Business Research: The Impact of Delivering Bad News Effectively

This assignment presents a structured literature review analyzing why organizational leaders should carefully consider how they deliver bad news (DBN) and how to deliver it better to foster a more positive employment relationship. It emphasizes the importance of management activity in underpinning better DBN, providing an academic definition of DBN, and referencing all points using Harvard style. The review discusses strategies managers can use to effectively communicate bad news, such as investigating and preparing, being accurate, communicating appropriately, avoiding false hope, and actively listening to employees. Furthermore, it identifies and justifies a qualitative methodology for researching DBN, including epistemological underpinnings and specific data collection techniques like structured reviews, highlighting their advantages in achieving research goals. The assignment uses recommended readings from Bryman and Bell, and Saunders textbooks to support its analysis and methodological choices, offering insights into how managers can handle difficult situations and maintain employee morale.

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Literature review analysis
Module Title: Business Research Methods
Student Name:
Student ID:
Name of Workshop Tutor:

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Introduction

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The aim of this ‘template structure’ for 1 is to ensure you address all
aspects to the – and keep you on track to meeting the marking criteria for this
module.
Please make sure you address all sub-sections and comments in terms of what we are looking
for in your answers.
Style of writing
 Tip 1: literature reviews should be written in past tense and the third person. For
example, ‘the literature shows that….’; ‘this is important because….’ Etc.
 Tip 2: think like a detective and use the evidence to build a case around the
question posed above (i.e. identify and explain specific studies identified in the book
chapter). Better quality answers will use referencing to strengthen each and every
point made (just like in a detective case, the stronger argument is evidenced and not
the personal opinion of the officer).
 Tip 3: Do not just write everything you have read about in this book chapter
(descriptiveness). We are testing your ability to identify appropriate sources and use it
to build a case around the need for research on DBN in the workplace/organisation
during this pandemic (analytical skills). Consider what you think are the key points a
manager should know, and use this to plan your literature analysis – what would you
take away from this article as a future manager?
 Tip 4: Use the PEE (point, evidence and explain) model to frame your points. Make
a point, provide evidence (identify specific studies that back your point up with
references) then EXPLAIN why it is relevant – students often miss the latter
(analysis) part.
 Reference list: Harvard referencing style throughout. You should be referring to
specific studies/pieces of evidence referred to in this article to back up your argument.
This includes in text referencing and a reference list at the end. Please use the
recommended readings for the research methodology aspect (Bryman and Bell;
Saunders) rather than online texts – there is a reason we have selected these texts
(better quality/stronger evidence).

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1. Using the article below, please write a structured review around why leaders of
organisations should consider ‘how’ they deliver bad news, and the ways this can
be delivered ‘better’ as part of a more positive employment relationship between
management and employees.
 This should reiterate the main argument to this review (Employment
relationship and Delivery of bad news DBN) in terms of management
activity underpinning ‘better’ delivery of bad news including the reasons
why an organisation leader should take this seriously.
 It should include an academic definition of delivery of bad news
(referenced).
 It should fully reference all points (not just the end of the paragraph) using
Harvard referencing, and page numbers if paraphrasing
Key reading
The Delivery of Bad News in Organizations: A Framework for Analysis by
Robert J. Bies (Georgetown University) [Also available on WebLearn].
(Approx. 1000 words).
There are several operations within an organization that have to be properly managed. It
includes firing people, taking serious performance conversations, etc. which makes most
leaders to get disturbed and pull covers over their head. There is need for navigating such
situations in a well manner as these are truly followed as inspiring leaders. Within an
organization, a leader has to be straight forward for managing toughest staff. It is assumed
that there is courageous way for all types of operations including taking responsibility and
apologizing for mistakes. When delivering a bad news, it is concluded that delivering of bad
news is going to reflect personally uncomfortable or difficult for the company. There are
several examples which reflects that managers have to face bad news’s situation effectively.
It was seen in case of BP CEO’s Tony Hayward who was handling Deepwater Horizon oil
spill and in this, it was seen that many people have lost their lives. In the disfolding of
disaster, it was seen that Hayward has to manage the environmental impact upon Gulf spill
and how it is going to impact upon modest parts. It is concluded that Tony Hayward is going

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to be a cautionary tale and this is trying to manage the credibility. It is seen that lawsuit was
involved on the basis of merit and ultimately the charge was good deal. There are several
points including BP disaster and it is implied that major accidents have to take place in order
to overcome the failures. It is essential for leaders to manage the way in which they are
going to tell employees about bad news. Whenever a leader is trying to make it is required
that there is need for having a proper discussion. How managers deal with bad news:
It becomes a hard situation for managers to announce bad news to their human
resources of the company. Some information is unpleasant to convey to the employees of the
organisation but still managers of the company has to deliver it to them. Delivering bad news
to the manpower leads to hurt their feelings and due to which they become disappointed
within the company. Employees' dedication towards the task is hampered in this situation and
they do not give their best to the company. However, for the good sake of the business,
supervisors of the company take the decision and convey it to their workforces in a pleasant
way. There are some strategies in which the managers deal with bad news to their employees
in the enterprise and these are described as under:
 Investigate and prepare: Managers of the company accumulates the information
regarding reasons for a particular decision and prepare the information in advance to
make the conversation more manageable. By doing so, the managers will be
answerable to the queries of their employees and will clarify the reason for taking
such decision.
 Be accurate: While dealing with the bad news, supervisors of the company be
accurate about the decision taken by them. They do not convey irrelevant information
to their employees and sort themselves out first while conveying the message. If any
employee arise a question, then the manager must give accurate answer to that
question. And if the manager is not able to give the accurate response then it will
convey the wrong message to the employees of the company.
 Speak at the level managers need to: Administrators of the company must not treat
with their employees like children. They should be specific with their manpower
regarding the decision to be taken in the enterprise. Manager must evaluate almost all
the situations while taking tough decisions so that they do not get confused while
responding to the workforces of the company.
 No negotiations: At the time of dealing bad news to employees of the company, the
manager ensures that no false hope is given to their human resources. Because it
demotivates the manpower of the company and due to which they may leave the

