Teamwork on Proposal






Select an interesting topic
• E.g., impact of new rural pension program
Apply for grant from Ford Foundation
Write proposal
Prepare PPT
Make presentation in class
Hand in proposal and PPT
Tao Xiang 2

Learning Objectives





Concepts
Purposes
Informational v.s. analytical
Elements included in work plan
Four types of interview questions
Tao Xiang 3

Concept of Reports

Written factual accounts

Information about business

Presentable form
Tao Xiang 4

Purpose






Guide decisions
Comply with government regulations
Gain acceptance
Monitor and control operations
Implement policies and procedures
Document results
Tao Xiang 5

Classifying Reports

Source:
Authorized, Voluntary

Frequency:
Special, Routine

Audience:
Internal, External

Length:
Short, Long

Formality:
Informal, Formal

Intent:
Informational, Analytical
Tao Xiang 6

Informational Reports

Monitor and control operations
• Plans, operating reports, personal activity reports

State policies and procedures
• Lasting guidelines, position papers

Document compliance

Report progress
Tao Xiang 7

Analytical Reports

Problem-solving reports

Business proposals
• Internal
• External
• Solicited
• Unsolicited
Tao Xiang 8

Planning Reports

Analysis
• Audience and purpose
• Define problem
• Limit scope
• Outline investigation, etc.

Investigation

Adaptation
Tao Xiang 9

Analyzing the Situation

Informational reports

Analytical reports
Tao Xiang 10

Problem Definition for Analytical Reports

Clarify the problem

Ask the right questions

Factor the problem

Form a hypothesis
Tao Xiang 11

Purpose of Report

To inform

To persuade

To recommend

To confirm

To analyze

To summarize
Tao Xiang 12

Developing a
Preliminary Outline

Parallel construction

Consistent headings
Tao Xiang 13

Preparing Work Plan







State problem
State purpose and scope
Discuss tasks
Review final outcomes
Review schedules and requirements
Set follow-up plans
Compose working outline
Tao Xiang 14

Research Process

Understand topic and assignment

Find and access information

Evaluate and finalize sources

Process information

Analyze data

Interpret findings
Tao Xiang 15

Understand Topic and
Assignment

Preliminary information

Problem statement

Questions and subquestions
Tao Xiang 16

Using Secondary
Sources of Information




Business books
Electronic databases
Newspapers
Periodicals




Directories
Government publications
Almanacs
Statistical resources
Tao Xiang 17

Business Information in Cyberspace

Internet public library

Company Websites
• www.apple.com

News release sites
Searching the Internet
Tao Xiang 18

Preliminary Observations

Documents

Observations

Experiments
Tao Xiang 19

Effective Interviews


Purpose
• Collect information
• Make decisions
• Clarify issues
Structure
• Overall length
• Stylistic issues
• Organization
Tao Xiang 20

Types of Questions

Open-ended

Direct open-ended

Restatement
• You said you dislike sales quotas. Is that correct?

Close-ended
• Did you meet your sales quota?
Tao Xiang 21

Preparing Questions

Think about sequence

Rate questions

Ask smart questions

Mix types of questions

Limit number

Edit questions
Tao Xiang 22

Processing Interview
Information

Write down your ideas

Review notes

Organize the material

Transcribe recordings
Tao Xiang 23





Evaluating and Selecting Sources
Honesty and reliability
Logic and good sense
Data collection methods
The author





Purpose of the material
Completeness
Independent verification
Potential bias
Timeliness
Tao Xiang 24

Analyzing the Data

Mean

Median

Mode

Trend

Correlation
Tao Xiang 25