Reference no: EM133501867

You are a member of the executive team for a global nonprofit aimed at improving health and reducing child mortality rates in the developing world. Funding for the organization comes primarily from private donors (mainly in the U.S. and Canada) and through foundation grants. You have just learned that a shipment of straw-type personal water filters provided (but not manufactured by) your organization has been found to be defective. These filters are widely distributed by your organization in areas with contaminated water supplies and have proven highly effective at reducing instances of water-borne infections caused by bacteria and parasites. However, reports are coming in of increased illness rates from contaminated water in the areas where this shipment was distributed.

You have been asked, as a member of a quickly convened crisis response team, to outline a crisis communication response plan for the organization with an accompanying rationale (with appropriate academic and professional sources to support your report) that will be reviewed by the CEO, Mary Stevenson. 

The communications report should be 7  to 9 pages in total (4 to 5 pages for Part 1 & 3 to 4 pages for Part 2), not including the title page, references page, and appendix.

Part 1: Crisis Communication Guidelines

1. Identify key guidelines and/or principles to use in responding appropriately to a crisis, including social media considerations. (Crisis Communication Guidelines and Principles).
2. Illustrate steps for Ms. Stevenson to follow in formulating an effective and appropriate crisis message. (Effective and Appropriate Crisis Messaging).
3. Choose methods for communicating with both virtual and geographically dispersed teams and stakeholders. (Communicating Virtually).

Part 2: Stakeholder Considerations

• Apply best practices for addressing stakeholder communications in this crisis situation.
  • Use the Stakeholder Worksheet Template as the basis for this section. For each category of stakeholders, explain how you have applied communication best practices, being sure to include appropriate academic and professional references for each best practice you identify. (approximately one paragraph for each category)