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Chapter 11: Reporting in the Digital-Age Workplace
1. Which of the following statements about business reports is most accurate?
a.
The larger an organization, the more vital the exchange and flow of information becomes.
b.
Reports are prepared for internal readers, not external readers.
c.
To be considered a business report, a document must be in writing.
d.
To be considered a business report, the document must be at least ten pages in length.
2. What is the purpose of business reports?
a.
To convey information
b.
To answer questions
c.
To solve problems
d.
To do all of these
3. A report that presents data without analysis or recommendations is a(n) ___________ report.
a.
analytical
b.
informational
c.
audit
d.
yardstick
4. A report that provides data or findings, analyses, and conclusions is a(n) ____________ report.
a.
analytical
b.
informational
c.
external
d.
digital
5. Which of the following reports is an example of an informational report?
a.
A report that recommends one of six candidates for an executive assistant position
b.
A report that compares three sites for a new clothing boutique location and recommends one
c.
A report showing how a company has complied with IRS regulations
d.
A report that presents several alternatives for decreasing employee absenteeism, including recommendations
for the best solution
6. Which of the following reports is an example of an analytical report?
a.
A report giving the details about a training workshop attended
b.
A report showing that a public company is in compliance with SEC regulations
c.
A report describing the new company dress code
d.
A report recommending one of four building alarm systems
7. When the conclusions and recommendations, appear at the end of the report, the organizational strategy is
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Chapter 11: Reporting in the Digital-Age Workplace
a.
indirect.
b.
spiral.
c.
direct.
d.
multifaceted.
8. In which of the following situations should the direct pattern of organization be used for a business report?
a.
When readers must be persuaded
b.
When readers are unfamiliar with the problem
c.
When readers may be disappointed or hostile toward the report's findings
d.
When readers are familiar with the topic
9. In which of the following situations should the indirect pattern of organization be used for a business report?
a.
When readers are familiar with the topic
b.
When readers must be educated about the topic
c.
When readers are supportive of the topic
d.
The indirect method should be used in all these cases.
10. In which of the following situations should the direct pattern of organization be used for a business report?
a.
When readers are familiar with the topic
b.
When readers must be educated about the topic
c.
When readers may be disappointed in or hostile toward the report’s findings
d.
When readers must be persuaded
11. Reports written in a formal writing style tend to project
a.
objectivity.
b.
authority.
c.
impartiality.
d.
all of these.
12. Which of the following reports would most likely be written using an informal writing style?
a.
A thesis submitted by a PhD student
b.
A research report about economic trends written by a consultant for her client
c.
A summary report written to your supervisor about a conference you attended
d.
A business proposal written to secure a contract with a governmental agency
13. Which of the following reports would most likely be written using a formal writing style?
a.
A routine report about the progress a task force is making
b.
A research report about consumer trends written by a consultant for his client
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Chapter 11: Reporting in the Digital-Age Workplace
c.
A summary report written to your supervisor about a conference you attended
d.
A short summary written for your boss of an article you read
14. You must write a business report for a client and want to use a formal writing style. Which of the following should
you do?
a.
Emphasize active-voice verbs.
b.
Avoid including your own opinions and perceptions.
c.
Use first-person pronouns.
d.
Use contractions.
15. You are writing a short, routine report for your supervisor and want to use an informal writing style. Which of the
following should you do?
a.
Because you are writing to a superior, create a distance between yourself and the reader.
b.
Avoid humor and figures of speech.
c.
Use shorter sentences and familiar words.
d.
Omit any colorful adjectives and adverbs.
16. Which of the following sentences uses the best writing style for a formal report?
a.
After checking several references, the company decided to hire the consulting firm of Anderson, Williams, and
Pardee.
b.
After considerable research, we’ve decided to order the Aptura computer from ISB for our office staff.
c.
I conducted extensive research that shows companies are recognizing the benefits of telecommuting.
d.
My personal opinion is that we should implement the new tracking system at once.
17. Which of the following types of reports would not be sent to someone outside the organization?
a.
Manuscript format
b.
Digital format
c.
Letter format
d.
Memo format
18. Short (eight or fewer pages) informal reports addressed outside an organization are usually presented in
a.
memo format.
b.
manuscript format.
c.
letter format.
d.
handwritten format.
