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MG655 Managerial Communication

Lesson #4 Assignment #3

Study the case, “McGregor’s Ltd. Department Store” on pages 81-85 of the text Management Communication: Principles and Practice (3rd Edition).

1. Once McGregor has chosen his arguments, what structure will work best in this situation? One-sided or two-sided? Tell or sell? Given, since, therefore? Recommendations, rationale, implementation? Storytelling?
2. In arriving at his decision to modify the discount program, McGregor considered many arguments in its favor. Identify his arguments with a suitable key word. Which seem most cogent and persuasive to you?
3. What attitudes are the executives and buyers likely to have toward the new discount program? Which of McGregor’s arguments are likely to seem most persuasive to them? Can you devise new arguments that might be more acceptable to them?
4. In designing his communication to his senior managers, should McGregor concentrate on one or two issues, or should he discuss all the issues that had a bearing on his decision?
5. Do you find merit in Allen Lee’s suggestion that there might be more meaningful ways to cut costs and overhead than McGregor’s new discount program? What might they be? What arguments support your view?
6. Suppose you disagree with McGregor about instituting the new program as it is described in the case. What changes would you make? Or would you leave the current plan in place? What arguments and what structure would you choose to persuade McGregor to modify or abandon his new program?