COM10003 Learning and Communicating Online

Assignment 2: Communication case studies

Case 2: Maria
This is an email that Maria has written to her manager’s direct manager, Sarah and her
manager George.
Hi ya Sarah
Bit of a problem, I don’t think that George is doing the right thing with the land rights. I
understand that everyone has different ideas and maybe George is just about behind
the times. He has lied about consulting with the elders. I don’t want the company to
wear this. I don’t want to wear it either. It is not fair that I am in this position.
Please advise, Maria.

Identify an ethical issue or problem presented in your selected case study.

The ethical issue presented in this case study is the use of misinformation and dishonesty by
the mining company, towards, the local Indigenous people, regarding, the scope and impact
of the mining project. The directive given to Maria by her direct manager to “tell everyone
what they want to hear” without regard for the truth, or the actual feasibility of the project,
is not only unethical, but also disrespectful to the Indigenous people’s rights, and their
culture heritage. Furthermore, the falsification of consultation with the elders and
misrepresentation of the indigenous people’s agreement with the project, is a violation of
their right to informed consent and autonomy over their lands and resources. Maria’s
decision to report the issue to her manager’s direct manager demonstrates her ethical
awareness and concern for the company’s reputation and accountability to its stakeholders.
Public Relations Institute of Australia. (2018). Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA)
Code of Ethics. http://www.pria.com.au/about-pria/code-of-ethics-privacy/code-of-ethics/

Identify the stakeholders and explain how they might be affected.

The stakeholders in this case which are: the local Indigenous people are the primary
stakeholders in this case study. They have a right to be properly consulted and have their
interests and needs understood and represented. The misinformation given to them by the
mining company may cause them to make decisions that are not in their best interests. This
goes against the principle of respect for the people’s rights and dignity. Maria: as the
community liaison and publicity officer, Maria’s role is to ensure that the company’s
dealings with the local Indigenous people are conducted in an ethical and responsible
manner. Her manager’s instructions to misrepresent the truth and deceive the Indigenous
people puts Maria in a difficult position where she is forced to choose between following
unethical instructions or acting with integrity. Mining company: the main company has
responsibility to conduct its operations in responsible and sustainable manner. By providing
misinformation to the local Indigenous people and not properly consulting with them, the
company is potentially putting their reputation and social license to operate at risk. Local
council is also a stakeholder in this case study. If there are provided with inaccurate
information about Indigenous people’s level of agreement with the mining project, they
may make decisions that are not in the best interests of their constituents. This goes against
the principle of integrity.

Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance. (2018). MEAA Journalist Code of Ethics.
https://www.meaa.org/meaa-media/code-of-ethics/

What are the spoken and unspoken messages

The spoken messages are Maria’s manager instructs her to tell the Indigenous people what
they want to hear, even if it is not true or realistic. The local council was given
misinformation about the scope of the mining project, and were told that the Indigenous
people agreed to the project. Unspoken messages are conveyed through Maria’s tone or
word choice in the email, which could be interpreted as expressing frustration, concern, or a
sense of urgency. Additionally, the fact that Maria has chosen to escalate the issue to Sarah
rather than addressing it directly with George could be interpreted as an implicit message
about her lack of trust or confidence in George’s ability to handle the situation effectively.

Baldovino, R. (2020, 10 June). Language registers [Video file].

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DsSNRxtB0KI&ab_channel=RubyroseBaldovino

American Psychological Association (2020, n.d.). American psychological association (APA)

style guide. https://www.swinburne.edu.au/library/search/referencing-guides/apa-style-
guide/

The strengths and weaknesses of the communication?

Strength of the communication is direct and clear. Maria’s email to Sarah is clear and direct
in conveying her ethical concerns about the mining company’s practice. She does not mince
words and clearly expresses her desire to do the right thing. Honesty: Maria’s email is
honest in acknowledging the unethical practices being used by the company and her
discomfort with the situation. She does not try to glaze the issue or downplay the
seriousness of the situation. Professionalism: Despite her ethical concerns, Maria maintains
a professional tone throughout the email and seeks guidance from Sarah on how to
proceed. Weaknesses of the communication is the tone of the email is informal and could
be perceived as unprofessional. The use of phrases such as “Hi ya Sarah” could be
considered too causal for formal business communication. The email identifies the problem
and express concerns but does not offer any solution or alternatives. Providing potential
solution recommendations could strengthen the communication and demonstrate a
proactive approach to the issue.
Brown, H. D. (2000). Principles of language learning and teaching (Vol. 4). New York:
Longman.
https://www.academia.edu/download/40433526/_H._Douglas_Brown__Principles_of_lang
uage_learningBookZZ.org.

Identify two skills from the ‘Future Work Skills’ that would help the key character in the
case study to resolve the issue.

