Exam 8: Informal Reports

Before you write a(n) ____________________________ report, you will need to read the source material carefully so that you understand it.

Logical sources of information for many business reports are company records, personal experience, and electronic resources.

TrailPro Sports You work in the marketing division of TrailPro Sports, a local manufacturer of cross-country ski equipment. Part of your job as a marketing specialist involves preparing reports of various kinds. The following are some of the reports that you need to prepare in the next few weeks: I. You must compose a routine monthly report providing management with the latest production and sales figures for all the products the company manufactures. II. Your division manager asked you yesterday to prepare a report presenting the company's current inventory for each ski model TrailPro produces, which should include anticipated production by Dec. 1 as well as sales figures for each model for the last five years. The report should include your analysis of these figures and your recommendations for production schedules and quotas to ensure that there will be sufficient quantities in stock to meet anticipated orders. He has scheduled an appointment with you for next week to discuss the report in more detail, but you want to start thinking about it, collecting information, and making a tentative plan immediately. III. You have been asked to conduct a survey of the company's customers to help determine whether a new-model ski pole would likely sell well at the projected wholesale price. You have been given some samples of the ski pole to distribute to interested customers. The report will include your conclusions about whether or not the company should proceed with production of the ski pole. IV. Your spouse has just been transferred and you are moving to another city. You would like to continue to work for TrailPro Sports, since you believe you can continue to perform all of your required job functions capably by telecommuting. You will need to write a report for senior management proposing this arrangement and asking for approval. V. You come up with an idea for improvements to the design of a ski binding manufactured by TrailPro. You believe that your suggestions are practical and cost-effective and you want to present your design changes to your boss. However, your boss feels that the company should be spending more time and money marketing existing products and less on designing and improving existing ones. -What method of organization might you use for your Findings section that describes customers' opinions on whether the new-model ski pole would sell at wholesale prices?

TrailPro Sports You work in the marketing division of TrailPro Sports, a local manufacturer of cross-country ski equipment. Part of your job as a marketing specialist involves preparing reports of various kinds. The following are some of the reports that you need to prepare in the next few weeks: I. You must compose a routine monthly report providing management with the latest production and sales figures for all the products the company manufactures. II. Your division manager asked you yesterday to prepare a report presenting the company's current inventory for each ski model TrailPro produces, which should include anticipated production by Dec. 1 as well as sales figures for each model for the last five years. The report should include your analysis of these figures and your recommendations for production schedules and quotas to ensure that there will be sufficient quantities in stock to meet anticipated orders. He has scheduled an appointment with you for next week to discuss the report in more detail, but you want to start thinking about it, collecting information, and making a tentative plan immediately. III. You have been asked to conduct a survey of the company's customers to help determine whether a new-model ski pole would likely sell well at the projected wholesale price. You have been given some samples of the ski pole to distribute to interested customers. The report will include your conclusions about whether or not the company should proceed with production of the ski pole. IV. Your spouse has just been transferred and you are moving to another city. You would like to continue to work for TrailPro Sports, since you believe you can continue to perform all of your required job functions capably by telecommuting. You will need to write a report for senior management proposing this arrangement and asking for approval. V. You come up with an idea for improvements to the design of a ski binding manufactured by TrailPro. You believe that your suggestions are practical and cost-effective and you want to present your design changes to your boss. However, your boss feels that the company should be spending more time and money marketing existing products and less on designing and improving existing ones. -To present the results of your survey of customer reaction to the new ski pole design, what kind of report should you write?

