Formal Report: Assignment Description Business Communications BRIEF DESCRIPTION: This is an individual assignment of which a complete, final draft is due on when you make your presentation [last class period or final exam slot] and will be submitted via Canvas and checked under TurnItIn. You will be required to complete the various steps of the business writing process (outlined below) to develop a single-spaced, 6-8 page final report. Your final report must include both primary and secondary research; the number of sources required will depend on the nature of the topic. Your objective is to produce a report that would be helpful to key decision makers within a specific company. The report may include three (3) graphics (images, charts, tables, graphs, etc.). Each graphic can be no larger than one-third page. Graphics will count toward the total page limit. Following completion of the final draft, you will give a formal presentation over your report topic using Microsoft PowerPoint. SCOPE AND TOPIC: Reports will be written on any topic that is analytic, but best results often come from one of the three general themes below: 1. How to improve a specific product. (e.g. Improvements to design of Nintendo Switch Console) 2. How to improve a specific process. (e.g. Improving bookkeeping and payroll process at Smith & Johnson, LLC) 3. How to solve a specific problem. (e.g. Small Miracle Daycare implementing a training handbook, restructuring new employee onboarding process, and regularly reviewing policies and procedures to solve the problem of ineffectual employees) Topics might include re-designing a process, upgrading a facility, implementing new equipment or software, enhancing a website, modifying an existing product, solving a problem such as customer retention or low employee morale, or any instructor-approved topic that involves significant analysis and will lead to meaningful recommendations. Audience: your topic should have a professional focus; your report should be aimed at the individual(s) who could implement your recommendations. (i.e. you may be writing to managers, owners, or other key decision-makers within the company). DELIVERABLES: Topic Proposal: October 6 (E-mailed) 50 pts Progress Report: November 1 (E-mailed) 30 pts Full Rough Draft: November 17 (submit via Canvas) 50 pts Peer Edit Due : November 20 (submit via Canvas) 30 pts Final Draft: December 10 (submit via Canvas) 150 pts Formal Report Topic Proposal (1-page memo format): DUE OCTOBER 6. Send via E-mail. 50 points. Each student will write a proposal to the instructor (in proper memo format) on the scope of the suggested topic for the formal report. The proposal should, at a minimum, describe the following: • The topic: fully describe the problem or process you are attempting to address • The need: describe the need driving the necessary change; the basic steps in implementing the change • Audience: an analysis of your intended audience for your topic; describe who would be able to implement your changes and/or suggestions This proposal will be used to determine if your selected topic is approved, if modification to your topic is required, or if a different topic will be needed. Each student will receive this feedback on the assignment via Canvas. Full credit for the draft will be earned simply by submitting a FULL draft with content attempted for each section (outline below) for comments. The relative quality of the document is not necessarily factored into this component. This draft will also be submitted to classmates for peer review activities. The FULL draft must include the following elements: 1. Introduction (5 points) 2. Background (5 points) 3. Discussion (20 points) 4. Conclusions (5 points) 5. Recommendations (10 points) 6. References (5 points) Formal Report Project Final version (6-8 pages): DUE on DECEMBER 10. 150 points. Each student will revise and refine the draft submitted earlier in the term. The finished product should adhere to the highest standards of business communication, successfully incorporating the feedback provided by the various editors and proofreaders. The quality of this deliverable will be scrutinized thoroughly, unlike the draft version. The final draft will be graded with the provided final draft formal report rubric (see Canvas). The final draft must include all required elements: • Front Matter (Cover page, Table of Contents, Letter of Transmittal, Executive Summary) • Body of report (Introduction, Background, Discussion, Conclusions, Recommendations, & References) • End Matter (Appendix) Formal Report Project Presentation (8 slides MAX): Due DECEMBER 10; PowerPoint presentation. 100 points. You are required to develop a professional PowerPoint slide presentation (of no more than 10 slides) to accompany a formal 5-6-minute oral presentation on your topic. Formal business dress is required for the presentation (dress as you would for an important interview). It is expected to be a highly professional demonstration of the student’s ability to apply key concepts from the course. The audience for the presentation is the same as the intended audience of the report. Presentations details are listed under the separate assignment on Canvas. CONTENTS OF FORMAL REPORT Your Formal Report FINAL draft must include the following sections: Front Matter: Prefatory sections (do NOT count towards page limit; number prefatory pages in lowercase roman numerals, but do not place a number on your cover sheet): • A cover sheet (no page number) • A letter of transmittal (ii) • A table of contents (including a list of figures) (iii) • An executive summary (iv) Body sections (6-8 pages single-spaced): these DO count towards page limit, except the references • Introduction • Background section • Discussion section • Conclusions section • Recommendations section • References page End Matter: Additionally, each student will prepare at least an appendix that does NOT count towards the final page range. Appendices should be labeled as Appendix A, Appendix B, and so forth [if needed]. You may number the appendix pages as you please. • Appendix: Primary research details o If using first-hand experience or observation ? Details on experience: How many months/years experience do you have? ? Details on observation: Who did you observe? What location? For how long? o If using survey, interview, or questionnaire ? List of questions ? If conducted an expert interview: name of interviewee, position ? Number of participants (if applicable) FORMATTING GUIDELINES FOR FORMAL REPORT Please review the Formatting Guidelines for the Formal Report • Spacing: your report will be single-spaced (1.0), as this is the expectation in the business environment. • Margins: 1 or 1.25 inch margins all the way around the document (except cover page) • Font: 12 point Times New Roman, or 12 point Calibri • Page numbers should be centered at the bottom of page; front matter should be numbered with roman numerals while the body should be numbered with Arabic numerals • Point of View & Voice: Use ‘I’ when referring to your primary research but otherwise use third person. Use active voice when possible/appropriate. Review guidelines here: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/15/ • Section headings should be completed in APA style: https://owl.english.purdue.edu/owl/resource/560/16/ • Parenthetical citations and References sheet should use APA format for citations Purchase answer to see full attachment Tags: product life cycle branding Business Communications User generated content is uploaded by users for the purposes of learning and should be used following our company’shonor code & terms of service.