Researching and Using Information

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Chapter 7

• Researching and Using Information

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Case Study 7

• Gloria is a executive assistant for Jameson
  Recovery Associates. Her company helps businesses
  develop contingency plans to prevent natural or
  manufactured disasters from terminating their
  business operations.
• Jameson provides consulting, training and
  software services. The company helps develop
  plans for the information and records that would
  need to be recreated I order for a business to
  continue functioning in the event of disasters.
• Gloria has been in her current position for three
  years. Although she loves her job, she has been
  hoping for an opportunity to show her supervisor
  that she is ready to assume some more challenging
  responsibilities.
• One of the sales executives, Jim, is preparing to
  make an important presentation to a large
  software company. When he asks Gloria to assist
  with initial research, she jumps at the chance.
• Jim speaks with Gloria on Monday morning, asking
  her to locate information on the company and
  prepare a report for his review by a week from
  that Friday. He tells her that the company is
  headquartered in Chicago, is publicity held and
  has been in business since 1979.
• Gloria is so excited by the project that she
  neglects to ask Jim some key questions to aid in
  her research. She wonders what her first step
  should be, where she should begin he search for
  information about the company, what specific
  information would be helpful, and how much
  information would be needed to prepare a thorough
  report.
• After speaking with Jim again, Gloria learns that
  he wants information on the companys growth
  (past, present and planned), financial stability,
  and corporate officers. He wants to know of
  planned expansions, mergers, sales , takeovers,
  or any rumors of such activity. He will use this
  information to present a detailed plan to the
  company on safeguarding its business operations
  in the event of disaster.

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Case Study Questions

1. What questions should Gloria have asked Jim
   during their initial conversation regarding this
   research project?
2. How should Gloria decide what information she
   needs, what is most important, and how she should
   proceed?
3. Based on the information she needs where should
   Gloria begin her search?
4. What other type of resources might provide the
   information Gloria needs?
5. How should Gloria determine the data to include
   in her report to Jim? Should she include
   recommendations in her report?
6. For this type of report, is it necessary for
   Gloria to cite her sources? If so, how should she
   present the information?

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Steps in a Search
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Planning the Search
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Using keywords to Define a Search
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Developing Deadlines and Timelines
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Lets go back to questions 1 and 2 of the case
study.

• What questions should Gloria have asked Jim
  during their initial conversation regarding this
  research project?
• How should Gloria decide what information she
  needs, what is most important, and how she should
  proceed?

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Sources of Information
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Knowing where to look
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Finding it on the Web
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Lets go back to questions 3 and 4 of the case
study.

• 3. Based on the information she needs where
  should Gloria begin her search?
• 4. What other type of resources might provide the
  information Gloria needs?

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Organizing and Prioritizing Information
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Evaluating Sources of Information
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Lets go back to questions 5 and 6 of the case
study.

• How should Gloria determine the data to include
  in her report to Jim? Should she include
  recommendations in her report?
• For this type of report, is it necessary for
  Gloria to cite her sources? If so, how should she
  present the information?

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Case 7 Summary

• In her excitement at being asked to work on Jims
  presentation, Gloria initially forgot that the
  most important step in any research project is
  proper planning. Because she didnt ask Jim to
  clarify the specific information he needed, she
  initially was confused and didnt know where to
  begin. Only after determine his needs and the
  intended use for the information was Gloria able
  to begin the research process with a clear plan
  for locating the requested data.
• When conducting research, it is important to
  follow each step in the research process1 plan
  the search, 2 locate sources of information, 3
  organize the information, 4 evaluate the sources,
  use or present the information in an appropriate
  format.
• By taking the time to discuss the project again
  with Jim and determine the specific information
  he wanted. Gloria should be able to produce a
  thorough and accurate report that may help
  convince her supervisor to give her more
  responsibility.

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Wading Through Web Sites Case Study

• Page 263 of Textbook
• Must be typed in Times Roman Numeral Font.
• Complete Sentences!
• Dont start a sentence with yes, no or maybe.