Westwood Publishing Essay
Internal Communication “Westwood Publishing”
The people in the case:
- Linda Bosworth: CEO of Westwood
Publishing
- Catherine Callahan: Vice President of
Human Resources - Eric Ridgway: Vice President of Corporate Communication - Dan Cassidy: Director of employee relations - Craig Stevens: Outside Public relations consultant
Westwood Publishing MBA 9
Westwood in the1990’s
- Westwood is one the most important publishing firm in the USA. - It was started by Linda Bosworth in the middle of 1990’s. - At the beginning the focus was on the high-tech trade publications. - Original group of employees, mostly men in their mid-50’s, still represented the bulk of senior mamgement at Westwood.
Westwood Publishing MBA 9
Westwood in
the 2000’s
Turn of the century, analysts predicted that the publishing industry were ready for consolidation. After the dot-com bubble burst, in early 2000’s lots of Westwood’s competitors had trimmed the workforce. But for the Ceo of Westwood the most important thing was keeping all of her employees happy.
Westwood Publishing MBA 9
Corporate Communication structure
• Small staff of public relations professionals to handle comunication efforts. • All the various activities that could be decentralized were housed in the appropriate areas. • Only for the CEO’s public relations there was an outside consultant, Craig Stevens. • The Vice President of corporate communication Ridgway.
Westwood Publishing MBA 9
“Downsizing plan”
The plan was really urgent otherwise the company could be at risk. Vice President of Human Resources proposal: • ‘Generous’ voluntary severance • Early retirement packages whit an appropriate program
Westwood Publishing MBA 9
Communicating about the plan
• Cassidy, Callahan, Bosworth and Stevens had a meeting to plan the announcement. • Cassidy (director of employee relations) and Callahan (vice president of human resources) were the responsibles to communicate the plan.
Westwood Publishing MBA 9
Case questions
1. Create a strategy for communicating change at Westwood Publishing that you could give to Bosworth? 2. How do changes in the workforce affect Cassidy ought to think about communicating the new policy? 3. What advice would you give Cassidy about how communications to employees are structured at Westwood?
Westwood Publishing MBA 9
The people in the case:
- Linda Bosworth: CEO of Westwood
Publishing
- Catherine Callahan: Vice President of
Human Resources - Eric Ridgway: Vice President of Corporate Communication - Dan Cassidy: Director of employee relations - Craig Stevens: Outside Public relations consultant
Westwood Publishing MBA 9
Westwood in the1990’s
- Westwood is one the most important publishing firm in the USA. - It was started by Linda Bosworth in the middle of 1990’s. - At the beginning the focus was on the high-tech trade publications. - Original group of employees, mostly men in their mid-50’s, still represented the bulk of senior mamgement at Westwood.
Westwood Publishing MBA 9
Westwood in
the 2000’s
Turn of the century, analysts predicted that the publishing industry were ready for consolidation. After the dot-com bubble burst, in early 2000’s lots of Westwood’s competitors had trimmed the workforce. But for the Ceo of Westwood the most important thing was keeping all of her employees happy.
Westwood Publishing MBA 9
Corporate Communication structure
• Small staff of public relations professionals to handle comunication efforts. • All the various activities that could be decentralized were housed in the appropriate areas. • Only for the CEO’s public relations there was an outside consultant, Craig Stevens. • The Vice President of corporate communication Ridgway.
Westwood Publishing MBA 9
“Downsizing plan”
The plan was really urgent otherwise the company could be at risk. Vice President of Human Resources proposal: • ‘Generous’ voluntary severance • Early retirement packages whit an appropriate program
Westwood Publishing MBA 9
Communicating about the plan
• Cassidy, Callahan, Bosworth and Stevens had a meeting to plan the announcement. • Cassidy (director of employee relations) and Callahan (vice president of human resources) were the responsibles to communicate the plan.
Westwood Publishing MBA 9
Case questions
1. Create a strategy for communicating change at Westwood Publishing that you could give to Bosworth? 2. How do changes in the workforce affect Cassidy ought to think about communicating the new policy? 3. What advice would you give Cassidy about how communications to employees are structured at Westwood?
Westwood Publishing MBA 9