19. Long formal reports are usually printed on plain paper in
a.
memo format.
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b.
manuscript format.
c.
letter format.
d.
handwritten format.
20. Which of the following is an example of a digital report?
a.
A report prepared as a PDF document
b.
A PowerPoint slide deck that is posted online
c.
A presentation using a cloud-based software solution such as Prezi or SlideRocket
d.
All of these choices are examples of digital reports.
21. The first step in writing a report is to
a.
prepare a work plan.
b.
determine your research strategy.
c.
understand the problem or assignment clearly.
d.
compose the first draft.
22. Pamela will be writing a complex report about a research study she's conducting. Which of the following should she
do?
a.
Prepare a written purpose statement.
b.
Prepare written problem statement.
c.
Consider the needs of both primary and secondary readers.
d.
All of these choices
23. To help you understand the problem or assignment clearly when writing a complex report, prepare a written
________________ to clarify the task.
a.
statement of purpose
b.
executive summary
c.
problem statement
d.
audience analysis
24. Which of the following is an effective statement of purpose for an informational report?
a.
To inform the reader of the many different features offered on the Apple iPad
b.
To analyze ways to offer our customers the best service possible
c.
To solve the problem of employee turnover at the company's Chamblee location
d.
To determine which of three smartphones to purchase for our Sales Department staff
25. An expanded statement of purpose for a study includes three additional factors. What are they?
a.
Scope, significance, and limitations
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b.
Scope, conclusions, and recommendations
c.
Work plan, significance, and limitations
d.
Findings, conclusions, and recommendations
26. The issues or elements to be investigated in a research project are defined in the
a.
significance of the study.
b.
scope statement.
c.
recommendations to be offered.
d.
limitations of the study.
27. 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
a.
scope.
b.
limitations.
c.
significance.
d.
purpose.
28. Dylan is anticipating the audience for a report he is writing. What question should he ask during this stage of the
writing process?
a.
What do my readers need to know about this topic?
b.
How will my readers react to the information in my report?
c.
What is the educational level of my readers?
d.
Dylan should ask all these questions about her audience.
29. In planning his report, Byron breaks the major investigative problem into subproblems. This process is sometimes
called
a.
visualizing the problem.
b.
focusing the problem.
c.
factoring the problem.
d.
expanding the problem.
30. Preparing a work plan for your report helps you
a.
set priorities.
b.
outline a course of action.
c.
establish a schedule.
d.
with all of these.
31. A good work plan for a business research project includes
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Chapter 11: Reporting in the Digital-Age Workplace
a.
a work schedule.
b.
a research strategy.
c.
a statement of the problem.
d.
all of these choices.
32. What type of data result from reading what others have experienced or observed and written down?
a.
Primary data
b.
Secondary data
c.
Unreliable data
d.
Sketchy data
33. Nadia is conducting research on the use of social networking sites by observing how her coworkers use these tools in
the workplace. What type of data is she collecting?
a.
Primary data
b.
Secondary data
c.
Online data
d.
Questionable data
34. You should begin nearly every business report assignment by
a.
generating primary data.
b.
asking your colleagues for help.
c.
evaluating the available secondary data.
d.
selecting the type of paper on which you'll print the report.
35. What is the most accurate statement about using books for business research?
a.
Because books are obsolete, they should never be used for business research.
b.
Books provide excellent historical, in-depth data.
c.
Books are best for finding current data about technical trends.
d.
Most business reports are based on research found in books.
36. A collection of information stored electronically so that it can be accessed and search by computer or mobile
electronic device is a
a.
periodical.
b.
book.
c.
database.
d.
card catalog.
37. ABI/INFORM Complete, Business Source Premier, JSTOR Business, Factiva, and LexisNexis Academic are
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Chapter 11: Reporting in the Digital-Age Workplace
a.
card catalogs.
b.
online catalogs.
c.
websites.
d.
research databases.
38. Google, Bing, Yahoo Search, and Ask are examples of
a.
search tools.
b.
Web browsers.
c.
electronic databases.
d.
spiders.
39. Which of the following is the best advice for searching the Web?
a.
