Final

Which of the following is the most common purpose of creating analytical reports and proposals? As a response to a perceived problem or opportunity As part of a government compliance effort To provide expected information in a predetermined format To address predetermined needs of the organization To monitor the response to progress of a corporate activity

As a response to a perceived problem or opportunity

How can you avoid ethical lapses when conducting research?

Don't force outcomes by skewing research

Plans provide feedback on a wide variety of an organization's functions.

False

Topical organization is rarely used when creating informational reports.

False

When using the Internet to conduct research, you can be reasonably sure that any information you find will be accurate.

False

Which type of heading can be used to express the "you" attitude and subtly provide information to the audience?

Informative

Which of the following must be used to make a recommendation credible?

Logical analysis and sound conclusions

Which of the following best defines primary research?

New research done specifically for a current project

When considering statistical data, which of the following describes data that is not close to any other value and which might not reflect the true nature of the data?

Outlier

Which of the following refers to research previously done for other purposes?

Secondary research

Which of the following is one of the most common primary research methods for business writing?

Surveys

When should a writer use direct quotes?

The original language enhances the writer's argument.

Why do proposals often take the indirect approach?

To enable the use of AIDA-style persuasion

A company's mission statement, structure, and objectives can be found in its business plan.

True

A dashboard is a customized online presentation of highly summarized business information.

True

Because data and number sets are easy to manipulate, you must guard against misinterpretation of results.

True

Businesses believe they have a right to protect confidential information from competitors.

True

Maintaining courtesy throughout the interview or research process is an important aspect of research etiquette.

True

The difference between primary sources and secondary sources is that primary sources are those you create specifically for your project.

True

The primary purpose of an internal proposal is either to request funds and management support for new projects or to obtain permission to take action on specific projects.

True

The statement of purpose for analytical reports will usually need to be more comprehensive than one for informational reports.

True

Writing a regular business plan makes sense when a company transitions from a start-up to an ongoing operation.

True

Which of the following is the first step in an efficient, effective research process? Search for areas with critical gaps in data Use a variety of search terms Understand the subject to develop insightful questions Enter keywords into a search engine to search corporate sites Conduct a general online search and redefine it after reviewing results

Understand the subject to develop insightful questions

When using a direct approach, which of the following can be done to add emphasis to your recommendations?

Use action verbs

The recommendations you make in a report should

adequately describe the steps that come next.

The most useful way to phrase the purpose statement of a report is with

an infinitive phrase.

As it relates to a formal business plan, the ________ defines how the company will generate revenue and produce a profit.

business model

When selecting the best combination of medium and channel,

consider the need for commenting, revising, and distributing the message.

A problem statement

defines the purpose of your research.

A ________ studies events that happened in the past, with the hope of learning how to avoid similar failures in the future.

failure-analysis report

A report focused on recommendations should

first establish or verify the need for action.

A ________ is a set of technologies, policies, and procedures that can allow a company to capture and share information throughout the organization.

knowledge management system

When conducting an information interview, it is a good idea to

learn about the person you are interviewing ahead of time.

If you expect your audience to disagree with you, use the 2 + 2 = 4 approach or the yardstick approach to focus on

logical arguments.

When you're writing a business plan, you might include a ________ section to explain the purpose of your business and what you hope to accomplish.

mission and objectives

Sources of secondary information include

newspapers and periodicals.

A report that indicates ongoing concerns and risks is considered to be a(n)

report to document progress.

An online survey is vulnerable to ________ because it captures only the opinions of those who visit the site and choose to complete the survey.

sampling bias

The ________ for a report describes why you are preparing the report.

statement of purpose

Unlike conclusions, recommendations

suggest a clear course of action.