Workplace Communication

Based on what you have learned in this course, you will critically analyze one of these hypothetical case study scenarios examining the ethical, cultural, and technical issues presented. Explore the communicative strategies that could be used to manage the situation. (For example: How could you help the individuals involved understand what went wrong in the event?) Also explore the possible alternatives to remedy the situation based on your knowledge of effective business communication. What styles of communication and technical writing could be used in this process?

1) A First Nation elder was spending their last days in the hospital, and they had many of their family members come to be around them. This family was a traditional First Nation family which meant they practiced First Nation spiritual traditions such as smudging and pipe ceremonies. The family requested for their family member to be in a private room for privacy and to have ceremonies if they wanted to. One evening the family brought in 3 elders in the community to do a pipe ceremony. There was one hospital in that city that had a few rooms designated for First Nation families to do smudging ceremonies and pipe ceremonies during their last days. This particular hospital was not that hospital. The head nurse on duty that evening could smell the smoke from the room and asked to speak to a family member. The nurse told the family member that it was against policy to smoke in the hospital and that they would have to put the pipe out. She said that they could all stay in the room as long as they needed. One of the family members left the hospital in tears because they felt they were not treated fairly.