Topic:-Bovee and Thill Resources.
Topic:-Bovee and Thill Resources.
© DScane 2005-2016
Routine Message Assignment from Bovee and Thill Resources
Situation:
You work as an assistant office manager for Diamond Clear, a family-run window installation
company. A scheduling issue has arisen in the office.
Facts:
Include as many facts below as necessary to create an effective message.
You can make-up any additional relevant or reasonable background or contextual
information as needed in the opening, evidence to support your main idea in the body or
action/deadline information in the close.
Diamond Clear is a family business, run by siblings Scott and Lucia Diamond. The company was
started over 30 years ago by Scott and Lucia's father, who built his business slowly by honoring
the customer and being true to his word.
• Scott is in charge of the company's operational matters. Scott typically spends his days
visiting the various installation sites, keeping track of deliveries, and making sure that
jobs run smoothly and finish on time.
• Lucia runs the financial end of the company. She typically spends her days in the office
taking care of such things as financing, bookkeeping, ordering, and scheduling.
• The siblings take turns making estimates for prospective clients. Lucia takes care of most
of the large business clients. Scott usually deals with individual homeowner accounts.
• This week, Diamond Clear has two jobs scheduled. The first job is scheduled to start
tomorrow, Tuesday, for a family on Herbert Street. It is likely to take 1 to 2 days to
complete. The customer is having a wedding on the weekend, and so the job absolutely
needs to be done before then.
• The second job is a corporate account that is scheduled to start today (Monday) and is
likely to take 2 to 3 weeks.
• Lucia has just learned this morning that the window shipment she was expecting for the
corporate job has been delayed. Lucia tried to tell Scott about the delay, but could not get
through to him. Lucia then went off to a downtown business meeting and will probably be
out of communication until late this afternoon.
• The delay means that Diamond Clear currently has only enough materials to begin one of
the two jobs that are scheduled for the week.
• Diamond Clear's window supplier is quite reliable, and Lucia is fairly confident that the
new window shipment will arrive tomorrow. However, there have been a few occasions in
the past when shipments were delayed by more than one day.
• Before she left for her meeting, Lucia told you that she thinks the Herbert Street job
should be the priority in this situation. Lucia thinks Scott should change the order of the
two jobs and start the Herbert Street job first rather than the corporate job.
Task:
Write an email message to Scott that informs him of the shipment delay. The message should
explain that Lucia thinks that Scott should hold off on the corporate job and start the Herbert
Street job instead. The message should also tell Scott to confirm that he understands the
situation and get back to you right away if he has any concerns about Lucia's plan.
© DScane 2005-2016
Minimum Assignment Requirements
• Create an outline for your message with 3 sections in outline – open/body/close, 3 subpoints
per main point in outline (see sample outline below), include techniques used for
each sub-point in outline (see table below with techniques to choose from)
• Include a subject for your email heading.
• Create your message with 3 paragraphs in message and 5 sentences in each paragraph OR
15 sentences minimum total
• Try to respond to/include “who/what/where/when/why/how/how much/how often” in your
message, where applicable
• Use design elements -> headings, bold, italics, tables, graphs, pictures, etc.
• IN YOUR MESSAGE - >Indicate which sentence is your main idea sentence (Note “main
idea” in parentheses next to the sentence that reflects your main idea in your message.)
Indicate which sentence you applied “you attitude” using same format as main idea.
• Use the direct approach for this message, where you include your main idea or your
request in this case in the opening section.
• Single Space Only
Submission Requirements
Submit an outline and email message through “Write Submission” in Blackboard and/OR submit a
PDF file through the assignment link. If you use “Write Submission” you should be able to copy
your work from another program (including Google Docs) and paste in to the Write Submission
box. Alternatively, you can use Google Docs to create your message and download a pdf file to
submit through the correct assignment link.
Writing Techniques for Routine Messages
Please keep in mind the content technique options listed below when writing your businesses
messages for class assignments. You can typically select from the following types of information
in each section indicated for writing routine business messages. There is no specific order in
which you need to use the techniques noted. Bolded content relate more specifically to
techniques for writing a routine business message. Choose from the most appropriate
techniques in table for your message and assignment requirements.
Don’t forget to COMPLETE your message and do your best to include relevant details that
include who/what/when/where/why/how/how much/how often, where applicable.
Please note, techniques are not listed in any particular order of importance.
OPEN SECTION TECHNIQUES
Writing Technique Example
Positive Statement Thank you for being a valued AAA customer
for 10 years.
General Purpose – To inform, To persuade
This letter is being sent to inform you of a new
benefits procedure
Who are you? What are you writing about?
When did you receive the item?
(Who) I’m a customer service representative
from American Express.
(What) I’m writing in regards to your American
Express Costco Card.
(When) You were contacted by one of our
representatives on February 13th, 2013 and I
am following up on that discussion.
© DScane 2005-2016
Main Idea (If Direct Approach) (Specific
Purpose/Action/News/Request)
New provider selections must be made online
by Feb 1, 2010.
History/Background/Context related to topic of
message. What information can you provide to
help bring your audience up-to-speed on your
message? Or what does your audience need to
know to adequately understand your message.
For the past 20 years your benefit selections
were made on a form sent through snail mail.
