Deck 13: Proposals, Business Plans, and Formal Business Reports

Question 1

Typically, how long is an executive summary included with a formal proposal?

A)no more than 1 percent of the original text
B)three to four pages long
C)five to six pages long
D)up to 10 percent of the original text

Answer 1

D

Question 2

What is the purpose of an informal business proposal?

A)to provide a market assessment
B)to summarize literature
C)to provide investigation and analysis
D)to solve problems and provide services

Answer 2

D

Question 3

Which of the following does the staffing section of an informal proposal do?

A)identifies the detailed costs for the project
B)describes the credentials and expertise of the project leaders
C)describes the steps involved to solve the problem
D)includes the résumés of all the company employees

Answer 3

B

Question 4

Which section of a proposal typically identifies the problem and discusses the goals or purposes of the project?

A)background
B)staffing
C)budget
D)authorization request

Question 5

Jayla is writing a proposal in hopes of providing her massage therapy services to hotel chains in the Bahamas. In order to be persuasive in her introduction, which of the following should she do?

A)She should provide tentative budget costs.
B)She should provide a hook that gets to the heart of the proposal.
C)She should discuss her love of the Bahamas.
D)She should endorse and promote her staff.

Question 6

Which of the following is NOT an accurate statement about formal proposals?

A)To be considered formal, a proposal must be at least 100 pages long.
B)Larger businesses may employ specialists who do nothing but write proposals.
C)Proposals use standard components that enable companies receiving bids to compare "apples with apples."
D)Smaller firms rely on in-house staff to develop proposals.

Question 7

Which of the following statements about the executive summary is accurate?

A)An executive summary is written for specialists or technical readers.
B)An executive summary is generally shorter than an abstract.
C)The content of an executive summary should be more technically oriented than an abstract.
D)A formal proposal may contain both an executive summary and an abstract.

Question 8

William is writing a solicited proposal in response to an RFP and is working on the background section. What is his goal in this section?

A)to convince the reader that a problem exists
B)to make himself look professional
C)to show the reader how much accepting the proposal will cost
D)to persuade the reader that he understands the problem completely

Question 9

In addition to the title, which of the following should the title page of a formal proposal include?

A)authors' names and name of client organization
B)visuals and clip art
C)date of assignment
D)date the proposal expires

Question 10

Which of the following should a letter of transmittal submitted with a formal proposal do?

A)It should provide ancillary (supplemental) materials of interest to readers.
B)It should include a list of the costs for the entire project.
C)It should briefly present the major features and benefits of the proposal.
D)It should describe the credentials and expertise of the project leaders.

Question 11

In the introduction section of a proposal, which of the following would be the best way to persuade the receiver to read the rest of the proposal?

A)Mention a remarkable resource available exclusively to you.
B)Present a detailed budget that shows a low overall cost.
C)Give the background and credentials of everyone who will be working on the project.
D)Provide a timetable for all activities.

Question 12

What does the authorization section of an informal proposal include?

A)a request for approval
B)a thank you to the person who authorized the proposal
C)a copy of the RFP
D)ancillary (supplemental) material of interest to the reader

Question 13

What must the actual proposal section of a proposal achieve?

A)It must describe the credentials and expertise of the project leaders.
B)It must identify the resources you will use, including computer facilities.
C)It must tell what you propose to do and how it will benefit the reader.
D)It must itemize the cost breakdown to complete the project.

Question 14

Which of the following best describes a budget section of a proposal?

A)It is tentative and may be modified later.
B)It represents a contract.
C)It should be open-ended for acceptance.
D)It should not include a deadline for acceptance because doing so might seem too pushy.

Question 15

Which of the following statements about proposals is the most accurate?

A)Most proposals are internal.
B)Requests for Proposal (RFPs) result in unsolicited proposals.
C)Proposals are legal contracts.
D)Proposals are not binding and are not considered legal documents.

Question 16

Which of the following components is typically included in a formal proposal but is optional in an informal proposal?

