i. Make use of desktop publishing packages and word processing
programs to create professional-looking documents.
c. A summary compresses the main points from a book, report, article, website,
meeting, or convention, reducing it by 85 to 95 percent.
d. Follow these guidelines when writing a summary:
i. Present the goal or purpose of the document being summarized.
ii. Highlight the research methods (if appropriate), findings,
e. For trip, convention, and conference reports, use these guidelines
(Model Document 12.3):
i. Begin by identifying the event (exact date, name, and location) and
previewing the topics to be discussed.
f. Periodic (activity) reports are generally used to keep management informed
about operations at a regular interval (weekly, monthly, yearly). These
reports are typically sent by e-mail and may contain efficient bulleted lists
without commentary. (Model Document 12.4)
i. Summarize regular activities and events performed during the
reporting period.
g. Progress and interim reports are used to describe the status of continuing
projects. They may be external or internal. (Model Document 12.5)
iii. Describe the work completed.
h. Investigative reports deliver data for specific situations without offering
interpretations or recommendations.
i. Generally nonrecurring, these reports are arranged using the direct
strategy with three parts: an introduction, the body, and a summary.
i. Writing Improvement Activity: 30 minutes total. Activity 12.11—Progress
Report: Closing in on Your Goal?
Have students complete the activity found at the end of the chapter. This is
another excellent activity to help students stay on track. They could also
share this report with their counselors.
• Describe your headway toward your educational goal (such as
employment, degree, or certificate).
V. Preparing Short Analytical Reports (12–5, PPT Slides 36–43, DISC: Patterns; Rhetorical
considerations; Theory application; Conclusion)
a. Analytical reports have the following characteristics:
i. Attempt to evaluate the data and persuade the reader to accept the
conclusions and act on the recommendations
b. Justification/recommendation reports are those that justify or recommend
actions. (Model Document 12.6)
i. They may also be called internal proposals, because their persuasive
nature is similar to that of external proposals.
ii. Their organization and formatting may be prescribed by your
employer.
c. Feasibility reports examine the practicality and advisability of following a
course of action. The focus of these reports is on the decision.
(Model Document 12.7)
i. Announce your decision immediately.
ii. Provide a description of the background and problem.
d. Yardstick reports examine problems with two or more solutions.
(Model Document 12.8)
i. To determine the best solution, the writer establishes criteria by
which to compare the alternatives.
e. Writing Improvement Activity: 60 minutes total. Activity 12.25—Yardstick
Report: Selecting the Best Social Media Manager Candidate
Have students complete the activity found at the end of the chapter. Detailed
activity feedback can be found in the Solutions Manual.
• Overall, which candidate is best for the position, and why?
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Discussion Questions
You can assign these questions several ways: in a discussion forum in your LMS; as whole-
class discussions in person; or as a partner or group activity in class.
1. Discussion: Using a Decision Matrix (Critical Thinking #1, 12-1, PPT Slide 8)
Duration 20 minutes.
b. How might you have used a decision matrix in choosing which college to
attend or which cell phone or other electronic device to purchase? What
factors would you have included in your matrix?
i. Answer: Decision matrices can help view raw data and variables more
objectively. In a decision matrix, assigning a weight to different
2. Discussion: Technology and the Future of Reporting (Critical Thinking #2)
Duration 30 minutes.
a. Digital technologies are allowing, even forcing, businesses to examine how
they can improve their internal and external reporting.
b. In what ways are artificial intelligence (AI) and other technologies driving the
future of reporting, and what are some of the specific benefits?
i. Answer: After researching the technological trends shaping business
3. Discussion: Writing Effective Recommendations (Critical Thinking #3, 12-2,
PPT Slide 14) Duration 10 minutes.
a. In a report, conclusions explain what the problem is, while recommendations
tell how to solve it.
b. In writing report recommendations, what considerations and strategies can
help you increase the chances of their being implemented?
i. Answer: Reports that consider the audience’s needs and offer specific,
4. Discussion: Periodic vs. Progress Reports (Critical Thinking #4, 12-4, PPT Slides 32 and
33) Duration 10 minutes.
a. Entry-level and middle-management employees can expect to write many
informational reports.
b. What are the differences between periodic (activity) reports and progress
(interim) reports?
i. Answer: Periodic reports (sometimes called activity reports) are
c. What type of information can you typically expect in each?
i. Answer: Periodic reports usually include a summary of regular
5. Discussion: The Ethics of Transparency and Compliance (Critical Thinking #5)
Duration 20 minutes.
a. When it comes to financial reporting, transparency and ethical compliance
b. Although this technology provides the benefit of increasing organizational
transparency and accountability, what concerns might potential
whistleblowers still have?
i. Answer: Although a mobile app might seem safer than previous
forums of reporting ethical concerns (such as phone hotlines or
workplace e-mail), people are still naturally skeptical about technology
c. What reservations might companies have about investing in the technology?
