
The employees should be proud and
acknowledged for their excellent work.

TECHNOLOGY NEEDED TO
ACCOMPLISH THE PLAN : 1
Employees need the iPads for the
communication, class, training, and
the communication plan.
An app for training purposes for the
organizational change is required on
the iPad.
The app will have a section for
communication and feedback for the
communication plan.
Promethean Board is needed for
training and communication.

TECHNOLOGY NEEDED TO
ACCOMPLISH THE PLAN : 2
School emails are necessary to have an
email specifically for McGraw Elementary.
The emails are private, and they provide
a safe place for employees.

Webcams are useful for video meetings

or conferences.
Telephones or cell phones are needed to
communicate with employees when they
are not able to meet in person.
Phones can be in their office at school, or
a plan for work cell phones can be
established.

HOW TO TEST THE EFFECTIVENESS

AND IMPACT : 1

An after-action review can be conducted, which includes

the questions:

What were the intended results?

What were the actual results?
Why did the actual results
happen?
What can be done better, next
time?
(Tupper, Deszca, & Cynthia, 2012,
p. 328)

Assessments will take place after the organizational

changes to answer these questions.

HOW TO TEST THE EFFECTIVENESS

AND IMPACT : 2
Each employee will have a
chance to voice opinions during a
meeting after the organizational
changes.
Classrooms will be evaluated with
the organizational changes to see
the effectiveness.
Students will be able to express
opinions, innovative ideas, and
show proof of the effectiveness of
the organizational changes.

HOW TO GENERATE FEEDBACK FOR

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT : 1

Anonymous surveys of feedback and opinions should be

given out to teachers.

The organizational change should be assessed to make

sure it is effective, and that it is being used in the right
manner consistently.

Setting new goals to continue improvement in the

organization change will help teachers adjust to
continuous smaller changes.

HOW TO GENERATE FEEDBACK FOR

CONTINUOUS IMPROVEMENT : 2

Open door policy will be implemented because teachers

need a safe place to ask questions.

Monthly meetings will be held for the teachers and

stakeholders to address any feedback.

One-on-one meetings will be requested by the school or

instructor for questions or feedback to improve the
organizational changes.

HOW TO ADDRESS NEGATIVE RESPONSES OR

COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT THE CHANGE : 1
Communication is essential during the
change process to combat negative
responses.
Face-to-face communication is always
good to help with two-way
communication.
Keep all of the teachers inspired and
involved because participation helps with
negative responses.
A focus on collaboration can bring the
teachers together to reduce negative
responses.

HOW TO ADDRESS NEGATIVE RESPONSES OR

COMMUNICATIONS ABOUT THE CHANGE : 2
Change agents should engage with
employees experiencing conflicting
emotions to build trust.
Change agents should be timely with
their information to reduce rumors and
negative reactions.
Change agents should offer support to
teachers having difficulties to combat
negative responses.
Change agents should address any
communication errors that could be
occurring with teachers.

HOW THE COMMUNICATION PLAN CAN

AFFECT ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGE : 1
The communication plan will
reduce stress, anxiety, resistance,
and rumors.
The communication plan will
invigorate, inspire and motivate
teachers during the
organizational changes.
Teachers will feel safe and
supported during the changes.

HOW THE COMMUNICATION PLAN CAN

AFFECT ORGANIZATION CHANGE : 2

The communication plan for McGraw Elementary will

affect the organizational change in a positive way for
everyone.

The communication plan will help foresee any issues that

may occur in the future to prepare for them.

It will lead the way to the smaller changes that will occur
after the organizational change.

CONCLUSION
McGraw Elementary will use the four communication plan phases.
McGraw Elementary will implement the technology used in classrooms for
the communication plan.
An after-action review will be conducted after the communication plan is
complete.
McGraw Elementary will use continuous changes and continuous feedback.
McGraw Elementary will address negative responses quickly and
professionally.
They will celebrate the success of the organizational changes, and the
communication plan after everything is finished.

REFERENCES
Tupper, C., Deszca, G., & Cynthia, I. (2012). Organizational change: An
action-oriented toolkit (2nd

ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.