W231
Final Business Report Assignment
For the largest project in our course
you will write a Business Report for a “client” of your choice. Your report
will closely follow the format of an example report that I will provide for you
on Canvas. In addition, your report
will:
1. focus on
specific real-world “client” (a real business, organization, or individual)
that is the primary audience for your report
2. identify a
real-world problem that is impacting your “client”
3. propose
two feasible real-world solutions to the problem
4. compare
and contrast the potential solutions to the problem by doing research and
presenting the information on your findings in the BODY of your Business Report
5. recommend ONE
of the two solutions as the optimal way to improve upon your “client’s”
problem
We will complete a number of check-point
assignments during the next six weeks that will be building blocks to help you
stay on task and succeed on the Final Business Report. You will also will find examples, directions,
and further information on our course Canvas site as we go. If you are a person who likes to think and
work ahead, be sure to check out the “Future Planning” information I will post
to the Canvas Module each week as we work on the Business Report. The general requirements for the Final Business Report
length and formatting are as follows:
8 to 10 pages that include the following
sections:
·
Well-designed
cover sheet
·
Professional
transmittal letter
·
Table of
Contents
·
Executive
Summary
·
Introduction
o
Purpose
and Scope
o
Assumptions
o
Methods
o
Limitations
o
Definitions
·
Report
Body
o
includes
data/supporting information organized with appropriate headings and subheadings
o
includes
at least one graphic aid such as a map, a chart, a figure, or a graph
·
Conclusions
and Recommendations or Findings section
·
References
(at least 4 credible sources) using APA citation style
Example “clients” and topics for the Business
Report include:
· A report for the St. Joe County Health
Department that investigates two alternative ways the department can improve
their approach to educating parents/the public about the importance of
vaccinating children against disease.
· A report for any student club or organization
at IUSB that investigates two alternative ways the club or organization can
improve their social media presence and/or generate attention/grow membership.
· A report for a specific business (of your
choosing) that investigates two alternative ways the business can improve their
web page or better market themselves using social media.
·
A report for a specific athletic team at IUSB
that investigates two alternative ways the team can generate more attention for
and attendance at student sporting events.
· A
report for the South Bend School Corporation that investigates two alternative
ways they can implement policies to keep kids off their devices and/or safe
from internet predators.
· A
report for IUSB (or another entity) that investigates two alternative ways to
minimize the environmental footprint of the campus. Note: this report would
likely need to be narrowed to something specific, like Styrofoam use.
· A
report for IUSB (or another university) that investigates two alternative ways
to improve the handling/response of issues related to student misconduct.
*Note: Regardless of the “client” and topic you decide upon, you are
encouraged to contact me via email to discuss possible research avenues and
approaches to create a successful report.
Assignments
that Build to the Report:
· Response
Assignment identifying previous experiences and
preliminary ideas for the Business Report
· Proposal
for your Business Report that identifies
your “client”, topic, outline, and sources
· Peer
Review Responses to proposal
· rough
draft of the BODY of your Business Report
· Peer
Review Responses
· rough
draft of the ENTIRE Business Report
· Peer
Review Responses
· FINAL
Business Report
Grading:
Your Business Report and the associated
assignments listed above are worth 35% of your final course grade in W231. I assess the Final Business Report itself based
on 200 points divided into three broad categories (detailed rubric for the
Business Report will be provided on Canvas):
1)
General Professional
Writing Objectives (75 points)
2)
Report Research, Writing, Formatting, and Design
(75 points)
3)
Collaboration (50
points assessed individually based on teammate’s feedback and instructor
observations)
THIS
WEEK – FIRST: SELECT A METHOD- Detailed information about the options is as follows:
You will complete
the Business Report independently.
You will complete the work (identifying a “client,” defining your
topic/problem, conducting research, writing and organizing your report) on your
own. However, I will still assign you to
a group and you and your group will work together to help one another through
the report writing process. This will
involve completing three assignments where you are required to submit draft
information (your proposal, rough draft of the BODY of the Business Report, and
rough draft of the ENTIRE Business Report) to your group for feedback and review. You are agreeing to review two or three of
your classmate’s rough drafts regularly and provide detailed and constructive
feedback to help them with the revision process (I will provide forms and
guidance for this process).
SECOND:
IDENTIFY A “CLIENT” AND PROBLEM-
You can pick a topic from the list I have provided above,
keeping in mind that most of the topics still need to be shaped a bit further.
Or, you can come up with a topic independently.
If you do not use a topic from the list, keep in mind that you want to
investigate an issue or problem that is real, important enough to be worth
solving, and narrow enough to be addressed effectively given time and page
length limitations. In addition, defining your problem will involve considering
the “client” for your report and adapting your writing accordingly. Like your problem, your “client” should be
real and able to implement any recommended action. As you brainstorm topics and
begin initial research, consider the sources and evidence that you have
available. A successful report will depend on finding information that is both
accessible, appropriate to your topic, and comprehensible. In addition, your sources should clearly
document the problem and allow you to prove that your recommendation will solve
the problem. Once you have done some
preliminary research and identified a problem and “client” you will create your
Business Report Proposal.
