BCOM 3360 chapter 13

In which type of business report is the executive summary usually replaced by a letter from the CEO to the company's stockholders?

Annual report

A document that explains why a business goal is beneficial and details how resources and funds will be allocated to the meet the goal of the business is known as a business __________

A business proposal

In general, how long should an executive summary be?

One page for every pages in the report

How long are most business report problem statements?

One to three paragraphs

What are the last steps in preparing a report?

- Proofread the document. - Seek final feedback from colleagues. - Check for fairness.

Headings are used in reports to

- help readers navigate rapidly through the document.- reveal the basic logic of the document.- indicate the contents of each section.

After compiling data for a report, you should

-recommend actions based on the facts and conclusions in the report.-draw conclusions based on the facts in the report.

Which of the following are typically included in the front matter of a formal report?

A title page; a cover page; a table of contents

Which of the following statements about trust in businesses and business executives in the early twenty-first century is true?

Americans have historic low rates of trust of both businesses and business executives.

Which of the following actions are plagiarism?

Any literary theft, copying a text word for word and passing it off as your own, stealing and passing off the ideas of someone else as your own.

Excellence in thinking leads to reports that

Are accurate, and document all facts

When designing a business report for a busy executive, you should

Assume that the executive will not read all of the text, make it easy for the executive to navigate quickly through the document

Where does the executive summary appear in most reports?

At the beginning of the document

Reference lists should be placed

At the end of the report

In a report on the real estate in Florida, which of the two following charts would be most useful?

Average incomes in Florida Metropolitan Area; Home ownership rates in Florida

What are the last steps in preparing a report?

Check for fairness. Proofread the document. Seek final feedback from colleagues.

Headings are most effective when they feature

Common business terminology; Familiar story lines for a business report

Text taken word-for-word from a source is called

Direct quotation

Which of the following are essential features of a thorough, detailed approach to research?

Documentation of sources, methodical analysis

To improve headings in a business report, the writer should make them more

Efficient; descriptive

Ferdinand discovers that two authors have already produced reports that are very similar to the one he is assigned to complete. He does a small amount of his own research, then borrows heavily from both reports to compile his own document. He rewords most of the text and attributes some of the information to the original authors. Which of the following best describes his final report?

Essentially plagiarized

The ___ test is an excellent way for you to evaluate whether your communications meets ethical standards.

FAIR

True or false: Minor acts of dishonesty and slight deviations from the truth are harmless and should be encouraged in business.

False

True or false: Over 70% of business employees trust their senior management and believe that their company leaders act with honesty and integrity.

False

What are characteristics of the preview statement of a report? (Choose every correct answer.)

It should give the reader a general idea of what the report covers. It should summarize the report's key messages.

Which of the following sentences should be rewritten to be more appropriately fact-based and precise?

Hardly anyone has a negative opinion of the company's products. If the company invests in this venture, profits are sure to increase.

In a world of business, "positivity" means?

Having a can-do attitude or tone

Tom is preparing to write a business proposal for an important project. Which of the following should he do to improve his chances of success?

He should talk to decision makers before writing the proposal

To support the story line of a report, you should

Include charts only for statistics that are directly related to the central theme; use charts to simplify complicated numerical information.

A table of contents is usually included in a business report if the document is

Is more than 10 pages long

Which of the following questions should you consider when preparing to communicate with customers or colleagues?

Is trustworthiness or credibility key to the way I work?

What should you do when designing a business report for a busy executive?

Make it easy for the executive to navigate quickly through the document. Assume that the executive will not read all of the text.

Which two of business reports would typically include marketing strategies?

Marketing plan; business plan

Documenting sources and including data to support your conclusions will to make a business report which of the following?

More credible

In which of the following cases could a sentence that a writer takes directly from someone else's writing be considered plagiarism?

None of the words are placed within quotation marks, and a few of the words are altered. Only half of the sentence is placed within quotation marks, and no words are altered. None of the words are placed within quotation marks, and no words are altered.

What are several advantages of using tables in a business report?

