Chapter 13. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's1 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 13. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's2 Feasibility reports answer three kinds of questions: questions of possibility questions of economic wisdom questions of perception

Chapter 13. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's3 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. Use a problem-solving method when preparing a recommendation report:

Chapter 13. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's4 Use logic boxes to plot a series of options:

Chapter 13. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's5 Use a matrix to compare and contrast options:

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 13. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's 6

Chapter 13. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's7 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 13. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's8 A typical recommendation report has five body elements: introduction methods results conclusions recommendations

Chapter 13. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's9 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 13. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's10 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 13. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's11 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 13. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's12 Consider these four factors when writing your recommendations: content tone form location

Chapter 13. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's13 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 13. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's14 Understand the difference between descriptive and informative abstracts: A descriptive abstract describes the kinds of information contained in the report. An informative abstract presents the major findings.

Chapter 13. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's15 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 13. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2013 by Bedford/St. Martin's16 A typical recommendation report includes three elements in the back matter: glossary and list of symbols references appendixes