978-0073403229 Chapter 9 Sample Solutions To Problem-Solving Cases

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Chapter 09 – Writing Short Reports

Sample Solutions to Problem-Solving Cases

Shorter Reports, Case #5

This report problem enables your students to pracce much of the advice in this chapter and the preceding

one.

For starters, they need to write a problem statement (a statement of report purpose in light of the problem it is

intended to solve). Using one of the three forms suggested in Chapter 9 they might write:

Now you can brainstorm about possible factors to invesgate. The boss has named one: security. Others might

be the following:

A good teaching idea is to require that every student download Skype and pracce using it, since understanding

of the technology in queson is key. Another good idea is to have students do secondary research (on the

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Chapter 09 – Writing Short Reports

Internet, in databases) to 6nd out the extent to which other companies are using Skype and OpenMeengs and

their experiences with it. The boss is likely to want such informaon.

It is also important for students to research what sales sta# and retailers do, what they talk about, etc. Without

understanding the end users in queson, the students will not be able to make wise choices about informaon

to include or about interpreng that informaon for the boss.

The organizaon plan should focus on whatever factors turned out to be the most signi6cant and should put

these in a logical order. For example, if there is a “deal-breaker” factor—a feature of using Skype or

any?).

Probably the topics to be covered should be logically grouped so that there are no more than four or 6ve main

To the best of their ability, students should try to interpret the informaon in terms of its likely meaning for the

reader. They should not just present what they found without adapng it to the reader (which is a common

problem in student reports).

It is possible that tables or other graphics will help the students with their presentaon of informaon. See if

any part of Chapter 3 looks useful for this problem, and, if so, explain how to integrate the visual into the text.

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Chapter 09 – Writing Short Reports

You will also need to advise students on cing their sources. For this relavely informal report, you might

Whichever method your students use, they need to be sure that the boss knows where the informaon came

from. This is parcularly necessary since they are playing the role of a lowly co-op student, not an experienced

and trusted assistant to the boss.

Longer Reports, Case #21

Like the previous case, this report problem enables your students to pracce much of the advice in this chapter

and the preceding one.

Again, they need to write a problem statement (a statement of report purpose in light of the problem it is

intended to solve). Using one of the three forms suggested in Chapter 9, they might write:

“

Now students can brainstorm about possible factors to invesgate.

Obviously, the online system is the 6rst factor to invesgate, since the dip in compliance occurred aAer it was

Another factor is data. Current data proves the calendar is sll an e#ecve way to adverse. Are there any gaps

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Chapter 09 – Writing Short Reports

Another factor is the current market. The same adversers have been buying calendar space since 2007, but are

In terms of research, students may brainstorm possible methods, including a brief phone survey to previous

Other research may include how e#ecve social media would be in reaching out to buyers. Does the company

In terms of graphics, tables and charts may help readers compare contribung factors and draw logical

conclusions as to the causes.

Final recommendaons would suggest soluons for eliminang the factors that are causing the drop in

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