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Planning Reports and Proposals. Workplace Writing. Informational reports Analytical reports Proposals. Three-Step Writing Process. Planning Writing Completing . Analyzing the Situation. Define the purpose Prepare the work plan. Defining the Purpose. Inform Persuade Recommend
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Planning Reports and Proposals Business Communication Today 8e
Workplace Writing • Informational reports • Analytical reports • Proposals Business Communication Today 8e
Three-Step Writing Process • Planning • Writing • Completing Business Communication Today 8e
Analyzing the Situation • Define the purpose • Prepare the work plan Business Communication Today 8e
Defining the Purpose • Inform • Persuade • Recommend • Confirm • Analyze • Summarize Business Communication Today 8e
Preparing the Work Plan • Statement of the problem • Statement of the purpose and scope • Discussion of tasks to be accomplished • Description of final products or outcomes • Review of schedules and requirements • Plans for following up • Working outline Business Communication Today 8e
Gathering Information • Purpose • Audience • Priorities Business Communication Today 8e
Selecting the Medium • Hardcopy • Digital format • Multimedia Business Communication Today 8e
Organizing the Information • Direct approach • State conclusions and recommendations • Introduce findings • Include support • Indirect approach • Introduce findings • Discuss support • State conclusions and recommendations Business Communication Today 8e
Descriptive (Topical) Outline Informative (Talking) Outline I. Industry Characteristics A. Annual sales B. Profitability C. Growth rate 1. Sales 2. Profit I. Flour milling is a mature industry. A. Market is large B. Profit margins are narrow C. Growth is modest. 1. Sales growth less than 3% 2. Profit growth is flat. Using Outline Headings Business Communication Today 8e
Informational Reports • Monitor and control operations • Implement policies and procedures • Document compliance • Record overall progress Business Communication Today 8e
Organizing Informational Reports • Comparison • Performance • Sequence or time • Category • Geography • Spatial orientation Business Communication Today 8e
Planning Analytical Reports • Assess opportunities • Solve problems • Support decisions Business Communication Today 8e
Challenges of Writing Analytical Reports • Quality of reasoning • Clarity of writing • Persuasive elements Business Communication Today 8e
Defining the Problem • What needs to be determined? • Why is this issue important? • Who is involved in the situation? • Where is the trouble located? • How did the situation originate? • When did it start? Business Communication Today 8e
Organizing Analytical Reports • Logical arguments • Feasible recommendations • Bottom-line conclusions Business Communication Today 8e
Focus on Conclusions • Advantages • Ease of use • Bottom-line driven • Disadvantages • Possible resistance • Oversimplification Business Communication Today 8e
Focus on Recommendations • Establish the need for action • Introduce benefits • List the steps • Explain each step • Summarize Business Communication Today 8e
Focus on Logical Arguments • 2 + 2 = 4 approach • Scientific method • Yardstick approach Business Communication Today 8e
Planning Proposals • Internal • Funding • Management support • General projects • External • Investments • Grants • Sales Business Communication Today 8e
Structuring Proposals • Solicited • Direct approach • Interested audience • Unsolicited • Indirect approach • Uninterested audience Business Communication Today 8e