Notes can be attached to a table to provide further information; tables organize information for readers to analyze and judge for themselves

In which of the following cases could a sentence that a writer takes directly from someone else's writing could be considered plagiarism?

Only half of the sentence is placed within quotation marks, and no words are altered; None of the words is placed within quotation marks, and no words were altered; None of the words are placed within quotation marks, and a few words are altered

Which of the following recommendations is the MOST specific and actionable?

Our company should expand delivery capability by purchasing a new tanker truck, and hiring three additional drivers

Which of the following preview statements is MOST effective?

Our research shows that the restaurant is gradually losing customers, primarily because menu items are overpriced

While compiling a business report, Mary finds the discussion of a survey in a scholarly journal. She does not copy the text exactly but conveys the meaning of the material in her own words in her report. She also cites the source of the information. This is called

Paraphrasing

When you design a business report, you should bear in mind which of the following?

People will read the document in various ways, the document is easy to navigate, some readers will not have enough time to ponder everything in the document

What are several of the key features that should be included in all business reports?

Precision, Documentation, and value to decision makers

Which component of a business report frames the overall message in order to help decision makers follow the direction of the text?

Preview Statement

What are the last steps in preparing a report?

Proofread the document; check for fairness; seek final back from colleagues

A document that explains why a business goal is beneficial and details how resources and funds will be allocated to meet the goal is known as a business .

Proposal

The appendixes of a business report commonly include

Reference materials

As a general guideline, a report is fewer than that 5 pages

Requires at least first-level headings

Headers are in used in reports to

Reveal the basic logic of the document, help readers navigate rapidly through the document, indicate the contents of each section

When you design a business report, you should bear in mind which of the following?

Some readers will not have enough time to ponder everything in the document. People will read the document in various ways. The document should be easy to navigate.

To maintain precision while compiling a report, the researcher should

Study the facts from various perspectives before coming to a conclusion

Which two of the following does a writer need to do to paraphrase material in a business report?

Substantially alter the wording of the original text keep the original meaning intact; give credit to the original author or speaker

In reviewing a business report that you are producing, you should

Take several days to complete the review; read the entire document repeatedly, considering it from various viewpoints

Which of the following headings is most effective in helping readers to identify the contents of a section?

The Current Retail Climate for Business Apparel Stores

Which of the following can be used to document sources in a business report?

The MLA documentation system, and the APA documentation system

Ryan has conducted a survey for the report he is writing. He wants the report to include the list of survey questions. This information should be placed in

The appendix section

Which of the following are examples of what needs to be documented to avoid plagiarism?

The exact wording of the text you quote, other people's ideas that you borrow or reference, text you reference

Which of the following are conditions for choosing to use a direct quotation?

The text flows well with the document you are writing. The text is worded in an especially compelling way. The text highlights the credibility of the person being quoted.

Why might researchers make vague or superficial recommendation in a business reports?

They do not want to state a clear opinion on the subject; they are tired and in a hurry to finish

Which of the following statements about business proposals are true?

They may vary in length and format. They address the allocation of resources for business activities.

Which of the following statements are true of poor questions?

They often reflect a judgmental mind-set. They can lead to less listening.

In a business report, bulleting is used for which of the following?

To break dense blocks of text, to group information visually for easier comprehension

What is the primary purpose of charts and tables in a business report?

To fit into the story line of the report

True or False: Citations should be used throughout your business report?

True

True or False: Researchers should clearly show how their recommendations are connected to the facts in the report?

True

Business reports are flawed when their recommendations are

Unrealistic; vague

Which of the following are examples of plagiarism?

Using your own language to express someone else's ideas without giving credit to that person; Using someone else's exact words without quotation marks but giving credit to that person; using someone else's text without giving credit to that person but using quotation to show that the text is not your own language

Which of the following sentences should be revised to strike a better balance between objectivity, and positivity (in other words, which of the following would benefit from a more objective tone?)

We will never find a better location than this, it even includes an amazing inventory; This is a fabulous opportunity that will surely triple our profits if we drop on it before someone else does.