Choose your favorite search tool and use it exclusively so that you can master it.
b.
Use just one or two keywords when conducting a search.
c.
Use quotation marks to search for phrases.
d.
Include articles and prepositions to make your searches more accurate.
40. Select the most accurate statement about sources found on the Web.
a.
Information posted at most sites has undergone the same editing and scrutiny given to articles in scholarly
publications.
b.
Researchers can safely assume that the information posted on websites by individuals and companies is
reputable.
c.
Wikis, blogs, and discussion forum entries are short-lived and change constantly.
d.
Wikipedia is reliable and should be used when conducting any scholarly research.
41. Eugene is evaluating the information he found on a website before he includes it in his business report. He asks,
"When was this Web site last updated?" What is Eugene evaluating?
a.
The currency of the website
b.
The authority of the website
c.
The content of the website
d.
The accuracy of the website
42. Melinda is evaluating the information she found on a website before she includes it in a proposal she is writing. She
asks, "Who publishes or sponsors this website?" What is Melinda evaluating?
a.
The currency of the website
b.
The authority of the website
c.
The content of the website
d.
The accuracy of the website
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Chapter 11: Reporting in the Digital-Age Workplace
43. James is evaluating the information he found on a website before he includes it in an analytical report for a client. He
asks, "Do the fact that are presented seem reliable?" What is James evaluating?
a.
The currency of the website
b.
The authority of the website
c.
The content of the website
d.
The accuracy of the website
44. Sources of primary information include
a.
research databases.
b.
periodicals and newspapers.
c.
surveys and interviews.
d.
information on the Web.
45. Which of the following is a useful guideline for preparing effective surveys?
a.
Use questions that produce qualitative answers.
b.
Include as many questions on your survey as necessary, even if you may not use the information in your final
report.
c.
Avoid leading or ambiguous questions.
d.
Never offer survey participants compensation as this will skew the results.
46. The best question to include in a survey is
a.
How do you feel about a flat-rate income tax?
b.
Do you approve of a flat-rate income tax?
c.
What benefits do you feel a flat-rate income tax will offer?
d.
Why are you in favor of a flat-rate income tax?
47. Which of the following is an effective question to use in a survey?
a.
Don't you agree that teachers are extremely deserving of a 7 percent pay increase because of the valuable
services they provide for our community?
b.
Do teachers deserve a 7 percent pay increase?
c.
Should teachers accept a 7 percent pay increase, or should they go on strike?
d.
Do teachers, one of the hardest-working and least-respected segments of American society, deserve a 7
percent pay increase?
48. Tara, a student who is researching forensic accounting, is preparing to interview an experienced accountant. To
conduct an effective interview, Tara should
a.
learn as much as possible about the forensic accounting field before conducting the interview.
b.
try to do most of the talking during the interview to put the interviewee at ease.
c.
ask as many yes-or-no questions as possible to make things easier for the interviewee.
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d.
engage the accountant in a debate to display her knowledge.
49. Which of the following situations would most likely require observation or scientific experimentation?
a.
You want to find out what tools are available to protect your computer network from hackers.
b.
You need to determine the average time it takes your line employees to produce a single piece of furniture.
c.
You must find out which ten companies ranked highest for customer service in 2014.
d.
You want to verify your supervisor's opinion on upgrading your department's accounting software.
50. Tracey will carefully document her sources in a report she must submit to her boss. Which of the following is a reason
that Tracey should document her sources?
a.
To strengthen her argument
b.
To instruct her reader
c.
To protect herself against charges of plagiarism
d.
All of these choices are reasons for documenting report data.
51. Which of the following statements would need to be documented in a report?
a.
The stock market can be volatile.
b.
Many types of people invest in the stock market.
c.
On May 6, 2010, the Dow Jones Industrial Average suffered a 998 point loss, which the media called the
Flash Crash.
d.
All of these choices
52. Paraphrasing
a.
involves restating an original passage in your own words and in your own style.
b.
involves presenting ideas from another source using the exact wording of the original source.
c.
involves presenting ideas from another source without documentation.
d.
requires the report writer to use the same grammatical structure as the original author when presenting
another's ideas.
