ba 105w final
The range for daily sales for the week, $89,000, $75,000, $98,000, $66,000, and $99,000 is
$33,000
The title page of a formal proposal should include
...
Determine the median of the numbers 30, 25, 25, 45, and 70.
30
Which of the following is the most accurate statement about the executive summary?
A formal proposal may contain both an executive summary and an abstract.
Which of the following reports is an example of an analytical report?
A report recommending one of four building alarm systems
Which of the following reports is an example of an informational report?
A report showing how a company has complied with SEC regulations
Which of the following is an analytical report?
A report to determine whether a company should outsource its customer support function
Which of the following is an example of a feasibility report?
A report to determine whether a company should provide tuition reimbursement for its employees
Which of the following reports would most likely be written using an informal writing style?
A summary report written to your supervisor about a conference you attended
Which of the following transitional expressions suggest cause and effect?
Accordingly, as a result, consequently, therefore
Which of the following transitional expressions can be used to present additional thoughts?
Again, also, moreover, furthermore
Pamela will be writing a complex report about a research study she's conducting. Which of the following should she do?
All of these choices
Which of the following appears in the market analysis section of a business plan?
All of these choices
Which of the following is an example of a digital report?
All of these choices are examples of digital reports.
Nadia will carefully document her sources in a report she must submit to her boss. Which of the following is a reason that Nadia should document her sources?
All of these choices are reasons for documenting report data.
A good introductory paragraph for a business report should
All of these choices.
Knowledgeable report writers use direct quotations to
All of these choices.
The letter of transmittal and/or executive summary of a business plan should
All of these choices.
The staffing section of an informal proposal may
All of these choices.
What is the most accurate statement about correlations?
Apparent correlations between two or more variables can stimulate investigation and present possible solutions to be explored.
Which of the following transitional expressions can be used to contrast ideas?
At the same time, but, however, though, yet
In an introduction to a formal report, what section identifies who commissioned the report?
Authorization
Which section of a proposal typically identifies the problem and discusses the goals or purposes of the project?
Background
What is the best advice for preparing an executive summary of a formal business report?
Begin the executive summary with your purpose.
The longest and most substantive section of a formal business report is the
Body
Which of the following statements about business plans is least accurate?
Business plans are generally written in response to RFPs.
Which of the following is an effective question to use in a survey?
Do teachers deserve a 7 percent pay increase?
The best question to include in a survey is
Do you approve of a flat-rate income tax?
Select the best wording for a recommendation.
Extend the campus café hours to meet the needs of evening students.
Agendas, minutes of meetings, and progress reports are usually organized by component.
False
All formal proposals are written for external audiences, and all formal business reports are written for internal audiences.
False
Analytical reports should always be prepared using an indirect organizational pattern.
False
Andrew must recommend to his reluctant boss that the company allow employees to work a compressed workweek. Andrew's justification/recommendation report on this sensitive topic should be organized directly.
False
Annette has been asked to determine whether employees should be allowed to select the fringe benefits they want from a menu of choices. Annette should write a yardstick report.
False
As long as you have at least one table or figure in your proposal, a list of figures is required.
False
As long as you put the research you find into your own words, you don't have to cite your source.
False
Ashley attended a professional conference and must submit a report to her boss. She should arrange her conference report chronologically and include details about every aspect of the conference.
False
Brad started his report with a description of the problem. He followed this with his facts and findings. Finally, he ended his report with his conclusions and recommendations. Brad has used the direct pattern to write his report.
False
Business report writers should anticipate primary audiences only.
False
Capitalize all words in a heading, including articles, conjunctions, and short prepositions.
False
Chad has noticed that employees working in offices with windows have lower absentee rates. This correlation proves that offices with natural light are healthier for employees.
False
Computer Professionals Magazine is presenting the verbal opinions of information technology experts on several leading voice-recognition devices. This information will be easiest to comprehend if presented in a pie chart.
False
Conclusions and recommendations serve the same purpose.
False
Documenting data is necessary in academic reports but not in business reports.
False
Ernest is writing a report to determine which of three cities should be the site for a new branch office. To select the new site, he is comparing labor costs, tax breaks, housing costs, and land availability in each city. Ernest is most likely conducting a feasibility study.
False
Examples of talking report headings include Introduction, Background, Findings, and Conclusions.