In which of the following situations are cover pages typically used?

When the report is more than 10 pages long; when the report will be submitted to decision makers outside the organization, when the report is formal

What are two reasons why you should join clubs and professional interest groups?

You will likely make friendships that will last for years and result in job leads. You are likely to learn skills that will make you more marketable.

Which of the following are common barriers to effective listening?

a lack of patience a short attention span a lack of self-awareness

Demonstrating accountability in business implies which of the following?

an enlarged vision of those affected by a business an obligation to meet the needs of others

In a job interview, you should dress

appropriately for the standards of the company.

How should you view volunteering?

as a way to help your community as a way to grow your network as a way to improve at small talk

Documenting sources for a business report helps decision makers

assess the quality of the data. have confidence that the data was collected in a methodical way. trust the researcher's findings.

Where does an executive summary appear in most reports?

at the beginning of the document

Which of the following elements are part of the basic documentation of a book used as a source according to APA style and MLA style?

author name book title year of publication

When including personal details in your résumé or cover letter, you should

avoid revealing anything that is not strictly relevant. tell a story of how your key abilities and attributes will help the company. include only interests that accentuate your abilities and attributes.

If the structure of a report is familiar to decision makers, then it will

be easier to navigate

What are reasons a company might ask for confidentiality agreements from its employees?

because of copyright law to protect intellectual property

Which of the following are often included in the appendixes of a business report?

biographies marketing materials financial statements

How can joining clubs help your career?

by teaching you marketable skills by helping you form relationships with other future professionals

Which of the following actions tend to increase the credibility of a business report?

citing research sources being precise when citing facts including details that support the report's conclusions

Perceptions of a person's adherence to personal and corporate values are mostly determined by the person's

communications.

Conducting business with ______ helps forge character and maximize competencies.

complete dishonesty

You can improve your professional skills by becoming a(n) ______ communicator.

credible and trusted

A well-written heading should be which of the following?

descriptive and engaging

When using action verbs on a résumé, it is important to remember that

different action verbs are better suited to different career fields.

Text taken word-for-word from a source is called a(n) Multiple choice question.

direct quotation

Which of the following requires a source citation?

direct quotation ideas borrowed from a secondary source paraphrase

In business, dishonesty on financial performance is likely to lead to

dismissal.

Excellence in thinking leads to reports that

document all facts are accurate

All business trend reports should have which of the following characteristics or features?

documentation objectivity easy navigation

What are several of the key features that should be included in all business reports?

documentation precision value to decision makers

Which of the following are essential features of a thorough, detailed approach to research?

documentation of sources methodical analysis

The moral principles that steer the behavior of a group or an individual are known as

ethics.

To ensure that a document is free from plagiarism, writers should

exercise original thinking. use numerous sources to support their thoughts. arrive at original conclusions.

Which of the following might a business report's table of contents include?

first-level headingssecond-level headings

In the world of business, "positivity" means

having a can-do attitude or tone.

Which of the following requires a source citation?

ideas borrowed from a secondary source paraphrase direct quotation

By thinking about how your communication will affect recipients, you are using the ______ component of the FAIR test.

impacts

To support the story line of a report, you should

include charts only for statistics that are directly related to the central theme. use charts to simplify complicated numerical information.

Headings are used in reports to

indicate the contents of each section. reveal the basic logic of the document. help readers navigate rapidly through the document.

Which of the following might a business report's table of contents include?

irst-level headings second-level headings

After a job interview,

most hiring managers expect a follow-up of some type relatively soon.

A cover page should include which of the following?

names of people who wrote the report date title

Which of the following is the first step in active listening?

paying attention

The appendixes of business reports commonly include

reference materials

"Objectivity" in business means providing information, analysis, and recommendations that are which of the following?

sound reliable unbiased

A person who demonstrates accountability is someone who will take a ______ perspective of the groups affected by his or her business.

stakeholder

Which of the following actions are plagiarism?

stealing and passing off the ideas of someone else as your own any literary theft copying a text word-for-word and passing it off as your own

You should respond to interview questions

strategically. concisely. confidently.

