Planning & Completing Reports
the value of the report. the purpose of the report.
A business report problem statement should establish
a bar chart
A company report discusses annual revenues for 15 products that the firm sells, including items such as office supplies, kitchen appliances, and skateboards. What type of chart would best illustrate this information?
proposal, propsal, proposel, or proposals
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 ___________.
wander aimlessly. be considered unimportant.
A report without a problem statement is likely to
a report on an issue by an organization, often with a specific agenda.
A white paper is
more credible
Documenting sources and including data to support your conclusions will tend to make a business report which of the following?
one to three paragraphs
How long are most business report problem statements?
10 to 15 seconds
How long should it normally take for a reader to understand the key concepts depicted in a chart?
be easier to navigate.
If the structure of a report is familiar to decision makers, then it will
add a subtitle.
If the title of a chart does not convey enough information, the designer may need to
to break up dense blocks of text to group information visually for easier comprehension
In a business report, bulleting is used for which of the following? (Choose every correct answer.)
Home Ownership Rates in Florida Average Incomes in Florida Metropolitan Areas
In a report on the real estate market in Florida, which two of the following charts would be the most useful? (Choose every correct answer.)
chart's takeaway message
In creating a business chart, the most important consideration is the
understand what the decision makers want the report to do
In preparing a business report based on research, the first step is to ______.
having a can-do attitude or tone.
In the world of business, "positivity" means
often available at business libraries. highly reliable. usually very expensive.
Industry publications are
what units of measurement are depicted. what is being measured.
Labels and legends on a chart should indicate
a clear business problem
The conclusions and recommendations in a business report should be focused on Blank______.
explain the main point of the chart. be fewer than 10 words long.
The title of a chart should
remember its core message for some time after viewing it.
The ultimate proof of a chart's effectiveness is when readers
include charts only for statistics that are directly related to the central theme. use charts to simplify complicated numerical information.
To support the story line of a report, you should
True
True or false: A university library is an excellent resource when researching a business topic that requires access to expensive company and industry reports.
False
True or false: In business reports, positivity is more important than objectivity.
True
True or false: Researchers should clearly show how their recommendations are connected to the facts in their report.
tables charts
Typically, numerical information is most effectively presented through which two of the following?
They often include anecdotal evidence. They are not often applicable to specific problems and organizations.
What are common problems with using business periodicals as sources?
Accurate and complete documentation establishes that the report is credible. People will be using the report to make high-stakes decisions. When you are writing the report, you might need to refer to the source document again.
What are reasons that documenting sources of information for business reports is essential?
Make documentation records immediately rather than going back later to find sources again. Record documentation systematically to avoid providing an incorrect source.
What are recommended practices for documenting your research sources?
documentation precision value to decision makers
What are several of the key features that should be included in all business reports?
Proofread the document. Check for fairness. Seek final feedback from colleagues.
What are the last steps in preparing a report?
written questionnaires
What does survey research typically involve?
the essential meaning conveyed by everything in the chart the key ideas that readers should remember after viewing the chart
What is a chart's takeaway message?
The message that the chart conveys
What is the central element that makes a chart effective and interesting?
They tend to be biased.
What is the main concern when using white papers in research?
business databases and other materials at the library
What is the most reliable source for most business research?
to fit into the story line of the report
What is the primary purpose of charts and tables in a business report?
online forums and discussions business and industry websites
What online sources are likely to provide quality information for business research? (Choose every correct answer.)
draw conclusions based on the facts in the report recommend actions based on the facts and conclusions in the report
What should you do after compiling data for a report? (Choose every correct answer.)
Present all the pertinent facts, even those that you dislike. Be mindful of ways the report could impact the career opportunities and morale of your colleagues. Be respectful toward people who will be affected by the results of the report.
What should you do when collecting, analyzing, and presenting information for a business report?
Review it to check for typos and other mechanical errors. Take several days to complete the review. Read the entire document repeatedly, considering it from various viewpoints.
What should you do when reviewing a business report that you are producing?
a pie chart
What would be the best way to illustrate the percentage of cars manufactured by each U.S. automaker in 2012?
planning.
When a chart is being developed, the key component is
the sufficiency of the information. how easily a reader can process the information. the descriptiveness of the title.
When creating a chart, you should consider the five most important elements, including
plan to use labels to help readers understand the data quickly. include only what is needed.
When deciding how much information to convey in a chart, the designer should
When the goal is to illustrate one main point or relationship When there is a relatively small amount of information being shown
When is it better to use a chart instead of a table? (Choose every correct answer.)
determine what they expect from the report find out what they want the research to accomplish understand their main business goals
When planning a research-based business report, you should talk with decision makers to Blank______.
Emphasizing the message that you want the audience to remember
When presenting an audience with charts and tables and other numerical information, which of the following should be your primary concern?
People will read the document in various ways. Some readers will not have enough time to ponder everything in the document. The document should be easy to navigate.
When you design a business report, you should bear in mind which of the following?
