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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 pracce 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:
Or
Or
Now you can brainstorm about possible factors to invesgate. The boss has named one: security. Others might
be the following:
A good teaching idea is to require that every student download Skype and pracce using it, since understanding
of the technology in queson is key. Another good idea is to have students do secondary research (on the
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Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 09 - Writing Short Reports
Internet, in databases) to 6nd out the extent to which other companies are using Skype and OpenMeengs and
their experiences with it. The boss is likely to want such informaon.
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 queson, the students will not be able to make wise choices about informaon
to include or about interpreng that informaon for the boss.
The organizaon 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 informaon in terms of its likely meaning for the
reader. They should not just present what they found without adapng 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 presentaon of informaon. 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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Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 09 - Writing Short Reports
You will also need to advise students on cing their sources. For this relavely informal report, you might
Whichever method your students use, they need to be sure that the boss knows where the informaon came
from. This is parcularly 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 pracce 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:
“
Or
Or
Now students can brainstorm about possible factors to invesgate.
Obviously, the online system is the 6rst factor to invesgate, since the dip in compliance occurred aAer it was
Another factor is data. Current data proves the calendar is sll an e#ecve way to adverse. Are there any gaps
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Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
Chapter 09 - Writing Short Reports
Another factor is the current market. The same adversers 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#ecve social media would be in reaching out to buyers. Does the company
In terms of graphics, tables and charts may help readers compare contribung factors and draw logical
conclusions as to the causes.
Final recommendaons would suggest soluons for eliminang the factors that are causing the drop in
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Copyright © 2015 McGraw-Hill Education. All rights reserved. No reproduction or distribution without the prior written consent of
McGraw-Hill Education.