A preview statement should

summarize the report's key messages. give the reader a general idea of what the report covers.

Which two of the following have reliable guidelines for documenting sources in a business report?

the APA style website the Purdue Online Writing Lab

Which of the following are items in a business report that tend to increase the effectiveness of the author's recommendations?

the cost and other implications clear steps that would help achieve an objective a rationale

Which of the following are examples of items in a report that must be documented to avoid plagiarism? (Choose every correct answer.)

the exact wording of text that you quote other people's ideas that you borrow or reference text that you paraphrase

When applying the FAIR test to a document, the writer should make sure that

the message includes accurate facts that have not been slanted. the message is considerate of people's value and feelings. the message demonstrates respect for the inherent worth of others.

When you justify a routine request, you should provide

the rationale for the request in your message.

When your report is almost finished, you should review it to make sure that

the report is as effective as possible. you have been fair to yourself and your readers.

What are corporate values defined as?

the stated and lived values of a company

Which two of the following would likely benefit from being presented as a list with bulleting or numbering in a business report?

the top 10 innovations that made our company the industry leader this year and how much profit each generated summaries of five surveys, with statistical information and source citations

A business report problem statement should establish

the value of the report the purpose of the report

Global cheating culture refers to

the widespread cheating that takes place in schools.

When composing important or controversial communications, you should spend time evaluating the best way

to be fair.

what is the primary purpose of charts and tables in a business report

to fit into the story line of the report

A good business communications textbook is designed to give readers which of the following things?

tools to develop communication abilities over the course of a career opportunities to consciously elevate their communication skill set

True or false: Citations should be used throughout your business report.

true

To support the story line of a report, you should

use charts to simplify complicated numerical information. include charts only for statistics that are directly related to the central theme.

A report without a problem statement is likely to

wander aimlessly. be considered unimportant.

You have observed what you think may be unethical behavior in the workplace. Which of the following are ways to speak up constructively?

"If this is expected, will we feel comfortable being public about it?" "If this is accepted, why is there a company policy against it?"

Which of the following sentences should be rewritten to be more appropriately fact-based and precise?

- If the company invests in this venture, profits are sure to increase. - Hardly anyone has a negative opinion of the company's products.

Although positivity is important in a business report, what are some common drawbacks of too much positivity?

- It can make the report seem unprofessional. - It can impair the writer's judgment. - It can make the report seem too enthusiastic.

What should you do when designing a business report for a busy executive?

- Make it easy for the executive to navigate quickly through the document. - Assume that the executive will not read all of the text.

In which of the following cases could a sentence that a writer takes directly from someone else's writing be considered plagiarism?

- None of the words are placed within quotation marks, and no words are altered. - Only half of the sentence is placed within quotation marks, and no words are altered. - None of the words are placed within quotation marks, and a few of the words are altered.

When you design a business report, you should bear in mind which of the following?

- People will read the document in various ways. - The document should be easy to navigate. - Some readers will not have enough time to ponder everything in the document.

Which of the following are conditions for choosing to use a direct quotation?

- The text is worded in an especially compelling way. - The text highlights the credibility of the person being quoted. - The text flows well with the document you are writing.

Which of the following statements about business proposals are true?

- They may vary in length and format. - They address the allocation of resources for business activities.

Which of the following are items in a business report that tend to increase the effectiveness of the author's recommendations?

- a rationale - clear steps that would help achieve an objective - the cost and other implications

Which of the following actions are plagiarism?

- any literary theft - stealing and passing off the ideas of someone else as your own - copying a text word-for-word and passing it off as your own

Which of the following elements are part of the basic documentation of a book used as a source according to APA style and MLA style?

- author name - book title - year of publication

A report without a problem statement is likely to

- be considered unimportant. - wander aimlessly.

Which of the following actions tend to increase the credibility of a business report?

- being precise when citing facts - including details that support the report's conclusions - citing research sources

Which of the following are often included in the appendixes of a business report?

