Communication planning

Communication planning, while often overlooked, is an important business function that can become urgent; for example:

• in change management situations where communication can counter the anxiety triggered by organizational changes
• in crisis management such as the Tylenol scare or the Union Carbide Bhopal incident

Communication plans may be internal or external in focus. For instance:

• Internal: rolling out a new benefit program to the employees of the business
• External: letting the shareholders know about a new stock offering; letting customers know about a new product offering

Elements of organizational communication planning include:

• credibility
• message
• channel
• audience
• timing
• effectiveness

Also see

• public relations
• media relations