Case

Youcan certainly sympathize with employees when they complain about havingtheir email and instant messages monitored, but you’re implementing acompany policy that all employees agree to abide by when they join thecompany. Your firm, Webcor Builders of San Francisco, California, is oneof the estimated 60 percent of U.S.companies with such monitoringsystems in place. More and more companies use these systems (whichtypically operate by scanning messages for keywords that suggestconfidential, illegal, or otherwise inappropriate content) in an attemptto avoid instances of sexual harassment and other problems. As thechief information officer, the manager in charge of computer systems inthe company, you’re often the target when employees complain about beingmonitored. Consequently, you know you’re really going to hear it whenemployees learn that the monitoring program will be expanded to personalblogs as well.

Your Task

Write a memo tobe distributed to the entire workforce, explaining that the automatedmonitoring program is about to be expanded to include employee’spersonal blogs. Explain that, while you sympathize with employeeconcerns regarding privacy and freedom of speech, it is the managementteam’s responsibility to protect the company’s intellectual property andthe value of the company name. Therefore, employees’ personal blogswill be added to the monitoring system to ensure that employees don’tintentionally or accidentally expose company secrets or criticizemanagement in a way that could harm the company

Format and Length:Memo format; Use Talking headings; single-spacing; 1” side margins;Calibri 11 point;1page conte. References on page 2.

Evaluation: Checklist for Evaluating Critical Thinking as Reflected Through Written Communication