i. Answer: Businesses may be concerned about the costs of
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Additional Activities and Assignments
1. Case Study: Zooming In—Measuring Data the Netflix Way: In this case study,
students will read a description of the complaints regarding a lack of transparency
in Netflix’s reporting of its viewership metrics. They are then asked to answer a
series of critical-thinking questions.
a. Why is the number of subscribers a better measure of Netflix’s success
instead of traditional television metrics that focus on viewership of specific
shows?
b. What other factors might influence Netflix to withhold data on viewership
compared with network TV?
i. Much of Netflix’s original programming is tailored to smaller, niche
audiences. As long as its varied programming continues to draw and
c. Netflix has recently hired the independent TV rating service Nielsen to collect
data on selected Netflix programming. Why is vetting by an outside source
important?
i. A neutral party offers unbiased interpretation of data. Its
2. Case Study: Zooming In—Your Turn: Applying Your Skills at Netflix: In this case
study, students are asked to take on the role of an intern in the Netflix marketing
department charged with writing a yardstick report. Have students work
individually, or break the class into groups of two or three and have them complete
the assignment as a team. You may wish to have students present their work to the
class or submit their responses electronically.
a. As an intern in the Netflix marketing department, students should write a
yardstick report comparing the subscriber figures, subscription prices, size of
3. Chat About It: At the end of each chapter, you will find additional open-ended
questions related to the chapter material. You may assign these topics for
discussion in class, in an online chat room, or on an online discussion board. You
may also ask students to read and respond to postings made by their classmates.
Topic 1: Provide a simple example that illustrates the differences among findings,
conclusions, and recommendations when analyzing data.
Topic 3: In an analysis of employee salaries within a company or industry, which
value might be the most valuable in determining the salary commonly paid:
mean, median, or mode? Why?
Topic 4: You are preparing to write a report detailing your company’s plan to
expand globally. What might be the best strategy to organize the information?
What classifications may help you arrange the information logically?
4. Test Your Workplace Etiquette IQ: New communication platforms and casual
workplace environments have blurred the lines of appropriateness, leaving workers
wondering how to navigate uncharted waters. Have students check their workplace
etiquette IQ by deciding whether the following statements are true or false.
Scenario 1: Noah is out of the office, but you just had a brilliant idea to share with
him. You should call and leave a voice-mail message so that he can hear it when
he returns.
Answer: False. Many workers dislike voice-mail messages. If possible, wait
Scenario 2: You’re sick and must miss work tomorrow. Because you don’t feel
well, it’s acceptable to text your boss to say you won’t be in.
Answer: False. Don’t do it! As an employee, you have a responsibility to
Scenario 3: As a manager, you are upset because your employee Mike is
habitually late for meetings. You would like to reprimand him in front of
everyone to serve as a lesson, but the better plan is to speak to him privately.
Answer: True. Delivering bad news such as a reprimand is better done
Additional Resources
Cengage Video Resources
• MindTap Videos:
o Learn It: Chapter 12 Informal Business Reports
▪ Learn It: Video Lesson 12-1
▪ Learn It: Video Lesson 12-2
Appendix
Generic Rubrics
Providing students with rubrics helps them understand expectations and components of
assignments. Rubrics help students become more aware of their learning process and
progress, and they improve students’ work through timely and detailed feedback.
Standard Writing Rubric
Criteria
Meets Requirements
Needs Improvement
Incomplete
Content
The assignment clearly
and comprehensively
addresses all questions
in the assignment.
conclusions are logically
related and consistent.
arguments, and
conclusions are mostly
logically related and
consistent.
logically related and
consistent.
0 points
The assignment partially
addresses some or all
questions in the
assignment.
The assignment does not
address the questions in
the assignment.
0 points
Research
The assignment is based
upon appropriate and
adequate academic
literature, including peer
reviewed journals and
other scholarly work.
5 points
The assignment is based
upon adequate
academic literature but
does not include peer
reviewed journals and
other scholarly work.
3 points
The assignment is not
based upon appropriate
and adequate academic
literature and does not
include peer reviewed
journals and other
scholarly work.
The assignment follows
the required citation
guidelines.
The assignment follows
some of the required
citation guidelines.
The assignment does not
follow the required
citation guidelines.
and spelling errors.
and spelling errors.
unintelligible.
Standard Discussion Rubric
Criteria
Meets Requirements
Needs Improvement
Incomplete
Participation
Participates in or
submits discussion by
the posted deadlines.
Follows instructions for
initial post and
responses.
Comments add value to
discussion topic.
on task. Comments may
not add value to
discussion.
0 points
Does not participate in
or submit discussion by
the posted deadlines.
Does not follow
instructions for initial
post and responses.
Does not participate in
discussion.
0 points