Read and analyze the case study below.
- Case study: You are preparing a persuasive speech. The goal of your speech is to convince an audience of the value of allowing employees to work from home at least one day per week.
- Audience analysis before the speech: As you are starting to prepare your speech, you decide to send a survey to the audience members to determine some information about them. Eighty percent of the audience members respond to your survey. Your compilation of the responses to the survey questions are indicated in the following table:
Question% of Respondents Who Answered Yes% of Respondents Who Answered NoDo you live more than 10 miles from your workplace?70%30%Does the majority of the type of work that you do involve working on tasks that could be done from virtually any location?50%50%Is your work performance judged primarily on tasks you perform versus managing others?80%20%Do you believe conserving energy is an initiative that you should try to support?70%30%Does your work environment contain more potential distractions than your home environment?40%60%
- Audience analysis during the speech: While you are delivering your speech, you pay attention to the nonverbal signals the audience members provide. The following table summarizes the audience member behaviors that you notice:
Your StatementAudience BehaviorAllowing workers to telecommute at least one day a week can lead to increased employee productivity.One audience member crossed their arms and looked at the clock on the wall.Telecommuting saves gasoline and helps reduce traffic and air pollution.A few audience members maintain eye contact with you and nod.Allowing employees to telecommute potentially allows employers to reduce their real estate footprint.About half the audience members look confused.Setting up a home office and adhering to a normal work schedule is one way to be productive when working from home.Most audience members look interested, and a few sit up straight and have questioning expressions.
- Audience analysis after the speech: After you finish your speech, you go into the lobby where refreshments are being served. As you wait in line, one of the audience members approaches you and says:
“I enjoyed your speech. There are a few points that you made that I am not sure I agree with, but overall I can see some potential value in allowing employees to telecommute one day per week. Can you recommend any sources where I might be able to find data to show to some other managers at my company that support your claim that allowing workers to telecommute can lead to increased productivity?”
