The Agency for Modernisation, Ministry of Finance, wanted to focus on two issues:
- How do you write a presentation of a subject that is not too knowledge intensive and detailed but still sufficiently thorough for the receiver (at executive board or ministerial level) to make the best decision.
- Public officials in the Agency for Modernisation and the Danish Agency for Digitalisation have high professional standards and much knowledge within each of their fields. This knowledge forms the basis of recommendations in the presentation of a subject. But how do you write a good presentation without compromising on your professionalism and having an eye for the receiver and the difference there often is in time and organisational level?
The solution we designed
We were concerned with two perspectives:
- Involving the management and getting their comments on the good presentation of the subject - what is it to contain, how long is it to be and how should it be formulated. Also clearness about how the good presentation of a subject is ordered and how you respond during the writing process - not afterwards.
- Making the employees more aware of the writing process and how they can best make use of the commissioning party. Focus on implementation of new writing habits via a hands-on approach with specific writing tools.
What was the outcome?
The managers participated in tools courses to get the same system of ideas as the employees. They have also obtained better insight into how their role plays a part both when the order is given but also in the response process. No good presentation of a subject without a good order.
The employees have worked with and can now apply specific tools in the following areas:
- Clear written communication - always think of the purpose
- Receiver-oriented - who are you writing to and when will they read it?
- Credibility - strategic work with specialist communication without compromising
- Argumentation - sharp angling and on the terms of the receiver