- biographies - marketing materials - financial statements

Which of the following are typically used to document sources for a business report?

- citations - a reference list

Which of the following requires a source citation?

- direct quotation - paraphrase - ideas borrowed from a secondary source

Documenting sources for a business report helps decision makers

- have confidence that the data was collected in a methodical way. - trust the researcher's findings. - assess the quality of the data.

Headings are used in reports to

- help readers navigate rapidly through the document. - reveal the basic logic of the document. - indicate the contents of each section.

To support the story line of a report, you should

- include charts only for statistics that are directly related to the central theme. - use charts to simplify complicated numerical information.

Which of the following are essential features of a thorough, detailed approach to research?

- methodical analysis - documentation of sources

All business trend reports should have which of the following characteristics or features?

- objectivity - easy navigation - documentation

Which of the following are examples of what needs to be documented to avoid plagiarism?

- other people's ideas that you borrow or reference - the exact wording of text that you quote - text that you paraphrase

After compiling data for a report, you should

- recommend actions based on the facts and conclusions in the report. - draw conclusions based on the facts in the report.

Which of the following might a business report's table of contents include?

- second-level headings - first-level headings

"Objectivity" in business means providing information, analysis, and recommendations that are which of the following?

- sound - reliable - unbiased

Which two of the following would likely benefit from being presented as a list with bulleting or numbering in a business report?

- summaries of five surveys, with statistical information and source citations - the top 10 innovations that made our company the industry leader this year and how much profit each generated

A preview statement should

- summarize the report's key messages. - give the reader a general idea of what the report covers.

Which two of the following have reliable guidelines for documenting sources in a business report?

- the Purdue Online Writing Lab - the APA style website

A business report problem statement should establish

- the purpose of the report. - the value of the report.

In a business report, bulleting is used for which of the following?

- to group information visually for easier comprehension - to break up dense blocks of text

What are several of the key features that should be included in all business reports?

- value to decision makers - documentation - precision

When your report is almost finished, you should review it to make sure that

- you have been fair to yourself and your readers. - the report is as effective as possible.

Which of the following statements about company confidentiality are correct?

Company confidentiality is sometimes necessary under the law. Failing to keep certain company matters confidential could harm other employees. Companies can require employees to observe confidentiality about certain matters.

True or false: When you are known for failing to live up to your promises to stakeholders, you have a reputation for good character.

False

Which of the following is most closely related to competence?

Having a track record of success

Sydney just started working in the marketing department for a major tobacco company. In her spare time she participates on anti-smoking campaigns. Which of the following statements about her personal values is true?

Her personal values do not align with the corporate values of her work.

Assuming that a corporation has good values, which of the following statements about the alignment of personal values and corporate values are true?

If personal values are not in alignment with corporate values, a lack of integrity is possible. Matching personal values with corporate values is a key element of character.

According to most surveys, what are ways in which employees tend to feel about their companies? (Select all that apply.)

Many believe their company leaders do not act with honesty and integrity. Nearly half do not trust senior management.

Which of the following statements about the cheating culture is true?

Many students believe Internet plagiarism is not a serious offense.

Which of the following recommendations is the most specific and actionable?

Our company should expand delivery capability by purchasing a new tanker truck and hiring three additional drivers.

Simon worked in management at a large technology company that became embroiled in a scandal in which many managers were implicated. Simon was cleared of any wrongdoing, but the company was shut down and all employees were laid off. Simon was hired at a rival company, but his new colleagues did not give him a warm welcome. Which of the following must Simon do to create a good working environment?

Simon must establish credibility.

The many major business scandals in the early twenty-first century have impacted the American public in which of the following ways?

There has been a significant decrease in trust in businesses.

Which of the following is a characteristic of givers in business?

They are generous in their support of their colleagues.

Why might business professionals fail to speak up after observing unethical behavior in their company?

They believe the behavior is standard practice. They feel they should remain loyal to the company.

The conclusions and recommendations in a business report should be focused on

a clear business problem.