A)budget
B)staffing
C)authorization request
D)abstract or summary

Question 17

In which of the following ways do formal proposals differ from informal proposals?

A)style
B)size and format
C)emotional and rational appeals
D)the use of persuasive techniques

Question 18

Sarah has decided to include a timetable in a proposal she is writing. Where will this timetable most likely be located?

A)in the proposal section
B)in the introduction
C)in the budget section
D)in the authorization section

Question 19

Which of the following statements about proposals is accurate?

A)Most internal proposals are written in response to Requests for Proposals (RFPs).
B)Proposals are unsolicited.
C)Proposals can mean financial success for an organization.
D)Most proposals are internal.

Question 20

Which of the following should unsolicited proposals do?

A)Present complete budget only after proposal is accepted.
B)Convince the reader that a problem exists.
C)Use the language of the RFP or other announcement.
D)Reveal every detail of your proposal.

Question 21

Which of the following does a grant proposal NOT include?

A)a needs statement that explains a problem or situation that the grant project will address
B)an action plan that tells what will be done by whom and when
C)a plan for measuring progress toward completion of the grant proposal's goal
D)an Request for Proposal (RFP) number

Question 22

Which of the following statements describes the table of contents in a formal proposal?

A)Formal proposals generally contain both a table of contents and an index.
B)Tables of contents should include all headings and their beginning page numbers.
C)Items that appear before the table of contents (copy of RFP, letter of transmittal, abstract/executive summary, and title page) should also be included in the table of contents for clarity.
D)Do not list any appendixes in the table of contents.

Question 23

What should be included in the market analysis section of a business plan?

A)a discussion of customer behaviour
B)how your services benefit customers
C)why the business will be profitable
D)a description of the form of your business and its type

Question 24

Which of the following statements best describes the financial analysis section of a business plan?

A)It will be included only if you have an existing company.
B)It will omit exact dollar figures.
C)It will explain how much money you already have.
D)It will omit one-time expenses.

Question 25

Which of the following best describes the executive summary of a business plan?

A)It can be as long as needed to get your message across.
B)It should be written first to get your thoughts in order.
C)It should be simple, concise, and memorable.
D)It should introduce plan parts but not ask for funding.

Question 26

What should the company description in a business plan do?

A)Identify the form of your business and its business type.
B)Discuss market characteristics, trends, projected growth, and barriers to entry.
C)Explain how the product or service you are providing will benefit customers.
D)Explain specifically how you will run your business.

Question 27

Which of the following statements about business plans is NOT accurate?

A)The company description section describes the company's founding, growth, sales, and profits.
B)Investors are looking only for unique products or services to ensure a return on their investment.
C)Start-up companies should explain in the product/service description section why the business will be profitable.
D)The product/service description section describes why the product is better than existing products or services.

Question 28

Which of the following statements about business plans is NOT accurate?

A)Business plans are generally written in response to RFPs.
B)A business plan is another form of proposal.
C)A business plan is critical for securing financial support of any kind.
D)The reader of a business plan is typically a bank loan officer, a venture capitalist, or an investor.

Question 29

What should a letter of transmittal submitted with a proposal do?

A)Provide ancillary (supplemental) material of interest to readers.
B)Include a list of the costs for the entire project.
C)Provide contact information for all principals and explain your reason for writing.
D)Present the résumés of key staff members.

Question 30

Which of the following statements about grant proposals is accurate?

A)Grant money received must be repaid.
B)Funds received through a grant proposal can be used for any purpose, not just those outlined in the proposal.
C)Grants are often made to the government, private foundations, and public corporations.
D)Skilled grant writers are among the most in-demand professionals today.

Question 31

Which of the following describes a business plan mission statement?

A)It should not be included with all business plans.
B)It must be written in 15 to 20 words.
C)It explains the purpose of your business and why it will succeed.
D)It does not have to be unique or memorable.

Question 32

Which of the following components is typically included in a formal report but is optional in an informal report?

A)body
B)conclusion
C)introduction
D)table of contents

Question 33

Which of the following would NOT appear in the operations and management section of a business plan?

