Internal Memo:
To: Staff of Fisher Price
Date: 1-29-10
Subject: Tainted Toys
Today I am addressing the newest issues with our outbreak of toys tainted with lead. We must directly and efficiently address this issue and we need all of our staff to network with every opportunity! Everyone needs to make safety of the customer’s needs top priority. Everyone in our campaigning and advertising groups need to get our story out into the community by posting up to date information on our website and sending out urgent letters to our buyers informing them of the outbreak and which toys should be recalled. All employees need to do their part by taking individual steps to maintain a calm but serious attitude toward this issue. Each individual should wear our name proudly and work to their fullest ability to help solve this issue quickly.
In order to fix this situation the Company is sending out a press release explaining the details of the crisis and we are currently are working on a visual apology to go out over Youtube. If you have any ideas that might be of use to the company promptly email our CEO because we value your opinion.
toxic toys comment
I think it would be effective to clarify your introduction. I'm not sure that "Everyone in our campaigning and advertising groups need to get our story out into the community by posting up to date information on our website and sending out urgent letters to our buyers informing them of the outbreak and which toys should be recalled." is a clear message, because I think you would want a more coordinated response than sending everyone to do something without specific direction. I think you might be well served by looking at the information on pages 457-61 in TCT. This goes over how to structure a memo. It's usually effective to have an introduction that addresses your subject, the purpose of the memo, and the main point that readers should take away. The memo's body is then usually broken up into around 2-5 topics, and the conclusion should do three things: thank the reader, restate the main point, and look to the future. I think the information and examples in TCT will help you see how this looks in practice.