53. Knowledgeable report writers use direct quotations to
a.
repeat identical phrasing of a source because of its precision, clarity, or aptness.
b.
provide objective background data and establish the severity of a problem.
c.
duplicate the exact wording of a source before criticizing.
d.
All of these choices.
54. Courts of law use four factors as a test in deciding disputes over fair use of copyrighted material. Which of the
following is not one of those factors?
a.
Purpose and character of the use, particularly whether for profit
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b.
Amount and sustainability of portion used
c.
Amount of money paid to use the copyrighted information
d.
Nature of the copyrighted use
55. Blake wants to avoid copyright infringement for material he finds online. What should he do?
a.
Recognize that anything he finds on the Internet is in the public domain.
b.
Ask for permission before using material he finds online.
c.
Include a footnote for everything he uses from online sources, which will protect him from copyright
infringement.
d.
Blake should do all of these.
56. What is the least accurate statement about infographics?
a.
Infographics are new form of visual aid that first appeared at the beginning of the 21st century.
b.
Today even amateur designers can create captivating infographics.
c.
Infographics are most appropriate online.
d.
Good infographics tell a story and allow the reader to make sense of ever-growing amounts of data.
57. Virginia has a large amount of quantitative data made up of exact figures to present in a report. Virginia should
present this data using a(n)
a.
pie chart.
b.
line chart.
c.
table.
d.
organization chart.
58. The best choice for showing changes in a company's monthly sales for Fiscal Year 2014 is a(n)
a.
pie chart.
b.
line chart.
c.
flow chart.
d.
organization chart.
59. Benjamin needs to illustrate the percentage each expense represents of total company expenses. His best choice is a(n)
a.
pie chart.
b.
line chart.
c.
illustration.
d.
bar chart.
60. When incorporating a graphic in the body of your report, you should
a.
use a good deal of color to improve readability.
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b.
manipulate the visual to make data look more dramatic.
c.
include a reference to the graphic in the text.
d.
assume that the reader will draw the same conclusions you did from the set of data.
61. All business reports have one or more of the following purposes: to convey information, to answer questions, and to
solve problems.
a.
True
b.
False
62. The smaller an organization is, the more vital the exchange and flow of information becomes.
a.
True
b.
False
63. Based on their function, most business reports fall into two broad categories: informational or analytical.
a.
True
b.
False
64. Everett's boss has asked him to research and to recommend a new insurance provider for employees' health insurance.
Everett should write an analytical report.
a.
True
b.
False
65. Michelle attended a professional conference and must submit a report to her supervisor. She should write an analytical
report.
a.
True
b.
False
66. If readers are familiar with or supportive of the topic, the report should be organized indirectly.
a.
True
b.
False
67. 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 indirect pattern to write his report.
a.
True
b.
False
68. Research reports prepared by consultants for their clients tend to be rather formal.
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a.
True
b.
False
69. Forms and templates are useful for presenting repetitive data, such as monthly sales reports, performance appraisals,
merchandise inventories, and personnel and financial reports.
a.
True
b.
False
70. The first step in the report-writing process is preparing a work plan.
a.
True
b.
False
71. An example of a simple statement of purpose for a business report might be To recommend a new procedure for
preparing quarterly financial statements.
a.
True
b.
False
72. An expanded statement of purpose includes three additional factors: the scope, significance, and limitations of the
report.
a.
True
b.
False
73. Nearly every research project should begin with a search of primary data.
a.
True
b.
False
74. You are reading an article in The Wall Street Journal that discusses the research findings of a Centers for Disease
Control study on workplace hazards. This newspaper article is an example of primary data.
a.
True
b.
False
75. Business researchers can safely assume that the great majority of Web sources are reliable.
a.
True
b.
False
76. Primary data can be generated through surveys, interviews, observation, and experimentation.
a.
True
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b.
False
77. Are you in favor of banning texting while driving to save lives? is an example of a leading question.
a.
True
b.
False
78. Yes-no questions produce the best results in an interview with an expert.
a.
True
b.
False
79. Formal experimentation produces data suggesting causes and effects.
a.
True
b.
False
80. Properly documenting data presented in a research report strengthens your argument.
a.
True
b.
False
81. 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.
a.
True
b.
False
82. As long as you put the research you find into your own words, you don't have to cite your source.
a.