A)how you will run your business
B)who your competitors will be
C)the personnel and management of your business
D)the location of your business and the equipment you will use

Question 34

Nora wants to write a persuasive business plan. What government agency will give her the most useful advice for writing the plan?

A)Business Development Bank of Canada
B)Small Business Canada
C)Ontario Securities Commission
D)Employment Equity Commission

Question 35

Which of the following statements about formal business reports is NOT accurate?

A)Formal reports are similar to formal proposals in length, organization, and serious tone.
B)Formal reports are written for internal audiences only.
C)Formal reports present the end product of thorough investigation and analyses.
D)Breaking a long formal report into small segments makes it easier to understand.

Question 36

A potential angel investor is reading your business plan for a new start-up company. What will this investor most likely consider to be the most important factor in assessing your business potential?

A)whether you're aware of all of your direct and indirect competitors
B)whether you've come up with a realistic start-up budget
C)whether your management team can implement the business plan
D)whether your start-up company will use social media for marketing and communication

Question 37

Which part of a formal business report contains the name of the report, the name of the person receiving the report, the author's name, and the date of submission?

A)report cover
B)title page
C)table of contents
D)executive summary

Question 38

Which of the following is most likely to appear in the appendix section of a formal proposal?

A)a copy of the RFP
B)a list of tables and figures that appear in the proposal
C)the résumés of principal investigators or testimonial letters
D)an executive summary of the proposal

Question 39

What is the purpose of a traditional report cover?

A)to give the report a professional, finished appearance
B)to hide the title of the report so that you can build suspense
C)to take the place of the title page
D)to add credibility to the report contents

Question 40

Which of the following would NOT be included in the appendixes of a business plan?

A)managers' résumés
B)sales forecasts and anticipated cash flow
C)promotional materials and product photos
D)a realistic start-up budget

Question 41

Writers often include additional information in the introduction to a formal report. Which of the following would NOT be appropriate to include in the introduction?

A)describing your secondary sources and explaining how you collected primary data
B)summarizing what other authors and researchers have published on the report topic
C)providing a detailed analysis of the problem
D)defining key terms

Question 42

In a formal report, what does the transmittal letter or memorandum usually do?

A)follows the indirect plan
B)uses no contractions or first-person pronouns
C)highlights the report's findings, conclusions, and recommendations
D)retains the same level of formality as the report itself

Question 43

Which of the following is the best advice for preparing a formal business report?

A)Collect data and write the report at the same time.
B)Proofread the final copy three times.
C)Complete the hardest sections first to gain a sense of accomplishment.
D)Use the same verb tense throughout the report for consistency.

Question 44

In an introduction to a formal report, which of the following sections identifies who commissioned the report?

A)scope
B)significance
C)background
D)authorization

Question 45

Which of the following statements does NOT describe the body of a formal business report?

A)Clear headings are used to explain each major section.
B)Evidence that justifies the conclusions is presented.
C)Research findings are discussed, analyzed, interpreted, and evaluated.
D)Incidental and supporting materials are placed strategically throughout the body of the report.

Question 46

Proposals are written offers to solve problems, provide services, or sell equipment.

Question 47

In an introduction to a formal business report, which of the following sections clarifies the boundaries of the report and defines what will be included or excluded?

A)scope
B)significance
C)background
D)authorization

Question 48

Which of the following statements about the title page of a formal report is accurate?

A)All items on a title page are typed in uppercase letters.
B)The title is enclosed in quotation marks to make it stand out.
C)The last item on a title page is the name of the author.
D)The name of the person receiving the report comes before the author of the report.

Question 49

Which of the following statements would NOT be appropriate for a letter or memo of transmittal?

A)I would be glad to do follow-up research if required.
B)I appreciate the opportunity to have completed this research project.
C)This report investigating the need to relocate the corporate offices was authorized by Doug Peters.
D)The questionnaire shown here was used to collect data for this report.

Question 50

Which of the following sections of a formal business report tells what the findings mean?

