How ConAgra Foods Transformed Scientific Communication with Hurley Write
Results
- Increased clarity in scientific reports and internal documents.
- Enhanced critical thinking skills applied to writing tasks.
- Development of a reliable, repeatable writing process.
- Improved ability to address the needs of multiple readers.
“I always just tried to get by with the basics of a report, but now I can incorporate ways to think critically and organize the report structure while keeping my audience in mind.”
– Ashley Malchow,
Associate Microbiologist, ConAgra Foods
Introduction
Founded in 1919, ConAgra Foods has grown into a global leader in the consumer food products industry. Renowned for its dedication to research, quality, and innovation, the company has earned numerous awards and accolades. Its success is built on a foundation of continuous improvement, supported by a skilled and diverse workforce.
Central to ConAgra Foods’ operations is its focus on food safety and innovation. The company’s scientists play a crucial role in maintaining these standards by conducting rigorous testing and research. From challenge studies to shelf-life assessments, these efforts require clear, concise, and actionable documentation to ensure seamless implementation across manufacturing facilities.
Background
Clear and concise communication is not just an asset for ConAgra Foods—it’s a necessity. Scientists like Ashley Malchow, an Associate Microbiologist in Corporate Microbiology, must produce technical documents that effectively communicate their research and findings. From conducting routine testing to performing shelf-life studies and food safety assessments, Malchow’s work directly impacts the quality and safety of the company’s products.
However, crafting documents that cater to diverse readers posed a significant challenge. Protocols and reports needed to be detailed enough for other microbiologists to replicate studies yet accessible to non-technical stakeholders. As Malchow explained,
“My biggest challenge has been writing to multiple audiences. I’ve always aimed to please the first reviewer, then edit as the draft was passed from person to person. That approach led to sentences being taken out and added back in later according to the personal preferences of each reader.”
This iterative and often inefficient process not only consumed valuable time but also risked diluting the clarity and focus of the documents. Without a structured approach to writing, scientists struggled to consistently meet the needs of their readers while maintaining the precision required in technical writing.
Recognizing the need for improvement, ConAgra Foods sought a partner who could provide a tailored solution to enhance their scientists’ writing skills and streamline their communication processes.
The Solution
To address the communication challenges its scientists faced, ConAgra Foods partnered with Hurley Write. With over 30 years of experience, Hurley Write specializes in developing tailored solutions that empower professionals to communicate clearly and confidently.
Pam Hurley, Ph.D., founder of Hurley Write, designed an onsite writing workshop specifically for ConAgra Foods. The course was customized to address the unique writing challenges its scientists by focusing on internal scientific documents. The training emphasized three critical areas:
- Critical Thinking in Writing: Encouraging participants to approach writing tasks with a strategic mindset, ensuring content was purposeful and targeted.
- Developing a Writing Strategy: Teaching a step-by-step process to organize ideas and create structured documents.
- Organizational Strategies & Techniques: Providing methods to enhance clarity and coherence in complex technical documents.
Participants actively applied these concepts by revising drafts of their own internal reports. Malchow noted that this hands-on approach was particularly effective, as participants received real-time feedback.
“Not only did the instructor comment on what could be improved, but others also spoke about certain aspects that I had never thought about. This was a prime example of not catering to my audience. It was eye-opening.”
Results
Hurley Write’s customized training transformed how ConAgra Foods’ scientists approached their writing tasks in a variety of ways:
1. Improved Writing Clarity and Structure
Scientists, including Ashley Malchow, developed a deeper understanding of how to craft clear, concise documents tailored to their readers. Reports, protocols, and proposals were more organized and easier to follow, ensuring they met the needs of both technical and non-technical stakeholders. Malchow said,
“Now, I can incorporate ways to think critically and organize the report structure while keeping my audience in mind.”
This shift in perspective helped her streamline her writing process, leading to documents that were more impactful and easier to understand.
2. Enhanced Confidence in Communication
The workshop equipped participants with tools and strategies to write with purpose and precision. Malchow noted a significant improvement in her confidence, explaining,
“I used to just try to get by with the basics of a report, but now I plan ahead and implement different techniques.”
3. Application Beyond Reports
The skills scientists gained during the training extended beyond formal reports: they were able to apply critical thinking and organizational strategies to other forms of communication, including work instructions and emails. This holistic improvement helped foster clearer, more effective communication across the organization.
4. Development of a Reliable Writing Process
By adopting a structured and repeatable writing process, participants reduced inefficiencies and inconsistencies in their work. This new-found skill to write with a clear strategy in mind saved time and ensured that documents consistently met high standards of quality and clarity.
In Malchow’s words,
“My writing is more structured. I stop and slow down to think about how my writing can affect others’ opinions and viewpoints.”
This approach has enabled her and her colleagues to create documents that resonate with their intended readers while maintaining scientific rigor.