Communication Plan
Template
1.
Purpose
The purpose of a communication plan is to support the strategic objectives and provide action items for
the organizational communication of the (
) for the next (__________________)
years/months. This plan serves as a guiding map for all internal and external communication regarding
_______________________for (target audience(s) ____________________________.
It includes strategic objectives, messages, audiences, media, responsibility assignments, measurements,
evaluation and budget.
2.
Mission/Vision
(complete)
3.
Situation Analysis
(complete)
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What methods of communications work? Which methods are ineffective?
Lessons learned
What are the communication issues we wish to address?
Frame the issues; what are the issues really about? Who is affected?
What is our communication infrastructure? (capacity) Who will do the work? How much
staff time are we willing to commit to the effort?
4.
Business Goals/ Objectives (complete)
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Identify the business objectives/goals of ______________________
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Internal/external factors to be considered
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What do we want to achieve through our communication? Why?
5.
Corresponding Communication Goals/Objectives
(complete)
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What is the positive vision for the future? What are the changes we wish to see?
Yale University Human Resources Internal Communications 2/15/2016
6.
Key Themes/ Messages (See table of Table of Messages and Audiences)
(complete)
Not necessary to organize messages in this manner, but sometimes helpful:
Theme: broad “highway” of directional meaning with several lanes or “messages”
Message: a unit of meaning that runs as part of and in the direction of the “theme”; concise
expression of intent
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Why change? How?
WIIFM? What’s in it for me?
What do we want our audiences to do? Do differently?
How do we want them to feel?
What do we want them to think?
How/what do we communicate to others who are not directly involved ?
7.
Media, Audiences, Schedules (See Communication Plan Implementation Matrix)
(complete)
8.
Training Managers to Communicate
(complete)
9.
Evaluation
(complete)
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How we will know we are successful?
What measurements shall we use?
Yale University Human Resources Internal Communications 2/15/2016
10.
Budget
(complete)
11.
Appendix
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Listing of communication vehicles
Other
Yale University Human Resources Internal Communications 2/15/2016
Media and Vehicles for Organizational Communication
Sample listing:
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Print newsletters/magazines
Flyers
Posters, banners, similar media
Intranet
Web site; other web-based media: blogs, webinars etc.
News conferences
Electronic newsletters
Electronic boards, messaging and communication software
Video
Computer/video kiosks
Multi-media presentation
Town Meetings
Lunch and learn events
Face-to-face small meetings
Virtual meetings
Off site meetings, retreats, and events
Onsite events, speeches, training
Yale University Human Resources Internal Communications 2/15/2016
Table of Messages and Audiences
(make multiple copies for each identified objective)
XXXXX
XXXXX
XXXXX
Other stakeholders
XXXXX
Other stakeholders
1. Business Objective
1. Communication
Objective
Communication
Message(s)
2. Business Objective
XXXXX
XXXXX
2. Communication
Objective
Communication
Message(s)
Yale University Human Resources Internal Communications 2/15/2016
Communication Plan Implementation Matrix
Purpose
Audience(s)
Timing | Frequency
Yale University Human Resources Internal Communications 2/15/2016
Message
Method | Channel
Accountability