False
Executive summaries should always be limited to one page.
False
Formal business reports are read by only the highest levels of management.
False
Formal business reports are similar to formal proposals in that they both make offers.
False
Formal proposals must always be in submitted as printed documents.
False
If your costs increase later, you can raise the prices listed in your proposal budget.
False
In the financial analysis section of a business plan, include only a start-up budget since you're not expected to already know how much you'll need for your operating budget.
False
Leslie should use importance to organize an annual sales report covering the Medical Instruments Division, Computer Supplies Division, and Consumer Products Division.
False
Michelle attended a professional conference and must submit a report to her supervisor. She should write an analytical report.
False
Most proposals are internal.
False
Nearly every research project should begin with a search of primary data.
False
Omit a mission statement from a business plan because investors won't expect you to have one until you actually start your business.
False
Sandra wants to illustrate how her company's sales have increased over the past five years. She should use a pie chart to do this.
False
The ability to access information electronically has made using books for business research obsolete.
False
The conclusions should always be placed in a separate section following the body of a formal business report.
False
The executive summary included in a formal proposal is generally more technically oriented than an abstract.
False
The executive summary of a formal business report should include high-level technical language to show your reader that you're knowledgeable about the topic.
False
The first step in the report-writing process is anticipating how the audience will react to the information in the report.
False
The headings Implementing Security Measures, Communicating With Employees, and Organize Teams are parallel.
False
The more direct quotes you use in a business report, the more professional and credible it will seem.
False
Use first-person pronouns such as I and we in a formal business report to make it sound more objective and believable.
False
When using the indirect organizational pattern, refer to the recommendation in the subject line.
False
Whether you're using the Modern Language Association (MLA) or the American Psychological Association (APA) referencing style, you should list all sources chronologically in the order you consulted them.
False
Yes-no questions produce the best results in an interview with an expert.
False
Which of the following statements about formal business reports is least accurate?
Formal reports are written for external audiences only.
Lydia's report contains sensitive topics that may upset her readers. What type of heading should she use in her formal business report?
Functional headings
Shauna has interviewed several of her colleagues to gather their ideas for improving productivity. She now has raw verbal data to analyze. What is the best tool to analyze raw verbal data?
Grid
Shane conducted research about ways to recruit high-quality job applicants and has developed a list of possible techniques. He has ranked these techniques and will present them in a report listed from most important reason to least important. What organizational method is Shane using?
Importance
Which statement does not describe the body of a formal business report?
Incidental and supporting materials are placed strategically throughout the body of the report.
Sabrina is preparing headings for a report she is writing. What is the best advice you can give her as she creates her headings?
Include at least one heading per report page.
Which of the following is a useful guideline for citing sources in a formal business report?
Include the retrieval date on which you located an electronic reference.
Brandon is writing a report to his supervisor about using social network sites to improve communication with customers. His supervisor knows nothing about using social networks for marketing. What organizational style should Brandon use for his report?
Indirect pattern
What is the primary difference between informational and analytical reports?
Informational reports emphasize facts, and analytical reports emphasize reasoning and conclusions.
Which of the following is an example of a recommendation?
Institute a wellness program to encourage employees to improve their health by adopting healthy habits.
A directly organized informational report might follow which outline?
Introduction/Background, Facts/Findings, Summary
An indirectly organized analytical report might follow which outline?
Introduction/Problem, Facts/Findings, Discussion/Analysis, Conclusions/Recommendations
Informational reports should be organized using which of the following patterns?
Introduction/background, facts/findings, summary/conclusion
Analytical reports should be organized using which of the following patterns?
Introduction/problem, facts/findings, discussion/analysis, conclusions/recommendations
Which of the following statements about business plans is least accurate?
Investors are looking only for unique products or services.
Gavin wants to encourage his boss to allow him to telecommute. What type of report will he most likely prepare?
Justification/recommendation report
Lydia is anticipating the audience for a report she is writing. What question should she ask during this stage of the writing process?
Lydia should ask all these questions about her audience.
Which of the following is most likely to be distorted by an extreme number at either end?
Mean
Which of the following types of reports would not be sent to someone outside the organization?
Memo format
In the introduction section of a proposal, which of the following would be the best way to persuade the receiver to read the rest of the proposal?
Mention a remarkable resource available exclusively to you.
Which of the following is a conclusion?