It increases your credibility. It increases the transparency of your business. It would be unfair to conceal data if doing so would be detrimental to someone else's career.
When you research a business topic and compile a report, why is full disclosure of your data important?
the report is as effective as possible. you have been fair to yourself and your readers.
When your report is almost finished, you should review it to make sure that
reliability adaptability relevance
Which factors should you consider when evaluating the quality of data from secondary research? (Choose every correct answer.)
citing research sources being precise when citing facts including details that support the report's conclusions
Which of the following actions tend to increase the credibility of a business report?
It usually costs less than primary research. It provides access to information that others have already researched. It is usually less time-consuming.
Which of the following are advantages of secondary research in preparing a business report? (Choose every correct answer.)
It can be expensive. It can be skewed to reflect the researcher's biases. It often requires a significant amount of time.
Which of the following are drawbacks of primary research?
clear steps that would help achieve an objective a rationale recommendations that are detailed and realistic
Which of the following are items in a business report that tend to increase the effectiveness of the author's recommendations?
It can be focused on the specific needs of the project being undertaken. It can provide information that is directly related to your organization.
Which of the following are reasons that primary research is usually the most reliable and useful source of data for a business report?
scholarly journals business periodicals online databases
Which of the following are resources for business research offered by most libraries?
Data values are provided at each point on the chart as needed. The units of measurement are clearly labeled. Readers can quickly grasp the meaning of what the chart is showing.
Which of the following conditions are met when a chart provides readers with sufficient information?
percentages
Which of the following is a type of numerical adjustment of data in a table that allows counts for survey questions that had different numbers of total participants to be compared quickly?
an excessive number of grid lines
Which of the following is generally associated with less-effective tables?
a table
Which of the following is the best choice for conveying a large amount of precise data?
Our company should expand delivery capability by purchasing a new tanker truck and hiring three additional drivers.
Which of the following recommendations is the most specific and actionable?
The main message in such presentations will likely not be numerical. Most audiences will not remember a lot of statistics.
Which of the following statements about business presentations using numerical data are generally true?
They address the allocation of resources for business activities. They may vary in length and format.
Which of the following statements about business proposals are true?
Some management experts consider communicating with numbers to be a core competency. Business operating expenses, budgets, and customer behavior are expressed with numbers.
Which of the following statements about numerical information in business are correct?
industry publications
Which of the following would generally be the most reliable and relevant source of information for 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
Which two of the following would likely benefit from being presented as a list with bulleting or numbering in a business report?
a pie chart
Which type of chart is the most effective for depicting various pieces within a whole?
a line chart
Which type of chart is the most effective for illustrating trends and incidents over a period of time?
a bar chart
Which type of chart is the most useful for comparing amounts of various things?
A line chart
Which type of chart would be the best choice for showing the change in the amount of electricity consumed per capita in the United States since 1950?
uses precise logic. has no typographical errors. meets the needs of decision makers.
While reviewing a report that is almost finished, you should make sure that it
They focus on theoretical and abstract issues. They are hard to understand.
Why are scholarly business articles seldom useful for researching problems in the workplace? (Choose every correct answer.)
They do not want to state a clear opinion on the subject. They are tired and in a hurry to finish.
Why might researchers make vague or superficial recommendations in a business report?
sound unbiased reliable
"Objectivity" in business means providing information, analysis, and recommendations that are which of the following?
unrealistic. vague.
Business reports are flawed when their recommendations are
presenting complex data in a simple format. communicating numerical data. presenting a memorable visual image.
Charts are useful for
tables charts
Complex numerical information is most effectively presented in which two of the following formats?
is not very relevant to the topic of your research. was gathered by people with questionable research skills. was obviously compiled by someone with a biased perspective.
Data from secondary sources is probably not suitable for your business communication project if it
analyze the information properly. provide the correct information. recommend actions based on the data.
Decision makers depend on business reports to
consultants under your direction. colleagues under your direction. you.
Primary research is the analysis of data collected by
can be customized to specific projects.
Primary research is usually preferable in preparing a business report because it
documentation easy navigation objectivity
All business trend reports should have which of the following characteristics or features?
based on data gathered over weeks, months, or even years, if necessary. thorough and careful.
Because people use business reports to make high-stakes decisions, the research should be
the specific context of the problem.
Effective problem statements in a business report tend to explain
document all facts are accurate
Excellence in thinking leads to reports that Blank______.
catching the attention of viewers and readers and drawing them into your message. displaying complex numerical data in a way that is easy to grasp.
For which two of the following situations would a chart be an effective way to present information?
interpret data incorrectly collect only data that supports the researcher's biases ask the wrong questions
Personal biases sometimes cause a researcher to do which of the following?
surveys are now relatively easy to conduct online.
Researchers have been using surveys more often recently because
anyone who was not working under the direction of someone from your organization.
Secondary research is the analysis of data collected by
frequently evaluate whether you are being fair consider all available facts consider the data from various viewpoints
Select all the ways to prevent personal biases from influencing research.
