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ReportsOrganized information

in response to an expressed need

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Reports

• Administration• Decisions• Information• Interpretation

• Legalities• Planning• Records• Trend analysis

Short / Long: Rationale

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Short and Long

• Response to need• Audience

– lateral / vertical– specialized / lay

• Data > Information• Objectivity• Professionalism

• CMAPP• ABC • CFF• CAP• KISS• 5WH

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Short

• Single purpose / focus• Coupon > > > several pages• Format:

– Memo > Letter– Report > Prepared form

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Short Reports:Alternative

Classification• Incident• Periodic• Progress

• Sales• Test• Etc.

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Informal (Short) Reports

– Information– Investigation

Informative Analytical– Evaluation– Recommendation

Evaluative versus Informativesee Evaluative versus Informative Content.pptx

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Informative Reports: Organization

• Patterns– Chronological

(Sales over 4 quarters)

– Topical/Spatial (Widget type/Geography)

– Importance (High>low / Low>high)

– House Style

• Segments– Introduction / Background– Facts / Findings / Observations /

Results– Summary

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Evaluative Reports: Approach

• Deductive (Direct):– business: informed audience – problem recommendation facts

discussion• Inductive (Indirect):

– Persuasion: uninformed audience– problem facts analysis

recommendation

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Evaluative Reports: Organization

– Purchased Cars• Up-front costs• Overhead costs• Employee reactions

– Leased Cars• Up-front costs• Overhead costs• Employee reactions

– Employee-owned Cars• Up-front costs• Overhead costs• Employee reactions

– Up-front Costs• Purchased cars• Leased cars• Employee-owned cars

– Overhead Costs• Purchased cars• Leased cars• Employee-owned cars

– Employee Reactions• Purchased cars• Leased cars• Employee-owned cars

Alternative/Option Criterion / Issue

Renewing Fleet of Vehicles for Sales StaffPurchasing Dept. Finance Dept.

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Long

• Multiple purpose / focus• Complexity• Conventions• Example: company annual report

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Long Report Conventions (1)

• Common Front Pieces– Transmittal memo/letter– Cover page– Table of Contents– Abstract and/or Executive Summary– List of Figures / Illustrations)– Glossary (more likely: End Piece)

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Long Report Conventions (2)

• Body• Common End Pieces

– Appendix / Appendices– Glossary– Index– Works Cited (depending on style guide)– Bibliography (format as per style guide)

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Feasibility Proposal Report

1. Week 6 posting re Persuasive Communication (including proposals)

2. Assignment information and Grading Sheet in Assignments and Grading Sheets folder on website.