Communication Planning: A Template for Organizational Change

Abstract

A communication plan is an important part of every company’s management toolkit. With a plan in place, a company’s management will be well positioned to announce changes or events relating to the business, including acquisitions and property closures, personnel changes and layoffs, and corporate reorganizations. In this report, I describe the major components of a typical communication plan: audience analysis, communication objectives, communication channels, responsibilities, and timing. I give examples of how Marriott and Starwood handled their recent merger, as well as communication strategies from other firms. I also provide a sample communication plan for announcing a hypothetical restaurant closure.