Recommendation reports address four kinds of questions: What should we do about Problem X? Should we do Function X? Should we use Technology A or Technology B to do Function X? We currently use Method A to do Function X. Should we be using Method B? Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2012 by Bedford/St. Martin's 1 1

answer three kinds of questions: Feasibility reports answer three kinds of questions: questions of possibility questions of economic wisdom questions of perception Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2012 by Bedford/St. Martin's 2 2

Use a problem-solving method when preparing a recommendation report: Identify the problem or opportunity. Establish criteria for responding to the problem or opportunity. Determine the options. Study each option according to the criteria. Draw conclusions about each option. Formulate recommendations based on the conclusions. Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2012 by Bedford/St. Martin's 3 3

Use logic boxes to plot a series of options: Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2012 by Bedford/St. Martin's 4 4

compare and contrast options: Use a matrix to compare and contrast options: (1) Score = Weight x Rating  Criteria and Weight   Options Ricoh Xerox Sharp Criterion Weight Rating Score(1) Pages/min. 1 9 6 3 Duplex 10 30 Color 4 40 Total Score 52 19 73 Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2012 by Bedford/St. Martin's 5 5

Explain your decision matrix: Explain why you chose each criterion—or didn’t choose a criterion readers might have expected. Explain why you assigned a particular weight to each criterion. Explain why you assigned a particular rating to each option. Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2012 by Bedford/St. Martin's 6

conclusions in one of three ways: You can present your conclusions in one of three ways: Rank all the options. Classify all the options in two categories: acceptable and unacceptable. Present a compound conclusion. Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2012 by Bedford/St. Martin's 7 7

Most recommendation reports have three major sections: the body of the report the front matter the back matter Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2012 by Bedford/St. Martin's 8 8

A typical recommendation report has five body elements: introduction methods results conclusions recommendations Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2012 by Bedford/St. Martin's 9 9

An introduction typically answers nine questions: What is the subject of the report? What is the purpose of the report? What is the background of the report? What are your sources of information? What is the scope of the report? Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2012 by Bedford/St. Martin's 10 10

An introduction typically answers nine questions (cont.): What are the most significant findings? What are your recommendations? What is the organization of the report? What key terms are you using in the report? Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2012 by Bedford/St. Martin's 11 11

Address the following four questions when writing the body of your report: Methods. What did you do? Results. What did you see? Conclusions. What does it mean? Recommendations. What should we do? Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2012 by Bedford/St. Martin's 12 12

Consider these four factors when writing your recommendations: content tone form location Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2012 by Bedford/St. Martin's 13 13

A typical recommendation report contains seven elements in the front matter: letter of transmittal cover title page abstract table of contents list of illustrations executive summary Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2012 by Bedford/St. Martin's 14 14

Understand the difference between a descriptive and an informative abstract: A descriptive abstract describes the kinds of information contained in the report. An informative abstract presents the major findings. Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2012 by Bedford/St. Martin's 15 15

Follow these five guidelines when writing an executive summary: Use specific evidence in describing the background. Be specific in describing the research. Describe the methods briefly. Describe the findings according to your readers’ needs. Ask an outside reader to review your draft. Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2012 by Bedford/St. Martin's 16 16

A typical recommendation report includes three elements in the back matter: glossary and list of symbols references appendixes Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2012 by Bedford/St. Martin's 17 17