Title of Report Note: If you have a very long title, it should be centered and spaced in such a fashion that it forms a V-shape Name of sponsor Title Company Submitted by Your Name/Team Member Names Date - fully written out Contents Table of Figures.................................................................................................................................................3 Executive Summary..........................................................................................................................................4 Problem Statement...........................................................................................................................................5 Purpose Statement...........................................................................................................................................5 Research Questions..........................................................................................................................................5 Methodology....................................................................................................................................................6 Discussion of Findings......................................................................................................................................6 Talking Heading for Research Question 1....................................................................................................6 Talking Heading for Research Question 2....................................................................................................7 Talking Heading for Research Question 3....................................................................................................8 Talking Heading for Research Question 4....................................................................................................8 Add Additional Talking Headers if you have more than 4 Research Questions..........................................8 Conclusions and Recommendations................................................................................................................8 Conclusions....................................................................................................................................................8 Recommendations........................................................................................................................................8 References......................................................................................................................................................10 Appendix A - Survey Results..........................................................................................................................11 Note: If you right click on the table, an option to update the Field appears. If you wish to update the entire Table of Contents, select that option. Remember to double check to make sure the page numbers are correct. Be sure to delete this note before submitting your final paper! 2 Table of Figures Figure 1: Text Placeholder for the figure title. Move this figure placeholder to a different section, as needed..........6 Figure 2: Text Placeholder for the figure title. Move this figure placeholder to a different section, as needed..........7 Figure 3: Text Placeholder for the figure title. Move this figure placeholder to a different section, as needed..........7 3 Executive Summary The executive summary is often the only page that is read by busy executives. It summarizes the essential parts of the report for busy executives and should contain enough information for the executive to make a decision or concur with the recommendations you give. Theoretically, your boss should be able to read the executive summary and make an informed decision without reading the rest of the report. The executive summary is typically written last. The executive summary is placed on its own page. The executive summary text should be in a minimum of 11 point font. One inch margins are recommended. In this template, the beginning sentence of each paragraph is not indented and a single space (blank line) is required when a new paragraph begins. When a new paragraph begins, it is formatted as demonstrated here. Typically the first paragraph of the executive summary introduces the report using a neutral opening and outlines broadly the major sections of the report. You could write a sentence or two on why this report is necessary (what events led up to an executive asking for a report). Then broadly outline the major sections of your paper, e.g., After defining the problem and purpose statement and developing research questions, research was undertaken to determine . . . . The second paragraph of the executive summary includes the problem statement, the purpose statement, the research questions, the methodology/approach for researching the problem and a summary of the major findings. The third paragraph of the executive summary includes the conclusions and recommendations. A busy reader (or executive) should be able to read your executive summary and understand why you wrote the report, what you researched, what you concluded/recommend and how the results affect his/her decision-making process. NOTE: look at the Contents page. A really, really busy executive could look at your Talking Headings and make a decision based on those talking headings! 4 Title of Report (exact title of report from your Title Page) The introductory paragraph should not be long because its sole purpose is to introduce the report. The paragraph should be neutral and should lead directly into your Problem Statement; that is, you could discuss what circumstances exist that led into the research you are doing. Simply saying, \"Martha Rodriguez, CEO, asked me to write a report on . . .