Leaders and managers often have to deliver unpleasant or difficult information to other employees or other internal or external stakeholders. How well this news is delivered can affect employee relations as well as public perceptions.

Review the following scenario:

A new company claims it manufactures the best dog food in the market. It employs around 250 people worldwide. After six months in business, one of the company’s brands is found to contain harmful bacteria. Overnight, reports start pouring in from all over the country about pets falling sick, some critically. The company wants to communicate with its stakeholders through a memo before major news channels start to cover the disease.

Assume that you are an assistant to the company’s chairperson. Based on your analysis of the scenario and using the tips you learned in this module, draft two memos for the chairperson. One memo should address the board of directors and the other the company’s employees.

Make assumptions about whether it is the food product that has bacteria or if there is another explanation for the pets’ sickness.