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company also. Managers must stand in front of their employees and motivates them
to deal with the worse situation so that by maintaining the performance of the
company it can attain objectives.
 Listen to employees: While delivering the bad news to the human resources of the
company, the manager must listen to their employees that what they feel and think
about the particular decision. Supervisors must clarify their subordinates by knowing
their points regarding the news delivered and should be sympathetic of the situation.
Administrators must ask their manpower for help as it shows that the employees are
valued in the company. To give sympathy in a tough situation helps someone in
reducing the pain during that situation.
There were several messengers who have been bringing risks which have killed their efforts.
Customs and times have changed and this has affected the way in which managers are
handling
The situation like profit is falling, salaries and benefits are cut or project is cancelled. At
these times, managers have to inform employees about the whole situation. This reflects
various problems that arise because of business failure. There are following steps used by
managers to communicate with employees for a bad news –
Clear objectives – Managers cannot communicate directly and that is why there is need for
managers to provide effective and direct instructions for managing the work and developing
issues that will help to focus upon the management and operations.
Credible – There are some words and sentiments which are involved while communicating
different type of bad news. Message has to be consistent so that audiences can know what are
the main objectives of work and functions.
Right time and right place – Managers select a particular time and place for communicating
the bad news for employees. Time and place are two important things that have to be
properly managed in order to enhance the working.
Tailor the message – There are different situations where it is necessary to address audiences
to control employees, departments and team. At the time of bad news, employees are
addressed by managers and they are told about declined sales or salary, etc.

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2a Identify and justify a qualitative methodology for researching the delivery of bad
news.
 You should define what a qualitative research methodology is using
recommended academic references.
 You should explain how your review in Part 1 can help you approach the
topic in terms of methodology (justify this approach using your reading in
section 1).
 You should explain the philosophical (ontological/epistemological)
underpinnings of this methodology.
 References to the research methods sections of the recommended books
will be essential (Bryman and Bell, Saunders textbooks and others).
(Approx 150 words)
Epistemology is the philosophical study of origin and limits of human knowledge.
This is a qualitative research methodology that is used in structured review. This
helps to manage research work that is based upon handling and controlling
situations under bad news provided by managers. The philosophical study used in
this research totally depends upon knowledge of person. It is used for managing the
research work completion and focusing upon hypothesis. It is seen that this research
is based upon knowledge base of how managers handle the bad situation. This
research is done in an effective manner and within time. There are various ways for
which the research can be managed properly. It is analyzed that epistemology is
going to help in understanding different ways which are used for handling and
managing bad news. It is also important that how a manager is provided
information about something bad that has happened with company.

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2b You should then set out the specific qualitative data collection techniques (for
example semi structured reviewing, unstructured reviewing, focus groups, diary
studies etc.) you would use for this study
 Please define your qualitative data technique using the recommended
readings.
 Please justify your choice of qualitative research technique. This could
either be drawn from your review of the literature in section 1, or the
advantages of these qualitative research techniques gleaned from the
recommended readings (or ideally a combination).
 References to the research methods sections of the recommended books
will be essential (Bryman and Bell, Saunders textbooks and others) to
identify and explain your qualitative research methods technique.
Structured review is used in completing the research work. This involves asking set
of questions in a similar format and ordering different people to attend the review.
These reviews are basically like how a traditional review is managed and focuses
upon experience based questions. The structured review is feasible for both parties.
It helps to manage the research work properly. This is used in the research as it will
help to manage the accomplishment of research goals and objectives. There is
necessity for developing factors which enhance the factors for telling bad news to
managers. This is analyzed that most of the researches which use this can manage
the completion of objectives in specified time. There is need to have an effective
management for development of managers in context of the bad news. There is also
requirement for developing reviews on the basis of management. An in-depth
review is used for knowing the strategies used to manage condition of bad news.

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2c You should consider an appropriate target population and your sample
(who would be included in your sample).
 References to the research methods sections of the recommended books
will be essential (Bryman and Bell, Saunders textbooks and others) to help
identify and explain your sampling approach.
The target population is defined as group of individuals which are intervened for
conducting the research in effective manner. In context of cost effective research, it
is analyzed that characteristics of the target population and subgroup must be
described in an effective manner. It is essential to identify target population in such a
manner that literature review is completed properly. There is requirement of
developing and managing effective target population and take their review
accordingly so that goals can be attained and research aims are obtained. The target
population is employees of the organization and random sampling is used and
number of respondents are 100.

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