ASSIGNMENT OVERVIEW
A manager or leader must be able to communicate in various modalities to numerous
stakeholders for multiple purposes. The increasingly competitive and dynamic business
environment is resulting in an increase of mergers and acquisitions. These types of change
management events that occur in the development of any organization have an impact to
both internal and external stakeholders.
ASSIGNMENT INSTRUCTIONS
You are a consultant that has just been hired by the executive leadership team at AT&T
to advise them of the communication challenges that they can anticipate in the wake of
their upcoming acquisition of Time Warner Inc. (the film, TV entertainment, and media
company). As a trusted consultant and advisor, you must leverage your organizational
leadership knowledge, along with your expertise in business communications to make sound
recommendations for the new board as they embark on this $85.4 billion endeavor to create
a media giant.
ASSIGNMENT REQUIREMENTS
• APA formatting is required, including title page and reference page.
• Minimum citations: 2 citations, textbook source = 1 out of total
• Word count:
• Part 1: 500-750
• Part 2: 500 (one-page single-spaced letters and business letter formatting)
PART 1: ANALYSIS OF IMPACTS
In a two-three page (500-700 words) APA essay identify the key communication challenges
that AT&T will face as they integrate Time Warner Inc. Further, what should the organization
do to proactively anticipate and address resistance and challenges? This includes:
• Identify the key internal and external stakeholders, and anticipate and analyze the
concerns of each.
• Provide recommendations for proactively developing a communication plan that
addresses those issues.
• Discuss how leadership can manage and control the implementation of the
communication (messages regarding change), as well as mitigate the spread of rumors,
gossip and detracting communication.
• Identify strategies that can help ensure that communication messages are in alignment
with organizational values and missions.
PART 2: COMMUNICATION ANNOUNCEMENT
Craft two one-page letters announcing the merger. (A) One letter will be for external
stakeholders and (B) the second letter will be for internal stakeholders. Letters must be
formatted in proper business letter format including an opening greeting, a closing, and a
signature block.
• A) Develop an external communication announcement: Craft a one-page (singlespaced) public announcement letter that will communicate to external stakeholders
(such as customers, the public at large, vendors, etc.) the announcement of the merger.
• Consider how to concisely communicate the necessary facts of the merger,
along with how it will impact them, emphasizing the benefits and mitigating
potential concerns.
• B) Develop an internal communication announcement: Craft a one-page (singlespaced) letter announcing the news of the acquisition and merger to internal
stakeholders (employees at all levels).
• Consider how to concisely communicate the necessary facts of the merger
along with how it will impact them, emphasizing the benefits and mitigating
potential concerns.