BRIEF DESCRIPTION:
For the formal report, you will write a researched recommendations report to a business audience. This is an individual assignment of which a complete, final publish is due at the end of the term. The formal report is broken down into several smaller assignments that will help you build up to the larger final publish of the formal report.
You will be required to complete the various steps of the business writing process (outlined below) to develop a single-spaced, 7-9 page final report. Your final report publish must include both primary and secondary research (details on the difference between the two will be covered). Reports must have at least 5 secondary sources and at least 1 primary source.
Your objective for the final publish is to produce a recommendations report that would be helpful to key decision makers within a specific company.
The report may include three (3) graphics (images, charts, tables, graphs, etc.). Each graphic can be no larger than one-half page. Graphics will count toward the total page limit, but they must add value to your report in someway.
At the end of the course, following completion of the final publish, you will give a formal presentation over your report topic using Microsoft PowerPoint.
SCOPE AND TOPIC:
Reports will be written on one of the three general themes below:
How to improve a specific product. (e.g. Improvements to design of Nintendo Switch Console)
How to improve a specific process. (e.g. Improving bookkeeping and payroll process at Smith & Johnson, LLC)
How to solve a specific problem. (e.g. Small Miracle Daycare implementing a training handbook, restructuring new employee onboarding process, and regularly reviewing policies and procedures to solve the problem of ineffectual employees)
Topics might include re-designing a process, upgrading a facility, implementing new equipment or software, enhancing a website, modifying an existing product, solving a problem such as customer retention or low employee morale, or any instructor-approved topic that involves significant analysis and will lead to meaningful recommendations.
Audience: your topic should have a professional focus; your report should be aimed at the individual(s) who could implement your recommendations. (i.e. you may be writing to managers, owners, or other key decision-makers within the company).

DELIVERABLES ALONG THE WAY:
As we work on the formal report during the second part of this course, you will complete a number of smaller assignments along the way. These smaller assignments are intended to help you build up to the longer final publish. Here is a list of the items you will submit related to the formal report:
Topic Proposal
Reference Sheet & Outline
Primary Research Plan
Rough publish
Final publish

Formal Report Topic Proposal Memo (1-page)
Each student will write a memo addressed to the instructor (in proper memo format) proposing a topic for the formal report. For your proposed topic, describe the following:
The topic: fully describe the problem or process you are attempting to address; be sure to state which business this problem/challenge will be addressed at
The need: describe the need driving the necessary change; the basic steps in implementing the change
Audience: an analysis of your intended audience for your topic; describe who (within the organization/company) would be able to implement your changes and/or suggestions
This proposal will be used to determine which of your topics is approved, if modification to your topic is required, or if a different topic will be needed. Each student will receive this feedback on the assignment via Canvas.
Reference Sheet & Outline
Each student will create a detailed outline in traditional outline format (with roman numerals). The outline should indicate a hierarchy of relationship between ideas (include sub points), and source/evidence notes for claims should be incorporated throughout the outline. The outline will include notes for each main section of the body of the paper (Introduction, Background, Discussion, Conclusions, and Recommendations), and these notes should be in complete sentences. Additionally, each student will compose a reference sheet in APA citation style that includes 5 secondary sources likely or possible to be used in the Formal Report Research Paper.
Primary Research Plan
For this assignment, you will write up your plan for completing the primary research component of the Formal Report research paper. You will choose between 3 options: an expert/credible interview, a survey, or a formal observation. For whichever option you choose, you will provide relevant details ahead of time. This document will eventually become Appendix A of your Formal Report.
Formal Report publish
For the first “rough” publish of the paper, full credit for the publish will be earned simply by submitting a publish with content attempted for each required section for comments. This first publish must include the following labeled elements:
Introduction
Background
Discussion
Conclusions
Recommendations
References

Formal Report Project Final version (7-9 pages + front and end matter)
Each student will revise and refine the publish submitted earlier in the term and add the final required components of the report. The finished product should adhere to the highest standards of business communication, successfully incorporating the feedback provided by the various editors and proofreaders. The quality of this deliverable will be scrutinized thoroughly, unlike the publish version. The final publish will be graded with the provided final publish formal report rubric (see Canvas). The final publish must include all required elements:
Front Matter (Cover page, Table of Contents, Letter of Transmittal, Executive Summary)
Body of report, 7-9 single-spaced pages (Introduction, Background, Discussion, Conclusions, Recommendations, & References)
End Matter (Appendix A)

Formal Report Project Presentation (10 slides MAX): Delivered and recorded during final weeks of class
You are required to develop a professional PowerPoint slide presentation (of no more than 10 slides) to accompany a formal 5-7-minute oral presentation on your topic. Formal business dress is required for the presentation (dress as you would for an important interview). This presentation will be delivered and recorded during the last weeks of class. It is expected to be a highly professional demonstration of your ability to apply key concepts from the course. The audience for the presentation is the same as the intended audience of the report; in other words, you will present as if you were addressing the manager/owner/stakeholder of your specific company.
You are responsible for figuring out the technology and logistics of how to record your presentation. Your recording should show your face in frame, and your slides should be clearly readable in the recording as well.
Required visual aid: PowerPoint or slideshow
Slide requirements: 10 slides maximum
Timing: 5-7 minutes
Dress requirements: formal business dress
Audience: same intended audience as your report (manager, owner, etc.)
Sources: must be cited (either verbally or in the PowerPoint)

CONTENTS OF FORMAL REPORT
Your Formal Report FINAL publish must include the following sections:
Front Matter: Prefatory sections (do NOT count towards page limit; number prefatory pages in lowercase roman numerals, but do not place a number on your cover sheet):
A cover sheet (no page number)
A letter of transmittal (ii)
A table of contents (including a list of figures) (iii)
An executive summary (iv)
Body sections (7-9 pages single-spaced): these DO count towards page limit
Introduction section
Background section
Discussion section
Conclusions section
Recommendations section
References page
All of the body sections count towards your page range of 7-9 single-spaced pages. Your 3 half-page graphics should be included in the body section and do count towards your page limit, too.
End Matter: Additionally, each student will prepare at least 1 appendix that does NOT count towards your final page range (Appendix A is required for everyone). Appendices should be labeled as Appendix A, Appendix B, and so forth. You may number the appendix pages as you please.
Appendix A: Primary research details
Professional Interview
Compose a document that contains the following details:
Name and position of person you intend to interview
Short explanation of why this person\’s opinion is relevant to your report
A list of interview questions
Survey
Compose a document that contains the following details:
Intended survey population (who will you distribute the survey to?)
Distribution method (how will you get this survey to the correct people?)
Survey tool you will use (google forms, Qualtrics, or Survey Monkey)
List of survey questions you plan to ask, with complete options provided
Formal Observation
Compose a document that contains the following details:
What specific event or occurrence will you observe?
For how long will you observe this event or occurrence?
What type information will your observation allow you to gather?
How will you keep track of your observation notes?

FORMATTING GUIDELINES FOR FORMAL REPORT
Please review the Formatting Guidelines for the Formal Report: be sure to watch the provided formatting videos.
Spacing: your report will be single-spaced (1.0), as this is the expectation in the business environment.
Margins: 1 or 1.25 inch margins all the way around the document (except cover page)
Font: 12 point Times New Roman, 12 point Cambria, or 12 point Calibri
Page numbers should be centered at the bottom of each page; front matter should be numbered with roman numerals while the body of the report should be numbered with Arabic numerals (see video on Canvas)
Figures should be labeled with APA style captions
An automatic table of contents and table of figures are required