Question 1. You are working for Bahwan Tours and Travels, and you are the organizer for Umrah packages, one older man visited your office and wants to visit Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. Due to the present crisis, “Covid19 pandemic,” you cannot take him for Umrah. a. Explain the older man in detail about the current crisis the world is facing and the reason why he cannot perform Umrah now. Prepare a hypothetical face to face conversation regarding the situation that will end in a good result. b. Prepare an email to all the valued customers regarding the operation of the company during the COVID 19 pandemic on traveling outside Oman, particularly to Saudi Arabia for performing Umrah

QUESTION

Question 1. You are working for Bahwan Tours and Travels, and you are the organizer for Umrah packages, one older man visited your office and wants to visit Saudi Arabia to perform Umrah. Due to the present crisis, “Covid19 pandemic,” you cannot take him for Umrah.

a. Explain the older man in detail about the current crisis the world is facing and the reason why he cannot perform Umrah now. Prepare a hypothetical face to face conversation regarding the situation that will end in a good result.

b. Prepare an email to all the valued customers regarding the operation of the company during the COVID 19 pandemic on traveling outside Oman, particularly to Saudi Arabia for performing Umrah

Question 2. You cannot write the coming final assessment of the second semester for the AY 2019 to 2020, due to sickness. In this regard, a. Write a formally structured email to the HoD of Business Studies regarding your condition. Copy the same to the Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs and Bcc to the Dean of the College. (Use the college website to know the names of people to whom you are writing this email, names should be accurate to get full marks). b. After writing an email, prepare an outline of a telephonic conversation with the HoD explaining your condition and why you should be given an excuse. The discussion should end in a positive note.

Question 3. The garbage around the college premises is scattered all over. The surrounding residents are throwing /dumping garbage every day. The area has become stinky, and the bad smell is reaching the classrooms. Based on the hypothetical situation: a. Assuming you are the Dean of the College, write a letter to the Director of Municipality for General Services and Maintenance complaining to him about his ground staff who is not cleaning/clearing, copy the same to the Minister of Municipality (take his name from the search engine). b. Prepare a letter to the Dean of College regarding the above situation to resolve the issue. In both letters, cover all the important elements of business correspondence.

Question 4 Your brother, after finishing his engineering studies, has recently started a new manufacturing unit. He never studied Business communication; that’s why he doesn’t know anything about meetings. As you are studying business communication, he approached you to understand about meetings. a. Explain to him in detail about meetings, minutes of meetings, different styles of meeting arrangements, etc. Prepare a sample meeting agenda and minutes of meetings regarding COVID 19 pandemic safety arrangement at the workplace to convince your brother. b. Your brother also wants to know about reports, explain him in brief about reports. Prepare a sample report regarding issues related to the adherence to government guidelines during the COVID 19 pandemic.

Question 5 After finishing your studies, you have joined one of the leading manufacturing companies in Oman. As you told in the interview that you had studied the subject, business communication in the college, your boss asked you the following points in the department meeting. Explain to him in detail. a. The legal and ethical aspects of corporate business communication in the context of the current global business environment, i.e., during the COVID 19 pandemic and its aftermath. b. How teams are monitored and evaluated regularly

ANSWER

The Legal and Ethical Aspects of Corporate Business Communication during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Aftermath

Introduction

In the face of the global COVID-19 pandemic, businesses have encountered numerous challenges that have prompted them to adapt their corporate communication strategies. This essay aims to explore the legal and ethical aspects of corporate business communication within the context of the current global business environment, with a specific focus on the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath. It will examine the legal obligations that businesses have to uphold during this crisis and the ethical considerations that should guide their communication practices.

Body

The COVID-19 pandemic has ushered in a new era of corporate business communication, where legal and ethical aspects play a vital role. Adhering to legal obligations is of paramount importance for businesses during this crisis (Lowe et al., 2022). Compliance with health and safety regulations is essential to protect the health and well-being of employees, customers, and stakeholders. Businesses have a legal responsibility to implement and communicate measures that ensure the safety of their workforce and stakeholders.

Effective communication should inform stakeholders about the specific measures taken to comply with health guidelines, such as social distancing, sanitization, and mask-wearing protocols. Prompt and accurate updates on government regulations and guidelines are crucial to keep stakeholders informed and maintain transparency.

Data privacy and protection also come into focus during the pandemic. As businesses collect and share personal information related to COVID-19 contact tracing or health screening, they must comply with data protection laws (Wacksman, 2021). Communication should emphasize data privacy measures and inform stakeholders about how their data is being used and protected. Businesses need to be transparent about their data collection practices to ensure the trust of stakeholders.

Employment laws and communication are intricately linked during times of crisis. The COVID-19 pandemic has necessitated changes in work arrangements, such as remote work, reduced work hours, or furloughs. Businesses must communicate these changes in compliance with employment laws and contractual obligations. Transparent communication about changes in working conditions, job security, and the overall impact on the workforce is essential. This helps to maintain trust and mitigate potential legal issues.

While legal obligations provide a framework for corporate communication, businesses should also adhere to ethical considerations. Transparency and honesty are crucial ethical principles during a crisis. Businesses should communicate transparently and honestly about the impact of the pandemic on their operations, financial stability, and customer relations. Misleading or false information can harm stakeholders and erode trust in the long term. By providing accurate and timely information, businesses can maintain trust and credibility.

Empathy and compassion should guide corporate communication during the pandemic. Effective communication requires understanding the challenges faced by stakeholders, including employees, customers, and the community. Messages should convey support, understanding, and a commitment to prioritize the well-being of stakeholders. Demonstrating empathy in communication can foster trust, loyalty, and long-term relationships.

In addition to empathy, businesses have a social responsibility to address the needs and concerns of the community and society at large. Corporate communication should go beyond immediate business interests and consider the broader impact of the pandemic. Highlighting corporate social responsibility initiatives and contributions to the community can enhance reputation and build stronger relationships (Yang et al., 2022). By communicating the company’s efforts to support communities and mitigate the impact of the crisis, businesses can demonstrate their commitment to social responsibility.

Conclusion

In the current global business environment, characterized by the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, corporate business communication plays a crucial role. Companies must navigate the legal landscape by complying with health and safety regulations, protecting data privacy, and adhering to employment laws. Simultaneously, they must uphold ethical standards by being transparent, empathetic, and socially responsible in their communication practices. By doing so, businesses can not only weather the crisis successfully but also strengthen their relationships with stakeholders and contribute positively to society. The legal and ethical aspects of corporate business communication serve as guiding principles for businesses during the pandemic and its aftermath, ensuring their responsible and effective engagement with stakeholders in this challenging environment.

References

Lowe, A. E., Voo, T. C., Lee, L. M., Gillespie, K. K. D., Feig, C., Ferdinand, A. O., Mohapatra, S., Brett-Major, D. M., & Wynia, M. K. (2022). Uncertainty, scarcity and transparency: Public health ethics and risk communication in a pandemic. The Lancet Regional Health – Americas, 16, 100374. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lana.2022.100374 

Wacksman, J. (2021). Digitalization of contact tracing: balancing data privacy with public health benefit. Ethics and Information Technology, 23(4), 855–861. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10676-021-09601-2 

Yang, A., Sun, J., & Taylor, M. (2022). U.S. Fortune 500’s stakeholders engagement during the COVID-19 pandemic: Evidence for proactive approaches. Public Relations Review, 48(4), 102230. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pubrev.2022.102230