Start with a good brainstorming session . . .

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Start with a good brainstorming session . . .
Dont start writing yet! The secret of
an effective business report is good planning.
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planning

• Stage I Expand
• explore all the possibilities
• brainstorm
• tree diagram
• journalists approach
• components, change, context

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planning

• Stage II Contract
• limit and define
• identify restrictions (time, money, resources)
• define precise focus of study

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planning

• Stage II Contract
• better to do limited topic well than broad one
  superficially!

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research

• primary
• interviews
• surveys
• experiments
• secondary
• library
• internal records
• internet

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research

• quality of information
• assess reliability
• assess validity

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format

• transmittal letter
• title page
• table of contents
• body
• bibliography
• appendix

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structure

• direct 1 (shorter report)
• exec. summary
• introduction
• conclusions or recommendations
• discussion of findings

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structure

• direct 2 (longer report)
• exec. summary
• introduction
• summary of conclusions
• discussion of findings
• detailed conclusions

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structure

• indirect
• exec. summary
• introduction
• discussion of findings
• conclusions or recommendations

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structure

• guideline
• ease of understanding

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body

• summary
• one page (separate)
• synopsis of report
• important points highlighted
• write last

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body

• introduction
• purpose
• background
• scope
• method

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body

• discussion of findings
• facts which support conclusions
• divide into subsections
• use descriptive headings
• arrange in logical order
• leads reader most easily to conclusions

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body

• conclusions/ recommendations
• numbered list or subsections for each
• most important first
• be specific
• how will it be implemented?
• who will be responsible?

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citations

• for any reference which is not general knowledge
• citations vs. footnotes
• embedded in text following reference
• (author's name, page, year of publication)

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citations

• bibliography (works cited)
• include all works cited in text
• alphabetical order
• author, title, publisher, date

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appendix

• detailed support information
• tables
• survey instruments
• technical stuff

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transmittal

• letter of transmittal
• statement of purpose
• outline of major conclusions
• statement of thanks
• goodwill close
• personal, conversational, brief

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presentation

• emphasize important points
• focus on conclusions
• anticipate address questions and objections
• avoid mechanical summary of written report

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presentation

• get feedback from audience
• leave time for questions discussion
• hold questions until end of presentation
• close with reinforcement of main point

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remember

• problem solving approach
• establish need
• demonstrate solution

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remember

• reader-based
• what are benefits to reader?
• reader needs, interests, biases?
• results-oriented
• what is decision he needs to make?
• what does he need to know to make decision?

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editing

• use outline to arrange ideas, key points
• use appropriate style

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return to schedule
go to next lesson