Question

A common piece of advice about writing a "bad news message" is to use the indirect approach: use buffers before the reader gets the negative news. The article, "Buffers in bad news messages and recipient perceptions," claims that there is no empirical proof to support using the indirect approach with bad news.

Read the article, especially the section titled "Significant findings and their implications," then

write a bad news message using the strategy that Limaye suggests;

reflect on how this approach is similar or different to other "bad news messages" that you have read or received.

Which type of "bad news message" do you prefer? Why?

Limaye, M. (1988). Communication forum. Management Communication Quarterly 2(1), 90. Retrieved from https://csuglobal.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://search-proquest-com.csuglobal.idm.oclc.org/docview/232847943?accountid=38569

Answer 1

Buffers in bad news messages and recipient perceptions

Write a bad news message using the strategy that Limaye suggests:

The bad news message that follows is a response to an assistantship application (For summer) and how it is dealt with goodwill.

To: Jane Doe
From:
Subject:
Date: MM/DD/YYYY

Thank you for your interest in the graduate study at Colorado State University. We are happy to inform you that you have been admitted to our Cognitive Psychology Program beginning with the fall semester of 2019.

The Psychology Department will provide full financial support that includes 18 hours a week as a teaching assistant, a stipend of $4095 per month, as well as a non-resident tuition waiver. As long as satisfactory academic progress is made, this assistantship will continue throughout your graduate career at CSU. The enclosed brochure provides a detailed description of the Cognitive Psychology Program, including the program of study, degree requirements, mentorship program, faculty research interests, and laboratory facilities.

We regret not being able to accommodate you this summer but look forward to you joining us the coming Fall. Based on your profile and interests, you will gain much at CSU. Please let me know in writing of your decision to accept or reject this offer, prior to April 15. If you have any questions, feel free to contact me at 777.777.7777.

Reflect on how this approach is similar or different to other "bad news messages" that you have read or received.

This is different from other bad news messages I've received because it is more detailed and there is an emphasis on the actual message. There are a goodwill ending and enough information to contact the person sending the memo.

Some of the messages focus on how and why things could go wrong and not on how or why things could go right. It is important to provide alternate solutions or other avenues that the reader could pursue. It is important to have goodwill.

Which type of "bad news message" do you prefer? Why?

I prefer the bad messages that begin with positive buffer statements. This is the 'indirect plan'. It is preferred by me because the letter already contains bad news, the letter does not have to be badly written. It is important to maintain goodwill because we never know when our paths might cross again.