Our company has been making automobile
parts for 50 years.
Review Topics to be Covered in Your Message.
Organize your content and guide your reader so
they know what your message will review.
This memo includes steps you need to take to
correctly make your new benefits selection
and contact information for any questions.
State Problem – Describe the problem and
consider general responses to
who/what/when/where/why/how much/how often
in helping to develop your problem statement.
Provide the majority of the details/facts/evidence
about your problem in the body.
I received a broken IPOD in the mail that I
ordered from your website.
State Good News – If you have good news it’s
useful to include it in the opening section. (May
be main idea)
Congratulations, you have been approved for
a low rate student AMEX card.
State Request – What specific action do you
want your audience to take? Be specific and
clear and don’t assume it’s implied elsewhere.
(May be main idea)
Please replace my IPOD or refund all
expenses.
BODY SECTION TECHNIQUES
Support Main Idea
Writing Technique Example
Relevant Details/Problem Description Details
Define your problem and provide all of the
necessary details surrounding problem, if
applicable. Provide specific details to clarify
your main idea
I ordered the IPOD online at Apple website on
January 1, 2010. The IPOD was sent via UPS,
tracking# is, order# is, etc. (Note: Depending in
your message and your organization of
content, you might also include information
about when and where you placed your order
in opening section.)
Evidence/Facts
Include proof to substantiate your main idea.
Please find photos of broken shipping carton
and photos of broken IPOD attached to this
message.
Justify Main Idea (In this case the main idea,
which is a request, is being justified or
explained.) Provide any reasons and/or
explanations surrounding your main idea.
Due to the former manual form and snail mail
procedure for benefits changes, process time
was extensive. Instead of requesting new
benefits information one year in advance, we
will now request changes one month in
advance.
Questions to Ask
Group any questions you might have for your
audience.
Please provide me with answers to the
following questions in order to expedite your
order.
Topic Relevant Related Data
Invoice payments and dates for receipt of
payment.
Anticipate and respond to questions.
Put yourself in your audience’s shoes and
consider what questions they might have or
what information they might need and include
it. This approach might help prevent additional
You will not need to be home to receive your
new IPOD, you will receive your replacement
IPOD via FEDEX ground on 2/15/2010.
© DScane 2005-2016
communications.
Main Idea (If Indirect Approach) (Specific
Purpose)
What are you specifically providing or asking of
your audience?
Please refund my credit card for the interest
charged due to the reasons mentioned above.
CLOSE SECTION TECHNIQUES
Writing Technique Example
Specific Information for Action Steps
What details do you need to provide your
audience surrounding your main idea?
Complete enclosed form and return with
envelope by 3/30/08
Specific Next Steps for Audience to Take
Identify the specific steps your audience can
take to respond to your main idea.
Go to our website www.business.com to see
answers to FAQ’s and for more details about
our program.
Make Action Easy
Provide several distribution/media options for
your audience to respond to your request.
Call, email, or order our product online
Focus on the Positive
If appropriate, end your message on a positive
note to facilitate goodwill and a positive
association with your business.
We hope we can meet your future pet
grooming needs.
Contact Information
Provide contact information if you want to
facilitate additional communications and/or if
you want to make it easy for the reader to
reach you.
Please contact me at xxx-xxx-xxxx or by email
at [email protected] to begin your new life
today!).
Deadline Information
If applicable, clearly indicate when you need to
hear back from your audience.
In order to receive your dress in time for your
trip, you need to send us your dress size by
Friday, May 15th, 5PM, PT.
Cordial Close
Consider including a statement that will be
pleasing to your audience.
We appreciate your business, thank you for
being a loyal AAA customer since 2000.
Create one SEPARATE OUTLINE with a SEPARATE MESSAGE and don’t forget to add the
heading and signature at the start and end of your message, you don’t need to include
these components with your outline. I only added examples as a sample and reminder to
include with your message.
Outline Sample
Create your own outline that includes content you will use for your message AND related
techniques for your assignment.
Subject: Create a clear and descriptive subject for email message
Salutation – “Hello Scott,”
A. Open
1. Potential material delay could impact scheduled jobs. (General Problem Statement)
2. Lucia asked me to contact you/she attempted to contact before meeting. (Context,
Background)
3. Postpone corporate job and start Herbert job. (Main Idea)
B. Body – Can be in 2 paragraphs and/or add design elements such as
© DScane 2005-2016
tables/bullets
1. Current schedule Corporate job Monday, Herbert Tuesday (Relevant Details)
2. Herbert job 1-2 days to complete, priority for weekend wedding (Facts)
3. Delay in receiving materials for job - explain (problem description details)
4. Example of problems with material delay in the past (Evidence/Facts or Justify Main
Idea)
C. Close
1. Lucia requested confirmation to schedule Herbert job before Corporate job. (Next
Steps)
2. Please verify job reschedule plans with verification of job start day. (Next Steps)
3. Email, phone or text asap. (Contact Information/Make Action easy – Make-up Contact
Info)
4. Lucia will contact customers regarding reschedule as soon as I receive your reply.
(Action/Next Steps)
Signature Close
Kind Regards,
Danielle Scane
Assistant Office Managaer
Diamond Clear Window Installation
Quality and On Time Installation