Offering a wide range of benefits is the best way to recruit high-quality applicants.
An abstract included with a formal proposal is typically
One page long
Claire will be including large amounts of data in a business report she is writing and wants to ensure that the data are meaningful to her readers. What should she do?
Organize the data into tables
Select the most accurate statement about organizing report data.
Poorly organized reports lead to reader frustration.
Jacqueline must send the same formal report to several readers. What should she do?
Prepare a special letter of transmittal for each, anticipating how each reader will use the report.
Which of the following headings does not belong with the others?
Prevent Identify Theft
Select the most accurate statement about proposals.
Proposals are legal contracts.
Writers often include additional information in the introduction to a formal report. Which of the following would not be appropriate to include in the introduction?
Providing a detailed analysis of the problem
Which statement is incorrect?
Recommendations should be general.
Which statement most accurately describes recommendations?
Recommendations should begin with an action verb.
Which statement about conclusions is least accurate?
Report writers should try to draw conclusions that are subjective.
Which of the following situations would require a yardstick report?
Sam gathers information on three mid-range American-made automobiles to compare price, fuel economy, maintenance, insurance rates, and resale value before selecting a car for the company's sales force.
An expanded statement of purpose for a study includes three additional factors. What are they?
Scope, significance, and limitations
What type of data result from reading what others have experienced or observed and written down?
Secondary data
Jill wants to write a persuasive business plan. What government agency will give her the most useful advice for writing the plan?
Small Business Administration
Numerical data from questionnaires or interviews are usually summarized using systematic columns and rows in a
Table
Which of the following components is typically included in a formal proposal but is optional in an informal proposal?
Table of Contents
Select the least accurate statement about the Web.
The Web is a highly organized collection of information from around the world.
Derrick is evaluating the information he found on a Web site before he includes it in his business report. He asks, "When was this Web site last updated?" What is Derrick evaluating?
The currency of the Web site
Select the most accurate statement about the Web.
The fastest-growing sector of the Web is social networking sites.
Which of the following statements about business reports is most accurate?
The larger an organization, the more vital the exchange and flow of information becomes.
What is the most accurate statement about the title page of a formal report?
The name of the person receiving the report comes before the author of the report.
Which of the following statements would not be appropriate for a transmittal letter or memo?
The questionnaire shown here was used to collect data for this report.
You are responsible for recording the minutes of an important committee meeting. The best way to organize these minutes is by
Time
Which of the following is an effective statement of purpose for an informational report?
To inform the reader of the many different features offered on the Apple iPad
Tom is writing a solicited proposal in response to an RFP and is working on the background section. What is his goal in this section?
To persuade the reader that he understands the problem completely
What is the purpose of business reports?
To solve problems
A business plan is a form of proposal.
True
A copy of the RFP should be included in the front matter of a formal proposal.
True
A progress report on the status of construction of a new high-rise office building should describe the work that has been completed so far and explain the work currently in progress, including personnel, activities, methods, and locations.
True
A report comparing three virus protection programs being considered for purchase would be most effective if organized by criteria.
True
A work plan gives a complete description of a research project, including how the investigator plans to generate or collect data.
True
All business reports have one or more of the following purposes: to convey information, to answer questions, and to solve problems.
True
An appropriate statement to include in the letter of transmittal accompanying a formal proposal is This bid will be in effect until October 22, 2013.
True
An effective opening for an informal proposal might be We are pleased to submit this proposal describing how our ethics training program can help your employees make the best decisions when faced with ethical dilemmas on the job.
True
An effective report conclusion might be Both managers and classified staff members report that employee absenteeism has increased since the company's relocation.
True
An example of a simple statement of purpose for a business report might be To recommend a new process for handling employee grievances.
True
An individual who is caught plagiarizing or using another's words or ideas without giving proper credit faces the possibility of losing his or her job.
True
Are you in favor of requiring seatbelts to save lives? is an example of a leading question.
True
Based on their function, most business reports fall into two broad categories: informational or analytical.
True
By condensing data you have collected into meaningful terms using various statistical techniques, you are more likely to be able to draw valid conclusions and make reasoned recommendations.
True
Do not begin writing your report until after you've drawn the primary conclusions.
True
Everett's boss has asked him to research and recommend a new insurance provider for employees' health insurance. Everett should write an analytical report.
True
Formal experimentation produces data suggesting causes and effects.
