Comments on: How To Write A Good Communications Plan - Part 2 - Context http://davefleet.com/2008/05/how-to-write-a-good-communications-plan-part-2-context/ Exploring the intersection of communications, marketing and social media Wed, 20 Aug 2008 11:53:54 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6 By: Overviews Series on Communication Plans from Dave Fleet | infOpinions? http://davefleet.com/2008/05/how-to-write-a-good-communications-plan-part-2-context/#comment-2286 Overviews Series on Communication Plans from Dave Fleet | infOpinions? Tue, 17 Jun 2008 13:03:53 +0000 http://davefleet.com/2008/05/how-to-write-a-good-communications-plan-part-2-context/#comment-2286 [...] Context [...] [...] Context [...]

]]> By: James Ip http://davefleet.com/2008/05/how-to-write-a-good-communications-plan-part-2-context/#comment-1207 James Ip Wed, 07 May 2008 17:49:02 +0000 http://davefleet.com/2008/05/how-to-write-a-good-communications-plan-part-2-context/#comment-1207 Thanks, Dave! You're a celebrity around here. :-) You're right - it is a subtle difference. In my experience, the context is part of the need to announce/launch the initiative. The scan, I think, is to make sure you take into consideration the environment in which you are working. Let's take the example of United Way's homelessness report a few years back. The context in which it was launched/announced showed that no other group or level of government was looking at it from a broader perspective. And anecdotally, the problem seemed to be getting worse and worse - something that Torontonians seemed to recognize. So that was the need and the context. The environmental scan would show that there was growing concerns about it from residents and government; that there needed to be more education about the issues that led to homelessness; and there was an appetite and opportunity for a leader to emerge on the issue. Hope that illustrates the fine line. This is a great idea, Dave. Keep it up! Thanks, Dave! You’re a celebrity around here. :-)

You’re right - it is a subtle difference. In my experience, the context is part of the need to announce/launch the initiative. The scan, I think, is to make sure you take into consideration the environment in which you are working.

Let’s take the example of United Way’s homelessness report a few years back. The context in which it was launched/announced showed that no other group or level of government was looking at it from a broader perspective. And anecdotally, the problem seemed to be getting worse and worse - something that Torontonians seemed to recognize. So that was the need and the context.

The environmental scan would show that there was growing concerns about it from residents and government; that there needed to be more education about the issues that led to homelessness; and there was an appetite and opportunity for a leader to emerge on the issue.

Hope that illustrates the fine line.

This is a great idea, Dave. Keep it up!

]]> By: Dave Fleet http://davefleet.com/2008/05/how-to-write-a-good-communications-plan-part-2-context/#comment-1198 Dave Fleet Wed, 07 May 2008 15:08:49 +0000 http://davefleet.com/2008/05/how-to-write-a-good-communications-plan-part-2-context/#comment-1198 James - I totally agree. You make another good point - the overlap between the context and your environmental scan can be hard to avoid. How important do you think it is to avoid blurring the line, or does it not matter? Thanks for the input, and congratulations on your move to Veritas! James - I totally agree. You make another good point - the overlap between the context and your environmental scan can be hard to avoid. How important do you think it is to avoid blurring the line, or does it not matter?

Thanks for the input, and congratulations on your move to Veritas!

]]> By: James Ip http://davefleet.com/2008/05/how-to-write-a-good-communications-plan-part-2-context/#comment-1197 James Ip Wed, 07 May 2008 14:58:51 +0000 http://davefleet.com/2008/05/how-to-write-a-good-communications-plan-part-2-context/#comment-1197 I think an important part of the context is answering the question, "why"? Why is the initiative important? Why now as opposed to later?... which kinda gets into the environmental scan a bit. Why do people need to know about it? Boy, I'm flashing back to good ol' COPO Dave! :-) I think an important part of the context is answering the question, “why”? Why is the initiative important? Why now as opposed to later?… which kinda gets into the environmental scan a bit. Why do people need to know about it?

Boy, I’m flashing back to good ol’ COPO Dave! :-)

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