Strategic Communications Plan: Pitching for preferment to run a war-torn abandoned establishment MAIN GOAL: This challenge is professionally significant because it has a primary purpose that can be achieved only through the use of strategies required for effective business communication. AUDIENCE Justified by our findings of the present condition of the enterprise, our challenge will be to effectively communicate to the government of Liberia, UNMIL(the United Nations Mission in Liberia, potential investors, the apparent benefits that will accrue due to the resumption of duties on the plantation. PROFESSIONAL SIGNIFICANCE There are several audiences that the message(s) will have to appeal to, for the purpose to be accomplished. Among them are those listed below: • The government of the republic of Liberia • The United Nations Peace Keeping Mission in Liberia (UNMIL) • The Liberian Company (LIBCO • The management of Firestone, the American company experimenting business abroad • The local chiefs, elders and youth from the surrounding communities • Former employees who flee the plantation due to the war • Soldiers of warring factions presently occupying the plantation JUSTIFICATION FOR APPROPRIATE CHANNELS Research has revealed that the listing of groups of audiences supra is an indication of the heterogenous nature of the groups and the need to have the message(s) tailored in a way that the expected feedback from each group will be guaranteed. To determine the appropriate channels for communicating with each group, we have to brainstorm on the action required from the audience base on their stakes on the enterprise as itemized below: • The Government of Liberia, signed the contract with the owners, representing the local inhabitants base on the legal term “ eminent domain”; and also, to whom the ownership reverts now that the legitimate company has abandoned the plantation. • The United Mission in Liberia (UNMIL), to whom the security of the country was entrusted by the international community to oversee the peace process in the war-torn country. • The Liberian Company (LIBCO) the superlative share holder who in partnership with the government, owned and operated but was abandoned the plantation due to the war. • Firestone an American tire company experimenting business abroad particularly in Liberia with about one million acres of rubber planted. They are willing to sponsor potential small farmers with the requisite funding and materials to help meet the demand of their processing facilities on condition that written proposals submitted are analyzed to meet their requirements. • The Chiefs, Elders, Traditional leaders and vigilante groups most of whom actively participated in the prolonged war; who now perceive the advent of the war as an opportunity to reclaim their land formally used for hunting and subsistent farming. Based on our research, analysis and our expected feedback from the communication with the groups indicated above in the mist of very high competition prevalent in post war situations as presently is, the three channels below are earmarked for delivery to the various audiences not in a lock step order but rather on a case by case basis. CHANNELS Written Communication: This channel of communication will include emails, letters, articles of incorporation, proposals, collective bargaining agreements, sales and investment contracts etc. (The Liberian Company) LIBCO, the legal owners who abandoned the plantation due to the war. The Government of Liberia represented by the respective agencies responsible for business registration and licenses. Firestone the American company fully grounded in Liberia to satisfy our cash and materials budget and technical assistance for us to be able to successfully implement the project. Importantly, the message(s) to these audiences will have to be concise, clear, convincing and competitive; outlining salient reasons for our preferment for the project. It will require the compilation and documentation of management contracts, sales contracts, partnership agreements and the like, that will require a huge need for effective communication. Radio : UNMIL opened community radio stations in the fifteen counties in addition to the national radio station, to help with the information necessary for the implementation of the repatriation, disarmament, demobilization, rehabilitation and reintegration of former combatants. We intend to take advantage of said media by having them air our press releases, jingles and other news items required. Additionally, purposeful communication is required to be able to (1) coordinate with their transportation facilities used in repatriation to have former employees back on the plantation and (2) to improve the security by including former combatants occupying the plantation in their general disarmament and demobilization process by taking them to centers prepared to accommodate them. Verbal: The verbal channel will for the most part supplement the other channels, to be used at follow up meetings with Government representatives’ original owners, potential investors, and community leaders to push our agenda. To achieve our objective, we will need to horn all the channels outlined with the various audiences for us to succeed in legally taking over, have the plantation secured and start operations. The message is compelling, with the expectation that the Government will demonstrate their consent to include the operations on the plantation to form part of the demobilization and reintegration of former combatants. Message will also compel UNMIL to help ooze combatants from the plantation and housing units for employees and management to occupy. STYLES: We will tell the owners about what we know the situation to be like now that the war is over, and also sell to them why we feel confident of our preferment to operate the plantation sand are soliciting its placement in our care. We will have to consult the local leadership and employ our emotional intelligence techniques to be able to change the mindset of the activists that may be opposed to a smooth turnover of the plantation to our care. The join style will be appropriate to put the people to work and for them to be productive, this means collective working documents will have to be put together to clearly state responsibilities of workers, the management with the signatures of both parties thereto affixed, witnessed by Government and those responsible for the security. ACTION: We desire a threefold action as follows: • The consent of the owners and the Government to turn over the plantation to us for operations • The United Nations Peace Keeping Mission for Liberia (UNMIL) to help with the security situation and the oozing of former fighters and their commanders from the plantation for normal operations to resume • For the representatives of the surrounding communities and county officials to fully corporate with the process. • Lastly, for the employee representatives to affix their signatures to the collective bargaining agreement in which the responsibilities of workers and management will be spelled out to avoid future industrial relations problems.
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