TrailPro Sports You work in the marketing division of TrailPro Sports, a local manufacturer of cross-country ski equipment. Part of your job as a marketing specialist involves preparing reports of various kinds. The following are some of the reports that you need to prepare in the next few weeks: I. You must compose a routine monthly report providing management with the latest production and sales figures for all the products the company manufactures. II. Your division manager asked you yesterday to prepare a report presenting the company's current inventory for each ski model TrailPro produces, which should include anticipated production by Dec. 1 as well as sales figures for each model for the last five years. The report should include your analysis of these figures and your recommendations for production schedules and quotas to ensure that there will be sufficient quantities in stock to meet anticipated orders. He has scheduled an appointment with you for next week to discuss the report in more detail, but you want to start thinking about it, collecting information, and making a tentative plan immediately. III. You have been asked to conduct a survey of the company's customers to help determine whether a new-model ski pole would likely sell well at the projected wholesale price. You have been given some samples of the ski pole to distribute to interested customers. The report will include your conclusions about whether or not the company should proceed with production of the ski pole. IV. Your spouse has just been transferred and you are moving to another city. You would like to continue to work for TrailPro Sports, since you believe you can continue to perform all of your required job functions capably by telecommuting. You will need to write a report for senior management proposing this arrangement and asking for approval. V. You come up with an idea for improvements to the design of a ski binding manufactured by TrailPro. You believe that your suggestions are practical and cost-effective and you want to present your design changes to your boss. However, your boss feels that the company should be spending more time and money marketing existing products and less on designing and improving existing ones. -Which format would be most appropriate for a summary report for your immediate supervisors?

In a report using ____________________ organization, the recommendations and conclusions are presented first so that readers have a frame of reference for the following discussion and analysis.

When analyzing your audience, you should consider any secondary readers who may receive a copy of your report.

TrailPro Sports You work in the marketing division of TrailPro Sports, a local manufacturer of cross-country ski equipment. Part of your job as a marketing specialist involves preparing reports of various kinds. The following are some of the reports that you need to prepare in the next few weeks: I. You must compose a routine monthly report providing management with the latest production and sales figures for all the products the company manufactures. II. Your division manager asked you yesterday to prepare a report presenting the company's current inventory for each ski model TrailPro produces, which should include anticipated production by Dec. 1 as well as sales figures for each model for the last five years. The report should include your analysis of these figures and your recommendations for production schedules and quotas to ensure that there will be sufficient quantities in stock to meet anticipated orders. He has scheduled an appointment with you for next week to discuss the report in more detail, but you want to start thinking about it, collecting information, and making a tentative plan immediately. III. You have been asked to conduct a survey of the company's customers to help determine whether a new-model ski pole would likely sell well at the projected wholesale price. You have been given some samples of the ski pole to distribute to interested customers. The report will include your conclusions about whether or not the company should proceed with production of the ski pole. IV. Your spouse has just been transferred and you are moving to another city. You would like to continue to work for TrailPro Sports, since you believe you can continue to perform all of your required job functions capably by telecommuting. You will need to write a report for senior management proposing this arrangement and asking for approval. V. You come up with an idea for improvements to the design of a ski binding manufactured by TrailPro. You believe that your suggestions are practical and cost-effective and you want to present your design changes to your boss. However, your boss feels that the company should be spending more time and money marketing existing products and less on designing and improving existing ones. -According to the text, what can you assume as you begin to think about the report your manager has asked you to prepare presenting the company's current inventory and anticipated production for all ski models?

__________________________ research will gather information from such sources as books, journals, newspapers, government documents, and the Internet.

Prepared forms or templates are useful for reporting routine activities.