Maria’s sensemaking and social intelligence skills, will help her navigate complex situations,
build relationships, and resolve issues, ensuring that mining projects are conducted ethically
and sustainably.
Sensemaking is “the ability to determine the deeper meaning or significance of what is
being expressed,” while social intelligence is the ability to connect with others in a deep and
direct way, to sense and stimulate reactions and desired interactions.
Sensemaking skills will help Maria to analyse the situation and understand the root cause of
the problem. She will be able to identify the misinformation that was given to the local
elders and council and understand the impact it will have on the community. Social
intelligence skills will help Maria to communicate effectively with her colleagues and
management and build relationships with the local community. By using these skills, Maria
can work towards resolving the issue and ensuring that the mining project is conduct in an
ethical and sustainable manner that benefits everyone involved.

Davies, A., Fidler, M., & Gorbis. D. (2011). Future Work Skills 2020. Palo Alto, CA: Institute
for the Future for University of Phoenix Research Institute.
http://www.iftf.org/uploads/media/SR1382A_UPRI_future_work_skills_sm.pdf
Explain how each of the skills you have identified would assist the key character to:
a. meet a specific relevant professional standard. the two skills can help Maria by
enabling her to effectively analyse the situation, understand the perspectives of
different stakeholders, and develop a plan that addresses the issue of
misinformation and protect the land rights of local indigenous people. On relevant
professional standard that can be met with these skills is the ethical standard of
promoting social responsibility and sustainability. As a community liaison and
publicity officer for major mining company, Maria has a responsibility to ensure that
the company operates in an ethical and sustainable manner, while also meeting its
business objectives. By using the two skills, Maria can understand the concerns and
perspectives of the local indigenous people, engage in meaningful dialogue with
them, and develop a plan that balances the interest of the mining company with the
needs of the local community. this can involve identifying alternative approaches
that minimize the impact of the mining project on the environment and the local
community, and finding ways to mitigate any negative impacts that cannot be
avoided. By meeting this professional standard, Maria can help to build the
reputation of the mining company as a socially responsible and sustainable
organization and contribute to the overall well-being of the local community.

b. be used to resolve the ethical issue or problem. Hint: Research the relevant
professional standards (e.g. codes of ethics/conduct) relating to your case study on
the internet, and consider those presented in Week 1.

Professional organization and bodies published codes of ethics, or codes for conduct,
for various professional. One of these include: Public Relation Institute of Australia
(PRIA): PRIA has a code of ethics which outlines the ethical principles and guidelines,
for professional conduct in the field of public relations. Principles such as: honesty,
transparency, respect for the public interest, and professional competence are
represented by this code.

Public Relations Institute of Australia. (2018). Public Relations Institute of Australia (PRIA)
Code of Ethics. http://www.pria.com.au/about-pria/code-of-ethics-privacy/code-of-ethics/
Metzger, M.J. (2007). Making sense of credibility on the web: Models for evaluating online
information and recommendations for future research. Journal of the American Society for
Information Science & Technology, 58(13), 2078-2091.

Propose a solution to the ethical issue or problem you identified.

Maria’s commitment to transparency, ethical practices and community engagement

can serve as a model for sustainable development in the mining industry, promoting
social responsibility, environmental stewardship, and economic growth. She should
ask for more details about why her manager has asked her to provide
misinformation, and what the potential consequences of this might be. Maria should
review the relevant professional standards and code of conduct for her role as a
community liaison and publicity officer for a mining company. This would help her to
identify any ethical or professional obligations provided by her manager. Maria
should consult with the local indigenous people and council to ensure that they have
accurate information about the mining project. She should provide them with an
opportunity to ask questions and express any concerns or objections they may have.
Maria should develop a transparent communication plan that accurately represents
the scope of the mining project and addresses any concerns or objections raised by
the local indigenous people and council. The plan should prioritize open and honest
communication, respect for cultural diversity, and responsible environmental
management. By following all above, Maria can address the ethical issue identified in
the case study in a way that aligns with her professional obligations and promotes
positive relationships between the mining company and the local indigenous
community.

Identify a possible strength and a possible limitation of your proposed solution?

A possible strength of the proposed solution is that it prioritizes open and honest
communication, respect for cultural diversity, and responsible environmental
management. By seeking clarity from her manager, reviewing professional
standards, consulting with stakeholders, reporting concerns, and developing a
transparent communication plan, Maria can ensure that the local indigenous people
and the council have accurate information about the mining project and that their
concerns and objective are addressed.
A possible limitation of the proposed solution is that it may not be easy to
implement in practice. Maria’s manager may resist her effort to provide accurate
information to the local indigenous people and council, or the company may
prioritize profits over ethical considerations. Additionally, the process of consultation
with the stakeholders and developing a transparent communication plan may be
time consuming and resource-intensive, which could be a challenge for Maria given
her role as a community liaison and publicity officer. Overall, while the proposed
solution has the potential to address the ethical issue identified in the case study, its
success will depend on factors such as: the support of the company’s leadership; the
willingness of stakeholders to engage in dialogue; and the availability of resources to
develop, and implement, a transparent communication plan.
Public Relations Institute of Australia. (2018). Public Relations Institute of Australia
(PRIA) Code of Ethics.
http://www.pria.com.au/about-pria/code-of-ethics-privacy/code-of-ethics/