Business Policy and Strategy

Advocating Business Policy Proposals

sound preparation

successful reportPolicy problems to exitThe cause of the policy problems has been diagnosedThe proposal will remove the causeThe proposal is practicable

Developing a presentation

3. Marshalling the evidence

2. Discovering the issues

1. Phrasing the proposition

5. Outlining the report

6. Writing the report

4. Briefing the argument

Phrasing the proposition

Stating the solution arrived at by the process of formulation as a proposition of policy

Proposition of facts

Proposition of values

Proposition of policy

The company should seek to diversify its product line.The company should abandon its job-shop operations and concentrate on large-volume business.

Discovering the issuesRaising the vital questions on which the validity of the proposition hinges and formulating the affirmative answers to these questions:

1. Do policy problems exist?2. Has the cause of the policy problems been diagnosed?3. Does the proposed policy removed the cause?4. Is the proposed policy practicable?

Marshalling the evidenceSelecting the facts, reasons, opinions, and assumptions to use in support of the major contentions

Sources ofevidencefacts

generali-zation

opinions

assump-tions

Briefing the argumentOrganizing the major contentions and evidence into logical orderHas 3 parts:

Introduction: statement of the proposition, origin and history of the problem, immediate cause, statement of issuesBodyConclusion: summary of essential points

Outlining the reportRearranging logical argument

Writing the reportPreparing the presentationHas 3 major areas:

OrganizationContentsStyle

Formulation

Brief Outline

Report