\" as your introductory paragraph is NOT appropriate. Problem Statement This section typically reveals the problem statement in one sentence. Be sure to review the feedback you received in Module 5 and make necessary adjustments to your problem statement. Make sure your writing is formal and avoid the use of personal pronouns such as I, we, you and our. Formal reports should use 3rd person - the researcher. Purpose Statement This section heading is typically the purpose statement, posed in 1 sentence. Be sure to review the feedback you received in Module 5 and make necessary adjustments to your purpose statement. Research Questions This section typically introduces the research questions that will be answered later in the report. Introduce the research questions with something like: \"The following questions will be answered in this report:\" (or exactly that!\" then list your Research Questions in order based on your Discussion of Findings. 1. 2. 3. 4. Research Question 1 (this should be your exact research question #1) Research Question 2 (this should be your exact research question #2) Research Question 3 (this should be your exact research questions #3) Etc. . . . based on how many research questions you have. Be sure formatting is consistent. In this template, paragraphs are not indented and paragraphs are single-spaced. There is a single blank line (so double space) between figures and paragraphs. Remember to use talking headings in your Discussion of Findings (where you present primary and secondary data to answer your research questions). 5 Methodology This section typically covers the research methodology. It is 1-2 paragraphs long. You may make up a short description of how the survey was conducted (i.e. convenience sample or targeted feedback using a survey website such as Survey Monkey). Because you will include your survey/results in Appendix A, you must refer to Appendix A at some point in your report. This is a good paragraph to do that! Also, explain why you chose your secondary resources. Make sure your formatting is consistent. Discussion of Findings This section typically covers research findings and is the longest and most important part of the report. This is where you discuss your primary and secondary research results. The first paragraph provides an introduction for the results - briefly tell the reader what material is coming up in this section of your paper. Remember, you should not have a second level heading directly after a first level heading without some intervening text; this is the reason for the introductory paragraph. In the next paragraphs (under the headings you write for the Research Questions), you talk about the data you gathered and how the secondary resources support or contradict the primary research. Your personal opinion is irrelevant in this section, so be careful NOT to give any conclusions or recommendations in this section. The Discussion of Findings section should be well-cited using primary and secondary resources. In-body citations are required and if you cite a new source every 3-4 sentences, then you are on the right track for producing a well-researched business report. Some students feel if they cite too much, they are not doing original work - BUT, this section of your paper is NOT about your original work. It is about what your primary and secondary sources reveal about your Research Questions - so cite often! Talking Heading for Research Question 1 Use a talking heading to preview the results of the first research question. For example, if my first research question is: Do employees prefer a Dodge, Chevy, or Ford truck? and my data indicate they prefer Ford trucks, my talking heading would be: Employees Prefer Ford Trucks. So a talking heading reads like a conclusion! In this space, use your primary data (if you have data from your survey/results that is appropriate for this research question) and secondary data to answer your Research Question #1. A blend of both primary 6 and secondary data is always best - it shows that secondary data either supports or contradicts your primary data. When you use Figures to represent data, be sure to introduce your figures properly in the text (review Chapter 3 in textbook). The figures/graphs should include the following: A descriptive title Data that enhances reader understanding and logically demonstrates trends from the primary research (survey) Attractive layouts with legible text Labelled axes A description of the figure within the text. Do not reiterate the descriptive title exactly. Instead describe the figure and summarize important features of the visual in the body of the report. You must have at least two figures in your paper - students usually put them in the Discussion of Findings Section. Ensure that your secondary data comes from credible secondary resources. Credible sources include industry reports, peer-reviewed papers, and news reports with data and a cited author. Wikipedia should not be used; it is an example of a non-credible resource. You can, however, find credible sources to cite at the bottom of the Wikipedia page! You should paraphrase relevant content found in secondary sources instead of copying sections verbatim. Only use direct quotes when the exact wording is very important to the content of your paragraph. Here's an example of when a direct quote is better than a paraphrase. Paraphrase: When John F. Kennedy gave his presidential inaugural speech in 1960, he asked all Americans to do something for their country (Kennedy, 1960). Direct Quote: In his 1960 Presidential inaugural speech, John F. Kennedy stated: \"And so, my fellow Americans, ask not what your country can do for you; ask what you can do for your country\" (Kennedy, 1960, para. 16) Can you see that in this example, a direct quote is much more powerful? I cannot give you an exact length for each of your Research Question sections in the Discussion of Findings - it should be more than one paragraph but probably no more than one page. Finally! The Talking Heading your use for your Research Questions should be repeated verbatim (exactly) on the Contents page! Talking Heading for Research Question 2 See section under Talking Heading for Research Question 1 for information on how to write this section. Talking Heading for Research Question 3 See section under Talking Heading for Research Question 1 for information on how to write this section. 