True
b.
False
83. The more direct quotes you use in a business report, the more professional and credible it will seem.
a.
True
b.
False
84. To avoid charges of copyright infringement, assume that all intellectual property is copyrighted.
a.
True
b.
False
85. The two most common citation formats are those presented by the Modern Language Association (MLA) and the
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American Psychological Association (APA).
a.
True
b.
False
86. In a business report, graphics can be used to clarify data, to make numeric data meaningful, to create visual interest,
and to make information easier to remember.
a.
True
b.
False
87. Katherine wants to illustrate how her company's sales have increased over the past five years. She should use a pie
chart to do this.
a.
True
b.
False
88. Malcolm wants to come up with a graphic that will clearly show new staff members how a customer's order proceeds
from sales to delivery. The best graphic for him to use is a flowchart.
a.
True
b.
False
89. Danielle is preparing a visual to show the chain of command and reporting structure within her company. An
organization chart will best illustrate this data.
a.
True
b.
False
90. Table 4 shows that three fourths of the respondents oppose the proposed tax is an effective reference to a visual aid in
a report.
a.
True
b.
False
91. Reports that present data without analysis or recommendations are classified as ____________________ reports.
92. Reports that provide data or findings, analyses, conclusions, and recommendations are classified as
____________________ reports.
93. When the purpose for writing is presented close to the beginning of a report, the organizational strategy is
_______________.
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94. Sylvia has a great idea for a new fund-raiser for the nonprofit organization for which she works, but she is afraid her
boss will be resistant to her idea. Sylvia's report should be written using the ____________________ pattern.
95. Theses, research studies, and complex reports are usually written using a(n) ____________________ writing style.
96. For longer, more formal reports, use the _______________ format. These reports are usually printed on plain paper
instead of letterhead stationery or memo forms. They begin with a title followed by systematically displayed headings and
subheadings.
97. To determine the best location for a new day spa is an example of a simple statement of ____________________.
98. The ___________ statement prepares the audience by clearly defining which problem or problems will be analyzed
and solved.
99. The ____________________ of a study tells why the topic is worth investigating at this time.
100. After defining the purpose of a report, a writer must think carefully about who will read it. Business researchers
should consider both primary and ___________ audiences, which might include upper management and people in other
departments.
101. Kyle is developing his ____________________ plan, which will include a statement of the problem, a statement of
purpose, his research strategy, a tentative outline of his report, and the work schedule.
102. ____________ data result from firsthand experience and observation and can be collected through surveys,
interviews, observation, and experimentation.
103. ______________ data come from reading what others have experienced or observed and written down and can be
collected through books, periodicals, indexes, research databases, and Web resources.
104. Yahoo Search, Google, and Bing are examples of ____________________ engines or tools used to locate
information on the Web.
105. ____________________ means giving credit to the words or ideas of another person in a report; doing so strengthens
your argument, protects you against charges of plagiarism, and instructs the reader.
106. Using the words or ideas of another person without properly giving credit to the source is called
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____________________.
107. Effective report writers ____________________ an original passage by restating an original passage in their own
words and in their own style.
109. Probably the most frequently used graphic in reports is the ___________. This type of graphic presents quantitative
or verbal information in systematic columns and rows.
110. ____________________ charts show the chain of command, from the boss down to the line managers and
employees.
111. Most business reports fit into two broad categories. List and describe these two categories; then present one original
example of each.
112. You have been assigned a project to study the possibility of outsourcing your company's payroll function. Following
your research, you will write a report to recommend whether payroll processing should remain in-house or be handled by
an outside payroll firm. Analyze the problem and purpose of this task; then prepare an expanded statement of purpose that
includes the scope, significance, and limitations.
113. Business researchers use both primary and secondary data when preparing business reports. Compare these two types
of data, describing each source and explaining when each would be used. Then give three examples of each type of data.
114. A business report writer should always carefully document report data for four reasons. List and explain these
reasons. Then describe five types of information that must be documented.
115. Several types of graphics can be added to business reports to clarify data, create visual interest, and make numerical
data meaningful. List five categories of graphics and explain the type of data each is used to illustrate. Then give an
original example of when each could be used.