Reference lists should be placed

at the end of the report.

If the structure of a report is familiar to decision makers, then it will

be easier to navigate.

Which of the following are positive ways a transparent workplace can be created by a leader in business?

by listening to the concerns of others by being reachable

Generosity towards others is an example of ______ in the business world.

caring

Which of the following factors impact a business executive's credibility? (Select all that apply.)

character being caring competence

According to anonymous surveys, a majority of graduate students in education, medicine, law, and business did which of the following to gain admittance to their programs?

cheat

Which of the following are abuses of honesty?

cheating in the classroom deceiving consumers identity theft

Which of the following should be provided throughout your business report to indicate any information taken from other sources?

citations

When given a set of hypothetical ethical dilemmas, MBA students scored as high on unethical behavior as

convicts in prison.

Meg Whitman, former CEO of HP, stated that early in her career she gained credibility and displayed competence by her focus on

creating a successful track record.

In business, it is important to establish your _____ from your first day on the job.

credibility

Which of the following are gained by business leaders by when they recognize and show concern for others' needs?

credibility trust

Text taken word-for-word from a source is called a(n)

direct quotation.

True or false: In business reports, positivity is more important than objectivity.

false

When acting with transparency, a company executive provides stakeholders with which of the following?

financial figures from the business business process information basic facts about the business

Which of the following are examples of good business ethics?

following the law ensuring proprietary information remains safe

Recent research has found that when workplaces develop a climate of betrayal, it is most often through which of the following kinds of actions?

going back on decisions hiding the truth sharing gossip about others

Colleagues and clients ______ persons they know care about them.

have greater trust in

Having good credibility implies which of the following qualities? (Choose all that apply.)

having strong ethical values being honorable and reliable ensuring promises are fulfilled

Having good character implies that one has ______ values.

high moral and ethical

Which of the following are applications of the AIM planning process in presentations and speeches?

including supporting points to the key ideas conducting an analysis of the presentation's listenershighlighting topic-related conclusions

A table of contents is usually included in a business report if the document

is more than 10 pages long.

People can develop competence by finding discipline-related

jobs. internships. real-world experience.

The purpose of an executive summary is to highlight

key findings and recommendations.

Which of the following are benefits of having many givers in a business?

less employee turnover greater profitability increased productivity

Documenting sources and including data to support your conclusions will tend to make a business report which of the following?

more credible

Effective communicators gain trust by seeking to understand others'

needs.

In general, how long should an executive summary be?

one page for every 10 to 20 pages in the report

To build trust within an organization, decision making must be

open based on a collective conscience documented

When you weave together information gathered from a variety of sources and think up your own ideas, reach your own conclusions, and make your own recommendations, you are demonstrating

originality of thought.

If employees do not honestly communicate about business issues, it can lead to

poor financial performance.

Which component of a business report frames the overall message in order to help decision makers follow the text?

preview statement

Most people will judge a person's competence based on the person's

previous accomplishments.

A document that explains why a business goal is beneficial and details how resources and funds will be allocated to meet the goal is known as a business ____________

proposal

The appendixes of business reports commonly include

reference materials.

As a general guideline, a report that is fewer than 5 pages

requires at least first-level headings.

Which of the following happens in a team when team members use the phrase "our needs" is used instead of "my needs"?

solutions are developed that help everyone

What is included in the reference list of a business report?

sources for all of the facts that were cited

What are methods by which people can develop competence? (Choose all that apply.)

study watching interning

What is the primary purpose of charts and tables in a business report?

to fit into the story line of the report

When civil servants share relevant information and decision rationale with stakeholders, they engage in

transparency.

True or false: Researchers should clearly show how their recommendations are connected to the facts in their report.

true

When people are credible, they have a reputation for being

trustworthy

If a report is based on secondary research, it is appropriate to

use information from numerous sources to reach new and perhaps unique conclusions.

You can create a sense of trust in others by adopting which of the following orientations?

we you

An organization's code of conduct is a(n)

written code of ethics.