TrailPro Sports You work in the marketing division of TrailPro Sports, a local manufacturer of cross-country ski equipment. Part of your job as a marketing specialist involves preparing reports of various kinds. The following are some of the reports that you need to prepare in the next few weeks: I. You must compose a routine monthly report providing management with the latest production and sales figures for all the products the company manufactures. II. Your division manager asked you yesterday to prepare a report presenting the company's current inventory for each ski model TrailPro produces, which should include anticipated production by Dec. 1 as well as sales figures for each model for the last five years. The report should include your analysis of these figures and your recommendations for production schedules and quotas to ensure that there will be sufficient quantities in stock to meet anticipated orders. He has scheduled an appointment with you for next week to discuss the report in more detail, but you want to start thinking about it, collecting information, and making a tentative plan immediately. III. You have been asked to conduct a survey of the company's customers to help determine whether a new-model ski pole would likely sell well at the projected wholesale price. You have been given some samples of the ski pole to distribute to interested customers. The report will include your conclusions about whether or not the company should proceed with production of the ski pole. IV. Your spouse has just been transferred and you are moving to another city. You would like to continue to work for TrailPro Sports, since you believe you can continue to perform all of your required job functions capably by telecommuting. You will need to write a report for senior management proposing this arrangement and asking for approval. V. You come up with an idea for improvements to the design of a ski binding manufactured by TrailPro. You believe that your suggestions are practical and cost-effective and you want to present your design changes to your boss. However, your boss feels that the company should be spending more time and money marketing existing products and less on designing and improving existing ones. -What type of report would you use for your proposal to management asking to work from a different city?

TrailPro Sports You work in the marketing division of TrailPro Sports, a local manufacturer of cross-country ski equipment. Part of your job as a marketing specialist involves preparing reports of various kinds. The following are some of the reports that you need to prepare in the next few weeks: I. You must compose a routine monthly report providing management with the latest production and sales figures for all the products the company manufactures. II. Your division manager asked you yesterday to prepare a report presenting the company's current inventory for each ski model TrailPro produces, which should include anticipated production by Dec. 1 as well as sales figures for each model for the last five years. The report should include your analysis of these figures and your recommendations for production schedules and quotas to ensure that there will be sufficient quantities in stock to meet anticipated orders. He has scheduled an appointment with you for next week to discuss the report in more detail, but you want to start thinking about it, collecting information, and making a tentative plan immediately. III. You have been asked to conduct a survey of the company's customers to help determine whether a new-model ski pole would likely sell well at the projected wholesale price. You have been given some samples of the ski pole to distribute to interested customers. The report will include your conclusions about whether or not the company should proceed with production of the ski pole. IV. Your spouse has just been transferred and you are moving to another city. You would like to continue to work for TrailPro Sports, since you believe you can continue to perform all of your required job functions capably by telecommuting. You will need to write a report for senior management proposing this arrangement and asking for approval. V. You come up with an idea for improvements to the design of a ski binding manufactured by TrailPro. You believe that your suggestions are practical and cost-effective and you want to present your design changes to your boss. However, your boss feels that the company should be spending more time and money marketing existing products and less on designing and improving existing ones. -You have been sent an e-mail attachment containing a report of TrailPro's production and sales figures of January 2013, which should serve as a template for you to create this month's sales report. What type of report have you just received?

Informal reports prepared by one organization for another are most commonly delivered in memo format.

TrailPro Sports You work in the marketing division of TrailPro Sports, a local manufacturer of cross-country ski equipment. Part of your job as a marketing specialist involves preparing reports of various kinds. The following are some of the reports that you need to prepare in the next few weeks: I. You must compose a routine monthly report providing management with the latest production and sales figures for all the products the company manufactures. II. Your division manager asked you yesterday to prepare a report presenting the company's current inventory for each ski model TrailPro produces, which should include anticipated production by Dec. 1 as well as sales figures for each model for the last five years. The report should include your analysis of these figures and your recommendations for production schedules and quotas to ensure that there will be sufficient quantities in stock to meet anticipated orders. He has scheduled an appointment with you for next week to discuss the report in more detail, but you want to start thinking about it, collecting information, and making a tentative plan immediately. III. You have been asked to conduct a survey of the company's customers to help determine whether a new-model ski pole would likely sell well at the projected wholesale price. You have been given some samples of the ski pole to distribute to interested customers. The report will include your conclusions about whether or not the company should proceed with production of the ski pole. IV. Your spouse has just been transferred and you are moving to another city. You would like to continue to work for TrailPro Sports, since you believe you can continue to perform all of your required job functions capably by telecommuting. You will need to write a report for senior management proposing this arrangement and asking for approval. V. You come up with an idea for improvements to the design of a ski binding manufactured by TrailPro. You believe that your suggestions are practical and cost-effective and you want to present your design changes to your boss. However, your boss feels that the company should be spending more time and money marketing existing products and less on designing and improving existing ones. -Which situation might require a justification/recommendation report?

