Digital Communication and Collaboration Tools for Business Productivity

Deliverable

In case you missed the email (text, IM, emoji, slack, chat, ping, post, or WhatsApp) digital communication is a big deal in any business. Choosing the right tools for your business can be a big task considering the sheer number of apps coming to market every week. Productivity, collaboration, and communication are all linked. Which ones will your business choose?

Prepare an email (maximum one page) that describes and convinces your team members of a tool or an app that your company needs for business collaboration, productivity, or communication using the analysis model below.

1. Each member in your team must determine a different tool or app that your company needs for collaboration, productivity, or communication. This could be social networking site, document sharing, website, blog, instant messaging tool, email, text messaging, online video, or podcasts. Quickly determine in your group the tools your company should focus on and have each team member analyze one.

2. Using WORD and a traditional email layout, each team member will evaluate the digital communication tool assigned and prepare an email using the following model:

Shared Problem: Describe the situation you share (or problem) that your app or tool will solve. Describe the situation objectively as it’s a waste of time to assign blame or mention people.

Details: Describe the situation in regards to cost in money, time, lost goodwill, inconvenience, and so on. Persuade the team that something must be done before you can convince that your solution is the best one.

Solution: Describe who the primary audience is and/or users that will use this tool (customers, internal). Explain your solution and offer advantages of using this tool (such as productivity or competitive advantage). If you know the reader will favour another solution, start with that solution and show why it won’t work before you present your solution. Present your solution focusing on practicality, workability, and desirability without using the words “I” or “my.” Appeal to the reader’s interests.

Concerns: Prove that any negative elements (cost, time, concerns, training, policies, and disruptions) are outweighed by the advantages. Address any factors that you have no control over, such as potential competitors, future developments in technology, consumer behavior, economy, market trends, or security or privacy risks that could threaten this tool.

Summarize the main benefit (the problem you solved) and ask the team for the action you want (purchase the app, meet to review, or present to the Board of Directors). Be specific about what you want to see happen include dates and time.

3. Review your draft using the QRG 5 – General Checklist for Business Communication.
4. When completed, use Grammarly to check your assignment.
5. Submit the assignment in the appropriate Dropbox in D2L.

1. Use Microsoft Word to create the email. Your assignment should be typed in 10 to 12 point font (Arial or Calibri) and should be under 500 words (1 page or less).

2. Organize and structure your email in paragraph format using the analysis model above to guide your writing.

3. Your assignment will be evaluated in accordance with the Rubric attached.