7 Talking Heading for Research Question 4 See section under Talking Heading for Research Question 1 for information on how to write this section. Add Additional Talking Headers if you have more than 4 Research Questions See section under Talking Heading for Research Question 1 for information on how to write this section. Conclusions and Recommendations Write a paragraph that introduces your Conclusions and Recommendations - you're doing this to put intervening text between two different level of headings. Conclusions (~1/2 page) Conclusions are inferences you make based on the discussion of your findings. No new data should be presented in this section. The best way to write this section is to write a one sentence conclusion for EACH of your research questions. Recommendations (1/2 -1 page) The first sentence of your recommendations should answer your Problem Statement! Make a strong recommendation with assertiveness and a positive tone. Your next few sentences could bring in what you learned in your Discussion of Findings that led you to this recommendation. Recommendation implementation. In this paragraph, give information on one way you can implement your overall recommendation - Do you need new policies? Do you need further study in one specific area? Do you need to assign a committee/task force/project manager? BUT, only do on of these per heading! Note that 3rd level headings (Recommendation implementation) are indented inch, have only the first word (or any proper nouns) capitalized, end with a period, and have the paragraph text following the heading. Your heading should reflect your recommendation, e.g., New policies for telecommuting are needed. In order . . . . Recommendation implementation. See section above on how to write this information. Use as many \"Recommendation implementation) headings as you need - I suggest somewhere between 2 and 4. Never just one - you never have only one heading in a level. The Recommendation section is the only place where your personal opinion is voiced and it should only be done as a recommendation based on your research and conclusions. 8 9 References Use APA style. You are required to have at least 3 different secondary sources. More is better. Make sure that each one of your sources has at least one in-body citation within the report. DO NOT put sources here that you do not use in your paper! 10 Appendix A - Be Sure to Name the Appendix Appropriately Here An appendix is used when we have information for the report that is not so important that the reader needs to read it inside the content of the report. It might support some information but it is not critical to the report. If he/she cares to, he/she can look at the appendix later on. Each appendix is labeled and has the same title as what is on the Contents page. Appendices can be graphs, articles, tables or in your case, raw survey results. If you want, you can simply copy and paste your survey/results onto this page - just make sure the formatting is consistent with the rest of this paper! 11 Survey Results for the Modified Work Schedule Option NOTE: Results for each question are shown in red. 1. A modified work schedule is a good option. Choose one. 16 42 18 6 3 Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree 2. If a modified work schedule option were offered, which options would you prefer? Choose one. 8 25 26 26 No change Four 10-hour days per week Nine 9-hour days per two week period Five 8-hour days per week, with flexible start and end times 3. If a revised work schedule resulting in a long weekend were implemented, would you be willing to come in on your day off to handle special meetings or crises? 14 yes 71 no Survey Monkey was used to develop an anonymous online survey to assess worker preferences concerning revised work schedules. The survey link was sent to all 100 employees in the company. A total of 85 employees responded to the survey. Of the 85 respondents, approximately half are female and half are male. About 10 percent of the respondents are 51-70 years old; 45 percent are 35-50 years old; 30 percent are 25-34 years old, and the rest are between the ages of 18 and 24. Survey Results for the Telecommuting Option NOTE: Results for each question are shown in red. 1. Telecommuting is a good option. Choose one. 16 42 18 6 3 Strongly agree Agree Neutral Disagree Strongly Disagree 2. If a telecommuting option were offered, how many days per week would you prefer to telecommute? Choose one. 6 47 23 9 0 days per week 1-2 days per week 3-4 days per week 5 or more days per week 3. Would you be willing to take a small salary deduction to cover the costs of implementing a telecommuting program? 14 yes 71 no Survey Monkey was used to develop an anonymous online survey to assess worker preferences concerning telecommuting. The survey link was sent to all 100 employees in the company. A total of 85 employees responded to the survey. Of the 85 respondents, approximately half are female and half are male. About 10 percent of the respondents are 51-70 years old; 45 percent are 35-50 years old; 30 percent are 25-34 years old, and the rest are between the ages of 18 and 24