^{Consider an organization where you have close ties and some interest or stake in the organization's success. Certainly, this could be your work environment, but it could also be a place where you volunteer. You have latitude to think broadly.}

^{(1) Propose a substantive change to an existing situation, or the establishment of something new in an existing situation. (No more than a half page).}

^{(2) Justify the action (proposed action or establishment), explore the workability of the proposed change, and outline the benefits of the change.}

^{(3) Consider - Lewis - Introduction (pp. 1-3) and Chapter 1 (pp. 25-46). How does your change proposal "square up" with Lewis's writings on "change"?}

^{(4) Consider - Lewis - Introduction (pp 7-12). In your proposed change, who are your stakeholders? As you think about stakeholders, think about and list people internal to the organization and external to the organization? Why are these people stakeholders (your perspective)? Why do these people believe they are stakeholders (consider their perspective)?}

^{(5) Who are the likely decision-makers regarding your proposal? You should think about this in terms of formal decision-making authority, as well as informal influence on decision-making authority. What do these people know about the proposal - proposed "subject"? Earlier, you listed benefits. What's in it for the stakeholders? What's in it for you?}

^{This is the beginning of your final project - a change proposal with an emphasis in strategic organizational communication planning. If Kotter argues there are eight stages of a successful change process, I argue we need to examine each stage as a discursive moment -- rich in communication -- to be thought of from the perspective of the communicator (person initiating/communicating change) and the stakeholders (listeners/sensemakers/implementers/and those co-creating the change). The idea of co-creating the change initiative is of particular interest when considering the stakeholder (Lewis, p. 5).}

^{Now - know this - you may get two weeks into the semester and look back on this document and say, "oh, dear, that's ridiculous." That's fine. My hope would be that you could carry this 'change proposal idea' through to the end of the semester, but in a couple of weeks you may want to abandon it. This assignment's value is in taking you through a series of initial questions and introducing a process.}

^{You should be able to complete this assignment in no more than 4-5 pages, double-spaced, 12 point font.}

^{Be clear. Be succinct.}