© 2005 Pearson Education Canada Business Communication EssentialsChapter Understanding and Planning Business Reports and Proposals

© 2005 Pearson Education Canada Business Communication EssentialsChapter From The Real World Written reports are essential for evaluating business opportunities. Without the facts, boards can’t act. Gerry Roy, Chief Corporate Officer and Legal Counsel Inualiut Regional Corporation

© 2005 Pearson Education Canada Business Communication EssentialsChapter Reports and Proposals Monitor and Control OperationsImplement Policies and ProceduresDocumentResults Comply with GovernmentRegulationsGuideDecisions Gain the Acceptance of Others

© 2005 Pearson Education Canada Business Communication EssentialsChapter Informational Reports Monitor and control operations Implement policies and procedures Comply with government regulations Document progress on projects

© 2005 Pearson Education Canada Business Communication EssentialsChapter Problem-Solving Reports Business Proposals Analytical Reports

© 2005 Pearson Education Canada Business Communication EssentialsChapter Solving Problems Trouble Shooting ReportsFeasibility ReportsJustification Reports

© 2005 Pearson Education Canada Business Communication EssentialsChapter Writing Proposals UnsolicitedSolicited InternalExternal

© 2005 Pearson Education Canada Business Communication EssentialsChapter Three-Step Writing Process PlanningCompletingWriting Analyze the Situation Investigate the Topic Adapt to Audience Organize the Message Compose the Message Revise the Message Produce the Message Proofread the Message

© 2005 Pearson Education Canada Business Communication EssentialsChapter Planning Reports InvestigationInvestigation AdaptationAdaptation AnalysisAnalysis AudiencePurpose Channel Medium

© 2005 Pearson Education Canada Business Communication EssentialsChapter Analyzing the Situation InformationalReportsInformationalReportsAnalyticalReportsAnalyticalReports

© 2005 Pearson Education Canada Business Communication EssentialsChapter Defining the Problem How?When?Why? Where?Who?What?

© 2005 Pearson Education Canada Business Communication EssentialsChapter AnalyticalAnalytical Writing a Purpose Statement InformationalInformational Summarize Explain Submit Analyze Evaluate Recommend

© 2005 Pearson Education Canada Business Communication EssentialsChapter Preparing the Work Plan Statement of the problem Statement of the purpose and scope Discussion of tasks to be accomplished Description of final products or outcomes Review of schedules and requirements Plans for following up Working outline

© 2005 Pearson Education Canada Business Communication EssentialsChapter Drafting a Preliminary Outline Descriptive (Topical)Informative (Talking) I. Industry Characteristics A. Annual Sales B. Profitability C. Growth Rate 1. Sales 2. Profit I. What is the nature of the industry? A. What are the annual sales? B. Is the industry profitable? C. What is the growth pattern? 1. Sales growth? 2. Profit growth?

© 2005 Pearson Education Canada Business Communication EssentialsChapter Finding Information in the Library GovernmentPublications PeriodicalsNewspapers StatisticalResourceDirectories BusinessBooksElectronicDatabases Almanacs

© 2005 Pearson Education Canada Business Communication EssentialsChapter Business Information on the Internet Internet Public Library CompanyWebsites News Release Sites

© 2005 Pearson Education Canada Business Communication EssentialsChapter Searching Databases Use Multiple Search Engines Replace Concepts With Key Words Use Variations of Search Terms Specify Phrases and Key Words Refine Searches As Needed

© 2005 Pearson Education Canada Business Communication EssentialsChapter Sources of Primary Information Documents Observations Experiments

© 2005 Pearson Education Canada Business Communication EssentialsChapter Effective Surveys Provide Clear Instructions Use Short Questionnaires Seek Easy-to-Analyze Answers Avoid Leading Questions PretestQuestionnaires Ask One Thing At a Time

© 2005 Pearson Education Canada Business Communication EssentialsChapter Effective Interviews Plan the InterviewPrepareQuestionsPrioritizeQuestions Don’t Ask Too Many Questions Edit the QuestionsProcessInformation

© 2005 Pearson Education Canada Business Communication EssentialsChapter Documenting Sources GeneralKnowledgeCopyrightedMaterial

© 2005 Pearson Education Canada Business Communication EssentialsChapter Interpret Your Findings Assumptions Judgment Values Facts Conclusions Recommendations

© 2005 Pearson Education Canada Business Communication EssentialsChapter Real World Applications After an exhaustive study of an important problem, you have reached a conclusion that you believe your company's management will reject. What will you do? Let’s Discuss!