Chapter 3

Question 1

Why is a report important?

Answer 1

1. Preparing budgets
2. Obtaining new business
3. Proposing official changes

Question 2

2 definitions of a report?

Answer 2

1. A formal or official presentation of facts

2. To represent w conclusions and recommendations

Question 3

6 main stages in report writing ?

Answer 3

1. Objectives - establish the brief
2. Content - Gather and organise data
3. Structure - Creating a clear argument, logical flow
4. Writing - choose writing style. Accuracy, Concise, clear
5. Layout - Create an attractive document but relevant
6. Pacakaging and delivery - completing the process

Question 4

What questions to consider while considering the “Objective” step of report writing?

Answer 4

Purpose?
Context?
What type of doc?
Audience?

Question 5

What questions to consider while considering the “Content” step of report writing?

Answer 5

Source material? 
Organise my material
Focus on key issues
Structure argument
Identify visual evidence

Question 6

What questions to consider while considering the “Packaging and Delivery” step of report writing?

Answer 6

Final reflection
Delivery method
Follow-Up

Question 7

3 things Objective consists of?

Answer 7

1. Purpose
2. Scope
3. Generic Purpose

Question 8

Explain Purpose in objectives ?

Answer 8

Framing of question is the most imp. process of all!
Why are you writing this?
a.Why does this issue warrant a report?
b.What will report produce

Question 9

Explain Scope in objectives ?

Answer 9

What is in and what is out?

Better to deep than broad

Question 10

Explain Generic Purpose in objectives ?

Answer 10

Why is a report needed?

1. Monitor operations
2. Help implement policies
3. Obtain new funding
4. Comply w legal funding requirements
5. Document work progress
6. Guide decisions on particular issues
7. Analyse and interpret

Question 11

Other reasons for writing reports? (Generic Purpose)

Answer 11

1. To delay a decision that could be taken on available evidence
2. Add bureaucracy and red tape that already limits us
3. Provide marginally useful info., for competitiveness
4. Demonstrate our own abilities as part of a learning programme

Question 12

Regardless of reasons/generic purpose must always as yourself and the person who commissioned the docs?

Answer 12

1. What is the general purpose?
2. Exactly what do you want to know that we already don’t
3. What is report to achieve
4. What is scope of report

Question 13

What kind of document is needed?

Answer 13

See page 21 in notes

Question 14

Who are the readers?

Answer 14

Know the purpose of these readers as they vary.
Keep in mind the important readers
If 2 parallel audiences there may be a conflict to resolve but do not make 2 reports its a waste of time.

Question 15

Who are your secondary readers?

Answer 15

Effect on them.

Careful with blame, remarks and justifications

Question 16

What do you know about your readers?

Answer 16

Attitude, Motivation, level of knowledge, want to know, unfavourable to you?
Don’t overuse TLAs - over frustrating for ppl who are unfamiliar w the subject

Question 17

When you think of readership consider (4 things)?

Answer 17

Level in org
Background (attitudes, culture, values)
Views on subject of report
Outlook (subjective/objective)?

Question 18

How to read reports? (8 points)

Answer 18

Not word to word
Title (Topic)
Author (credibility)
How substantial?
Where to start?
This section is interesting
More detail? Look at appendices and signpost them
Agree with the report

Question 19

Details on Content of report.

Answer 19

1. Report must convey something reader doesn’t already know
2. Report only as good as the factual material within it
3. Start gathering data early - long process

Question 20

Key factors to consider to gauge amount of research needed?

Answer 20

1. Importance of report
2. Overall objective
3. Time/resources available
4. Level of detail required

Question 21

4 Types of research purposes?

Answer 21

Exploratory
Descriptive
Explanatory
Policy-orientated
May intertwine and find use for all as research progresses

Question 22

Explain Exploratory Research?

Answer 22

Might involve a literature search or holding focus groups
To identify key issues/variables so a clear definition of objectives/ exploration of new phenomenon
E.g Research on new management technique

Question 23

Explain Descriptive Research?

Answer 23

To accurately describe observations of a phenomenon
Similarities between A and B (A and B are diff. departments in same org)
These descriptive comparisons lead to useful insights and lead to hypothesis-formation
E.g Detailed set of data on the profile of clients

Question 24

Explain Explanatory Research?

Answer 24

Looks for explanations on nature of the similarities

See pg.60 in Guidebook for table

Question 25

Explain Policy Orientated Research?

Answer 25

reports using this research type focuses on question "How can problem X be solved or prevented?"

Question 26

What mistakes do writers make using the Policy Orientated Research?

Answer 26

Same as politicians where they search for a policy and then look for evidence to support it. But : 1. Requires explanatory level research to back it up in a conclusive manner 2. Requires a theoretical foundation

Question 27

2 types of Time dimensions in research?

Answer 27

Cross-sectional research | Longitudinal Research

Question 28

Explain Cross-sectional research?

Answer 28

Data gathered once, during a period of days or months Mostly exploratory/descriptive in research Designed to look at things now disregarding the trend in history

Question 29

Explain Longitudinal research?

Answer 29

Data collection at multiple points of time More time consuming and expensive than cross-sectional - but more likely to identify the relationships between variables

Question 30

3 types of Longitudinal research?

Answer 30

Trend Study - Population characteristics over time E.g Absentee rates in an org. over a year Cohort Study - Sub-Population over time E.g Absenteesim rates for sales dept. Panel Study - Same sample overtime E.g Graduate career tracks over the period 1990-2000 for the same cohort

Question 31

2 Types of research settings?

Answer 31

Contrived | Non-Contrived

Question 32

Describe a Contrived setting?

Answer 32

Creation of an artificial environment where vents are strictly controlled Study participants are carefully chosen with manipulated stimuli

Question 33

Describe a Non-Contrived setting?

Answer 33

Natural env. where events naturally occur. | E.g Field studies/ Field experiments

Question 34

What is a Field Experiment?

Answer 34

Research into a casual relationship set in its' natural env. with some manipulation of variables.