The text says that if the readers of your report are your immediate supervisors, you should include extensive details or historical background.

____________________________ reports determine if a plan is practical.

TrailPro Sports You work in the marketing division of TrailPro Sports, a local manufacturer of cross-country ski equipment. Part of your job as a marketing specialist involves preparing reports of various kinds. The following are some of the reports that you need to prepare in the next few weeks: I. You must compose a routine monthly report providing management with the latest production and sales figures for all the products the company manufactures. II. Your division manager asked you yesterday to prepare a report presenting the company's current inventory for each ski model TrailPro produces, which should include anticipated production by Dec. 1 as well as sales figures for each model for the last five years. The report should include your analysis of these figures and your recommendations for production schedules and quotas to ensure that there will be sufficient quantities in stock to meet anticipated orders. He has scheduled an appointment with you for next week to discuss the report in more detail, but you want to start thinking about it, collecting information, and making a tentative plan immediately. III. You have been asked to conduct a survey of the company's customers to help determine whether a new-model ski pole would likely sell well at the projected wholesale price. You have been given some samples of the ski pole to distribute to interested customers. The report will include your conclusions about whether or not the company should proceed with production of the ski pole. IV. Your spouse has just been transferred and you are moving to another city. You would like to continue to work for TrailPro Sports, since you believe you can continue to perform all of your required job functions capably by telecommuting. You will need to write a report for senior management proposing this arrangement and asking for approval. V. You come up with an idea for improvements to the design of a ski binding manufactured by TrailPro. You believe that your suggestions are practical and cost-effective and you want to present your design changes to your boss. However, your boss feels that the company should be spending more time and money marketing existing products and less on designing and improving existing ones. -After you meet with your boss the following week, you begin to gather data for your report. Which of the following statements is the best guide to help you decide what kind of data to collect and how to do so?

Citing the sources of information is necessary only in formal reports.

TrailPro Sports You work in the marketing division of TrailPro Sports, a local manufacturer of cross-country ski equipment. Part of your job as a marketing specialist involves preparing reports of various kinds. The following are some of the reports that you need to prepare in the next few weeks: I. You must compose a routine monthly report providing management with the latest production and sales figures for all the products the company manufactures. II. Your division manager asked you yesterday to prepare a report presenting the company's current inventory for each ski model TrailPro produces, which should include anticipated production by Dec. 1 as well as sales figures for each model for the last five years. The report should include your analysis of these figures and your recommendations for production schedules and quotas to ensure that there will be sufficient quantities in stock to meet anticipated orders. He has scheduled an appointment with you for next week to discuss the report in more detail, but you want to start thinking about it, collecting information, and making a tentative plan immediately. III. You have been asked to conduct a survey of the company's customers to help determine whether a new-model ski pole would likely sell well at the projected wholesale price. You have been given some samples of the ski pole to distribute to interested customers. The report will include your conclusions about whether or not the company should proceed with production of the ski pole. IV. Your spouse has just been transferred and you are moving to another city. You would like to continue to work for TrailPro Sports, since you believe you can continue to perform all of your required job functions capably by telecommuting. You will need to write a report for senior management proposing this arrangement and asking for approval. V. You come up with an idea for improvements to the design of a ski binding manufactured by TrailPro. You believe that your suggestions are practical and cost-effective and you want to present your design changes to your boss. However, your boss feels that the company should be spending more time and money marketing existing products and less on designing and improving existing ones. -Which format does the text recommend for your routine monthly production and sales report?

The ____________________ of a meeting record such things as attendees, discussion points, announcements, motions, and the outcome of any votes on those motions.