ch10 Business Communication and Research Processes

Learning Objectives

Objective 1: Three-Step Writing Process for Reports and Proposals

• Identify Purpose: Clearly define what the report or proposal aims to achieve.

• Prepare Work Plan: Outline the steps required for completing the project.

• Consider Research Needs: Determine if additional research is necessary.

• Choose Medium and Channel: Decide the best way to present your information.

• Select Approach: Adopt an approach suited for the specific report type.

Objective 2: Conducting Business Research

• Effective Business Research Steps:

  • Plan Carefully: Focus on critical questions relevant to your research topic.

  • Locate Necessary Data: Use both primary (original data) and secondary (existing data) research methods.

  • Process Results: Summarize findings, draw conclusions, and create recommendations.

  • Manage Information: Ensure information is retrievable for future projects.

• Evaluating Credibility of Information Sources: Ask up to eight key questions:

  • Is the source reputable and reliable?

  • Is there potential bias in the source?

  • What is the purpose of the material?

  • Is the author credible?

  • Where did the source obtain its information?

  • Can the material be verified independently?

  • Is the information current and complete?

  • Does the content make sense?

• Using Research Results (Five Main Ways):

  • Quoting

  • Paraphrasing

  • Summarizing

  • Drawing conclusions

  • Making recommendations

Objective 3: Role of Secondary Research

• Conducting Secondary Research: Often performed before primary research to save time and gain insights.

• Categories of Online Research Tools:

  • Search Tools: Search engines and online databases.

  • Monitoring Tools: Tools that track information on specific topics.

Objective 4: Role of Primary Research

• Purpose of Primary Research: Needed when information is not available through secondary means.

• Common Primary Research Methods:

  • Surveys

  • Interviews

Objective 5: Planning Informational Reports and Website Content

• Focus of Informational Reports: Deliver facts and information succinctly and clearly.

• Topical Organization Methods:

  • Comparison

  • Importance

  • Sequence

  • Chronology

  • Geography

  • Category

• Key Steps in Online Reporting and Website Development:

  • Ensure mobile-friendliness.

  • Offer navigational flexibility to readers.

  • Use clear language for titles and links.

  • Follow established organizational conventions.

  • Break information into easily digestible segments.

• Infographics: Effective for reaching broad audiences and conveying messages through visuals. Key conditions for use:

  • Highly visual message

  • Significant content merit

  • Suited for social media sharing

  • Tools like Visual.ly and Open Clip Art Library can assist in creation.

Objective 6: Organizing Analytical Reports

• Common Organization Approaches for Analytical Reports:

  • Focusing on Conclusions

  • Focusing on Recommendations

  • Focusing on Logical Arguments

Objective 7: Planning Proposals

• Solicited vs. Unsolicited Proposals:

  • Solicited Proposals: Must adhere to specific organizational requirements in response to a Request for Proposals (RFP).

  • Unsolicited Proposals: Require justification of the proposed solution's necessity using an indirect approach.