Strategic Communications Audit

Timothy Blades, Julie Damaren, Aliya Sharif, Brianna Plummer, Rebecca Hayman, Rachel Schmidt

What is Causeway? http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H4fb7xo01pk

Causeway’s companiesCauseway is a not-for-profit community economic development agency that empowers and supports people facing significant barriers to employment, to help them find rewarding work and live more independently.

KRACKERS KATERING IS A SMALL CATERING COMPANY THAT PROVIDES EMPLOYMENT AND TRAINING FOR individuals who have experienced barriers to employment, including people with disabilities and those who are economically disadvantaged.

GOOD NATURE GROUNDSKEEPING IS A LAWN AND YARD MAINTENANCE COMPANY offering its services to the Ottawa community and at the same time providing training and employment to people who are economically disadvantaged.

RIGHTBIKE IS A COMMUNITY-OWNED AND NEIGHBOURHOOD-BASED BIKE SHARING SERVICE OPERATING IN WELLINGTON WEST, WESTBORO, AND THE GLEBE. RIGHTBIKE PROMOTES HEALTHY AND ACTIVE LIFESTYLES, AS WELL AS SUSTAINABLE TRANSPORTATION

CYCLE SALVATION PROVIDES TRAINING IN BIKE MECHANICS TO PEOPLE WHO ARE ECONOMICALLY DISADVANTAGED AND AT THE SAME TIME DIVERTS BIKES DESTINED FOR SCRAP AND LANDFILL. THEY HAVE A TRIPLE BOTTOM LINE OF PEOPLE, PROFIT, AND PLANET.

A Network of Programs

Methodology Initial contact with Causeway Work Centre and their

counterparts was done through email. Outlined the purpose for contacting their organization

and what we hope to accomplish with our strategic communications audit.

Set up meetings with Causeway, Krackers Katering, and Cycle Salvation

Using Julia Coffman’s framework for analysing performance through a Strategic Communications Audit

Level of Practice: Causeway

Two main forms of communication are website and posters

- Website is not updated often and content it unclear- Posters around neighborhood

Social media

- Facebook and Twitter

Current Performance Capabilities: Causeway

Levels of Practice: Cycle Salvation

Communication within the company

Reliance on Causeway

Social Media not often updated

Word of mouth

Current Performance Capabilities: Cycle Salvation

Areas of Improvement: Cycle Salvation

Take advantage of existing partnerships

Move towards sustainability while planning and institutionalizing communications practices - as resources become available

Areas of Improvement: Causeway

Press Release

Bi-monthly meetings

Website Redesign

Press Release

Press Release

Bi-Monthly Meetings

Website Redesign

Content Unclear

Little information about what the companies actually do

Unexpected Outcomes: Causeway

Struggling with strategic communication as an organization

Limited resources yet extraordinary services

Little media coverage

Unexpected Outcomes: Causeway

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hqPC9344NQg

Unexpected Outcomes: Cycle Salvation

Lack of communication between company and organization

Work with clientele to match needs and demand

Communications and promotion is not a focal point

Questions and Comments