True
Formal proposals differ from informal proposals in size and format only.
True
Good report introductions let readers know the purpose of the report, the significance of the topic, and the main points to be covered.
True
If the RFP requests that an organization design an interactive Web site that will provide online customer support, the writer should repeat the language when explaining the purpose of the proposal.
True
If you are writing an unsolicited proposal, your goal in the background section is to convince the reader that a problem exists.
True
If you include a schedule of activities or timetable in your proposal, place it in the proposal section.
True
In a business report, graphics can be used to clarify data, to make numeric data meaningful, and to create visual interest.
True
Informal proposals should close with a reminder of key benefits as well as a request for approval.
True
Informational and analytical reports differ mainly in that informational reports emphasize facts while analytical reports emphasize reasoning and conclusions.
True
Informational reports are usually organized using the direct pattern.
True
Many investors look carefully at the experience of the management team because they consider this the most important factor in assessing business potential.
True
Most proposals are solicited.
True
Most proposals begin by briefly explaining the reasons for the proposal and by highlighting the writer's qualifications.
True
Nick writes several monthly reports condensing financial articles he reads online. These are examples of informational reports.
True
Periodic reports are written at irregular intervals when requested by management.
True
Preprinted forms are useful for presenting repetitive data, such as monthly sales reports, performance reviews, and merchandise inventories.
True
Primary data can be generated through surveys, interviews, observation, and experimentation.
True
Proposals are written offers to solve problems, provide services, or sell equipment.
True
Proposals should be written carefully because they represent legal contracts.
True
Readers usually find reports organized in an indirect pattern most rational because this organizational pattern follows the normal thought process.
True
Redesign the Web site to reduce the number of steps needed to place an order shows effective wording for a formal report recommendation.
True
Report recommendations should use command language such as Begin using social network sites to market our products and services to customers.
True
Research reports prepared by consultants for their clients tend to be rather formal.
True
Ricardo is writing a short report to let his client know the status of the client's project. Ricardo is writing a progress report.
True
Rochelle is writing a report in which she will recommend a new procedure for processing customer returns. This is an example of an analytical report.
True
Solicited proposals are written when an individual or company sees a problem that needs to be solved and offers to solve it.
True
Stephanie is preparing a visual to show the chain of command and reporting structure within her company. An organization chart will best illustrate this data.
True
Table 4 shows that three fourths of the respondents oppose the proposed tax is an effective reference to a visual aid in a report.
True
Talking headings, such as Giving Our Sales Force the Tools They Need to Succeed, are more informative and interesting than functional headings.
True
The appendixes of a business plan might include promotional materials and product photos.
True
The best survey questions provide quantifiable data.
True
The body of a formal business report is where you show the evidence that justifies your conclusions.
True
The conclusions and recommendations sections of a report are the most widely read parts of a report because they tell the reader what the data mean.
True
The mode of the numbers 15, 40, 40, 25, 58, 62, and 30 is 40.
True
The same information may be included in the letter of transmittal, executive summary, and introduction of a formal business report.
True
The transmittal letter or memo that accompanies a formal business report is usually directly organized and written less formally than the report itself.
True
The two most common citation formats are those presented by the Modern Language Association (MLA) and the American Psychological Association (APA).
True
The two types of search tools are subject directories and search engines.
True
Transitional expressions such as furthermore, consequently, however, for example, and to conclude help report readers see the logical flow of ideas in a report.
True
Use an informal, conversational writing style for most informational reports unless the audience expects a more formal tone.
True
Wait until you've completed the report to prepare the table of contents.
True
When little has been written on a research topic, some of the best information comes from interviews with experts in the field.
True
Whenever possible, recommendations should be specific and practical.
True
In which of the following situations should the direct pattern of organization be used for a business report?
When readers are familiar with the topic
In which of the following situations should the indirect pattern of organization be used for a business report?
When readers must be educated about the topic
What do many investors consider to be the most important factor in assessing business potential?
Whether your management team can implement the business plan
Much of the information that allows decision makers to run their organizations effectively comes to them in the form of
Wikipedia entries.
Select the most accurate statement about sources found on the Web.
Wikis, blogs, and discussion forum entries are short-lived and change constantly.
Which of the following situations would most likely require observation or scientific experimentation?
You need to determine the average time it takes your line employees to produce a single piece of furniture.