A)recommendations
B)introduction
C)conclusion
D)body

Question 51

Which of the following is the part of a formal report that highlights the important points for people who may not have time to read the entire document?

A)budget
B)executive summary
C)authorization
D)table of contents

Question 52

Which of the following sections in the introduction to a formal business report tells why the report topic is important?

A)scope
B)significance
C)authorization
D)background

Question 53

Which of the following should you do to avoid sounding repetitious in a formal business report?

A)Present the data slightly differently.
B)Do not include information that has been presented elsewhere.
C)Skip the introduction if it contains information that has been presented elsewhere.
D)Explain the information in exactly the same way you did in a previous section of the report.

Question 54

Most proposals are external.

Question 55

Which of the following statements describes a guideline for citing sources in a formal report?

A)If you use the Modern Language Association (MLA) referencing format, title this section References.
B)If you borrow words or ideas from unpublished sources, you do not have to include corresponding in-text citations in your report.
C)Include the Internet address or URL leading to the citation when citing an electronic reference.
D)If you use the American Psychological Association (APA) referencing format, title this section Works Cited.

Question 56

Which of the following is the longest and most substantive section of a formal business report?

A)executive summary
B)introduction
C)conclusion
D)body

Question 57

What is the best advice regarding the table of contents for a short formal report?

A)Include all the levels of headings.
B)Include only first- and second-level headings.
C)Draft the table of contents before you start writing the report.
D)Use leaders to separate the table of contents from the list of figures.

Question 58

Which of the following sections of a formal business report makes precise suggestions for actions to solve the report problem?

A)recommendations
B)introduction
C)conclusion
D)body

Question 59

Rick has asked you for help in preparing an executive summary of a formal business report he is writing. Which of the following is the best advice you can give him?

A)To add variety to your report, prepare your executive summary in a different sequence from the report itself.
B)Use a lot of technical language to impress your reader.
C)Begin the executive summary with your purpose.
D)Make the executive summary as long as necessary to be persuasive.

Question 60

Chloe must send the same formal report to several readers. What should she do?

A)Send the same letter of transmittal to all readers.
B)Omit the letter of transmittal completely from the report.
C)Prepare a special letter for each, anticipating how each reader will use the report.
D)Address letter of transmittal to the most influential member of a team.

Question 61

The executive summary included in a formal proposal is generally less technically oriented than an abstract.

Question 62

Skilled grant proposal writers are highly in demand today.

Question 63

Many investors look carefully at the experience of the management team because they consider this the most important factor in assessing business potential.

Question 64

Most proposals are unsolicited.

Question 65

If your costs increase later, you can raise the prices listed in your proposal budget.

Question 66

Executive summaries of formal reports should always be limited to one page.

Question 67

Formal business reports are read by only the highest levels of management.

Question 68

Be sure that your business plan describes a unique product or service because that is all investors will be interested in.

Question 69

Formal proposals differ from informal proposals in style only.

Question 70

The funds obtained through a grant proposal must be repaid.

Question 71

If you are writing a solicited proposal, your goal in the background section is to convince the reader that a problem exists.

Question 72

An effective opening for an informal proposal might be We are pleased to submit this proposal describing how our ethics training program can help your employees make the best decisions when faced with ethical dilemmas on the job.

Question 73

As long as you have at least one table or figure in your proposal, a list of figures is required.

Question 74

A copy of the RFP (request for proposal) should be included in the front matter of a formal proposal.

Question 75

An appropriate statement to include in the letter of transmittal accompanying a formal proposal is This bid will be in effect until November 30, 2015.

Question 76

Most proposals begin by briefly explaining the reasons for the proposal and by highlighting the writer's qualifications.

Question 77

A business plan is critical for securing financial support from banks, angel investors, or venture capitalists.

Question 78

The transmittal letter or memo that accompanies a formal business report is usually directly organized and written less formally than the report itself.

Question 79

Informal proposals should close with a reminder of key benefits as well as a request for approval.

Question 80

Formal business reports are similar to formal proposals in that they both make offers.