Most recommendation reports discuss feasibility, which is the measure of the practicality of a course of action. A feasibility report in turn answers three types of questions: questions of...

Most recommendation reports discuss feasibility, which is the measure of the practicality of a course of action. A feasibility report in turn answers three types of questions: questions of possibility, questions of economic wisdom, and questions of perception. Select from the list list below and complete a feasibility report. Include at least five necessary criteria and five desirable criteria you might apply in assessing the options

1. Virtual Reality

It is important that you do not just regurgitate the information from the chapter. You should use the chapter, but also go beyond it to use outside sources.

Slide 1 Chapter 18. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2015 by Bedford/St. Martin's * Chapter 18 Overview: Writing Recommendation Reports Understanding the role of recommendation reports Using a problem-solving model for preparing recommendation reports Writing recommendation reports * Chapter 18. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2015 by Bedford/St. Martin's * Recommendation reports address four kinds of questions: What should we do about Problem X? Should we do Function X? Should we use Technology A or Technology B to do Function X? We currently use Method A to do Function X. Should we be using Method B? * * Chapter 18. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2015 by Bedford/St. Martin's * Feasibility reports answer three kinds of questions: questions of possibility questions of economic wisdom questions of perception * * Chapter 18. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2015 by Bedford/St. Martin's * Identify the problem or opportunity. Establish criteria for responding to the problem or opportunity. Determine the options. Study each option according to the criteria. Draw conclusions about each option. Formulate recommendations based on the conclusions. Use a problem-solving method when preparing a recommendation report: * * Chapter 18. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2015 by Bedford/St. Martin's * Use logic boxes to plot a series of options: * * Chapter 18. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2015 by Bedford/St. Martin's * Use a matrix to compare and contrast options: * * Chapter 18. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2015 by Bedford/St. Martin's Explain your decision matrix: Explain why you chose each criterion—or didn’t choose a criterion readers might have expected. Explain why you assigned a particular weight to each criterion. Explain why you assigned a particular rating to each option. * Chapter 18. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2015 by Bedford/St. Martin's * You can present your conclusions in one of three ways: Rank all the options. Classify all the options in one of two categories: acceptable and unacceptable. Present a compound conclusion. * * Chapter 18. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2015 by Bedford/St. Martin's * Most recommendation reports have three major sections: the front matter the body of the report the back matter * * Chapter 18. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2015 by Bedford/St. Martin's * A typical recommendation report has five body elements: introduction methods results conclusions recommendations * * Chapter 18. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2015 by Bedford/St. Martin's * A report introduction typically answers nine questions: What is the subject of the report? What is the purpose of the report? What is the background of the report? What are your sources of information? What is the scope of the report? * * Chapter 18. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2015 by Bedford/St. Martin's * A report introduction typically answers nine questions (cont.): What are the most significant findings? What are your recommendations? What is the organization of the report? What key terms are you using in the report? * * Chapter 18. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2015 by Bedford/St. Martin's * Address the following four questions when writing the body of your report: Methods. What did you do? Results. What did you see or determine? Conclusions. What does it mean? Recommendations. What should we do? * * Chapter 18. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2015 by Bedford/St. Martin's * Consider these four factors when writing your recommendations: content tone form location * * Chapter 18. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2015 by Bedford/St. Martin's * A typical recommendation report contains seven elements in the front matter: letter of transmittal cover title page abstract table of contents list of illustrations executive summary * * Chapter 18. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2015 by Bedford/St. Martin's * Understand the difference between a descriptive and an informative abstract: A descriptive abstract describes the kinds of information contained in the report. An informative abstract presents the major findings. * * Chapter 18. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2015 by Bedford/St. Martin's * Follow these five guidelines when writing an executive summary: Use specific evidence in describing the background. Be specific in describing research. Describe the methods briefly. Describe the findings according to your readers’ needs. Ask an outside reader to review your draft. * * Chapter 18. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2015 by Bedford/St. Martin's * A typical recommendation report includes three elements in the back matter: glossary and list of symbols references appendixes * *