A good work plan for a business research project includes
all of these choices.
Proposals are
all of these choices.
The authorization request section of an informal proposal may include
all of these choices.
The first step in writing a report is to
analyze the problem or assignment clearly.
A letter of transmittal submitted with a formal proposal should
briefly present the major features and benefits of the proposal.
An informational report presenting annual sales data for a restaurant's five branches would most likely be organized by
component
The section of a formal business report that tells what the findings mean is the
conclusion
The most widely read portions of a report are generally the sections devoted to
conclusions and recommendations.
Conclusions will usually be more objective if
consistent criteria are used in evaluating options.
Informal reports are written in a style that uses
contractions.
Unsolicited proposals should
convince the reader that a problem exists.
During his research, Brett notices that employees who dress professionally in the workplace have higher productivity figures. Brett has identified a possible
correlation
A report that compares the services offered by four private security firms should be organized by
criteria
Orhan has been assigned the task of researching and recommending alarm systems for a new branch office. Some features are more important than others, and Orhan wants to be able to assign relative weights to each feature to make sure that he makes the best decision. He should use a(n)
decision matrix.
Progress and interim reports
describe the status of continuing projects.
ABI/INFORM, Factiva, LexisNexis Academic, and Academic Search Elite (EBSCO) are
electronic databases.
You should begin nearly every business report assignment by
evaluating the available secondary data.
The part of a formal report that highlights the important points for people who may not have time to read the entire report is the
executive summary.
The financial analysis section of a business plan should
explain how much money you already have.
In planning his report, Darren breaks the major investigative problem into subproblems. This process is sometimes called
factoring the problem.
The primary reason that management often requires trip, convention, and conference reports is to
find out whether the organization's money was well spent in funding the travel.
Background, Findings, Staffing, and Budget are examples of
functional headings.
In a formal report, the transmittal letter or memorandum usually
highlights the report's findings, conclusions, and recommendations.
The introduction to a proposal typically
highlights the writer's qualifications.
The company description in a business plan should
identify the form of your business and its business type.
When incorporating a graphic in the body of your report, you should
include a reference to the graphic in the text.
The table of contents for a short formal business report should
include all headings.
Paraphrasing
involves accurately presenting ideas from another source in your own words and sentence structure.
The direct pattern of organization is appropriate for reports whose audience
is eager to learn the results quickly.
Tarryn, a student who is researching forensic accounting, is preparing to interview an experienced accountant. To conduct an effective interview, Tarryn should
learn as much as possible about the forensic accounting field before conducting the interview.
Short (eight or fewer pages) informal reports addressed outside an organization are usually presented in
letter format.
Long formal reports are usually printed on plain paper in
manuscript format.
The indirect pattern of organization is best for readers who
must be persuaded.
Which of the following statements would need to be documented in a report?
n May 6, 2010, the Dow Jones Industrial Average suffered a 998 point loss, which the media called the Flash Crash.
Trace needs to illustrate the percentage each expense represents of total company expenses. His best choice is a(n)
pie chart
The section of a formal business report that makes precise suggestions for actions to solve the report problem is the
recommendations
The best advice for preparing a formal business report is to
record ideas quickly and save revision until after the first draft is completed.
The budget included in a proposal
represents a contract.
In an introduction to a formal business report, the section that clarifies the boundaries of the report and defines what will be included or excluded is the
scope
Google, Yahoo, Bing, About, and Ask are examples of
search tools.
The conclusions of a report
should analyze information logically and show how the data answer questions and solve problems.
Heidi is writing a report about ways to reduce the time it takes to process a customer return and is determining why the topic is worth investigating at this time. Heidi is looking at the
significance
The section in the introduction to a formal business report that tells why the report topic is important is the
significance
Sources of primary information include
surveys and interviews.
Preparing for Our Industry's Future is an example of a(n)
talking heading.
The actual proposal section of a proposal must
tell what you propose to do and how it will benefit the reader.
Because Keith is sure that his boss will be interested in Keith's recommendation for a new payroll procedure that Kevin is recommending be used for processing payroll; therefore, Keith should organize his recommendation report directly.
true
To contrast responses of employees with children against responses of employees without children from a survey on attitudes toward on-site child care
use cross-tabulation.
To avoid sounding repetitious in a formal business report,
vary your presentation of the information slightly.