Business Report
Business Report � Students will review and select a topic from the business-related topics provided by the faculty. They will write an effective formal report inclusive of the following parts: title page, table of contents, executive summary, body with at least one page with graphic/s, and appropriate referencing (APA or MLA style). The total of the body is three to five pages not including the title page, table of contents, executive summary, and reference page. (15%)
You should pick a current (less than six month) business issue to research and write about for your paper. You may choose a topic that is related to your group presentation but it should not be exactly what your group presentation is focused on. For example, let�s say your group presentation is focused on the technology problems related to signing up for coverage under the Affordable Healthcare Act. Your paper could be on another, related topic such as the government accounting/tracking of the new law or the financial need to have younger people sign up for coverage.
Your paper should also relate to the main topic in this class, business communication. So, if your paper is on the Affordable Healthcare Act, you should include some discussion on a business communication related topic, such as an analysis of the communication with the public on issues/problems. Please approach this in a dispassionate, businesslike way � be balanced and leave your politics (and emotions) out of your paper, as much as possible (I realize everyone has strong opinions, but in business communication, we try to be balanced, objective, and analytical before finalizing any position).
Please remember that the paper will be graded based on: 10 points for directions, 20 points for writing mechanics, and 70 points for content.
Tale of contents
Executive Summary ……………………………………………………………………………….3
Introduction………………………………………………………………………………………..4
Overview of the Issue……………………………………………………………………………..4
Managing the Problem…………………………………………………………………………….5
Communication Plan………………………………………………………………………………6
Alternative Strategy……………………………………………………………………………….6
Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………………..…7
References …………………………………………………………………………………………8
Executive Summary
The report focuses on the business aspects pertaining to the failures and technologies used to implement Obama care. User of technology expects provision of better healthcare. However, failures affect accessibility of services and disappoint many. People may as well lack trust and confidence in such technologies. The glitches occurred after many people had paid their premiums and many had to pay cash to access healthcare. The consequences of the failures affected many users as well as the economy.
Communication during such incidences is a strategy that organizations must employ to manage their reputation. Adopting poor strategies leads to failures and poor public image as in this case.
Different communication channels suits different stakeholders and organizations should select the most appropriate ones to convey their messages. Some of these channels include print media, television briefings, posters and other.
Increasing the confidence level of the citizens and perception about the credibility and capability of the technology is critical to get their support. The government through various avenues must assure citizens on appropriate measures taken to solve the problem to ensure it do not happen again.
Business Report
Introduction
Business is one of the most important pillars of the economy as products and services of all kinds are accessible through business transactions. Health care is one of the most important sectors affecting the lives of people. Hence, without good health care, the economy cannot thrive.The report deliberates on the recent glitches of Obama care Technology.
Overview of the Issue
Affordable Care Act is a major Obama administration initiative for citizens to access quality health care at an affordable cost. The initiative hopes to promote quality healthcare to all people in USA. The recent technology glitches have affected many people as thousands that had met the signing-in deadlines by purchasing the health insurance through this scheme had no cover because of the challenges experienced in enrolment system (The Wall Street Journal, 2014). This situation hurt many who could not understand the reason their detailed lacked in the system as insured. Others had to postpone their medication and others had to pay these bills by themselves hence compromising on their healthcare.
This incidence portrays the government and the stakeholders in bad limelight as people and other stakeholders would not have expected such incidence to happen (The Wall Street Journal, 2014). However, because of this, it becomes very important to understand the appropriate strategies to adopt to ensure that the situation does not go overboard.
Business communication is a vital strategy to reach to different stakeholders including, the customers/patients, the government, insurance providers and the medical practitioners among many others.
Technology failure had financial ramification to the economy. The fact that people could not access their healthcare services after signing in meant that they had to part away with money to access to health care services. It therefore affected their level of income, as they had to adjust on their consumption behaviors to cater for the medical costs. Furthermore, people that could not manage to cater for the private health care had to delay to get access to medical care and in the process; some succumbed to death because of poor medical attention (The Wall Street Journal, 2014).
Communication during the crisis
Conveyed to the stakeholders
Managing the Problem
Technology failure is a problem many institutions and organizations encounter. However, it is important that they develop appropriate disaster recovery plan to ensure that quick measures are in place to counter the same. The cost of a technological failure in terms of profitability is huge hence, the reason why such plans should be in place.
In this case, the problem persisted without tangible solutions as no amicable strategies were in place. Poor communication strategies contributed to the uproar and these disappointments. Had effective communication plan in place, customers would have prepared early and this problem could have managed well. Businesses must understand the important of effective communication as one of the pillars of success of the endeavors.
Communication in business is adapting to appropriate channels to promote understanding to achieve the objectives and goals set.
Management strategy
Communication Plan
The moment the government realized the problem it needed to communicate this to the members of the public. The government communication department should have called a press briefing to inform members of the public that had signed-in of the failures in the technology. Such briefings enable members of the public to be aware of the situation hence consider alternatives. The challenges and the dissolutions experienced by citizens that had signed-in and not yet insured could not surface.
In business communication, it is important to communicate through appropriate tools and to target specific audience (Meredith, 2012). The communication therefore, should be clear on the cases of the failures and the way forward. Information on the commencement of operations and the alternative course of action is as well essential. The strategy is appropriate in bringing the temperatures of the citizens already disappointed low. It also ensures that the public image and confident about the program is not indented.
Alternative Strategy
It is important for the leaders to come out clearly and talk about the problem. The individual in charge of technology should provide a clarification about technological hitches experienced.The individual has requisite skills and knowledge on systems operations hence, will increase the level of confidence and credibility among the citizens. Information from first hand sources have greater impact due to credibility believes. Suchaggressive strategy will change the perception of the technology user (Ainsworth, 2013).
Users must gain confident that the system is effective and will not again let them down. Restoring this confidence requires use of persuasive messages using alternatives sources or channels of communication. For example, email, social media, print media and other mainstream media such as magazine, posters and radio and opinion leaders to reach a wider audience.
Conclusion
Business encounters various challenges that affect their income streams. Solving this challenge require problem analysis before adapting an appropriate strategy. Communication is a key ingredient in business and therefore, managers must communicate effectively in case of such glitches in their systems. Communication is essential in building the level of confidence of technology users. Using appropriate communication channels such as press briefing would be a good way to reach many affected users.
References
Ainsworth, J. (2013). Business Languages for Intercultural and International Business Communication: A Canadian Case Study. Business Communication Quarterly, 76(1): 28- 50. Meredith, M. (2012). Strategic Communication and Social Media: An MBA Course From a Business Communication Perspective. Business Communication Quarterly, 75(1): 89-95. The Wall Street Journal. (2014). Obamacare’s Technology “Glitches” Leave Customers Without Coverage
