Question 1

Ron needs to show regulation authorities that his company meets stipulated requirements. For this he needs to prepare a report to ________.

Accepted Answer

Ron needs to prepare a report to demonstrate compliance with the stipulated requirements set by regulation authorities.

Question 2

The three-step writing process becomes even more valuable when creating ________.

Accepted Answer

Proposals are formal documents that require careful planning, organization, and revision. Using the three-step writing process can help ensure that the proposal effectively communicates the desired message and achieves its intended purpose.

Question 3

Informational reports include reports to document progress, demonstrate compliance, and ________.

Accepted Answer

Informational reports are used to monitor and control operations, as well as to document progress and demonstrate compliance. They provide data and facts without analysis or recommendations.

Question 4

Bill needs to organize information for his report and he has been told to follow the direct approach. Bill should ________.

Accepted Answer

The direct approach encourages presenting the main recommendations and conclusions at the beginning of the report, followed by supporting details and explanations in the body of the report. This approach helps the reader understand the purpose and main points of the report quickly and efficiently.

Question 5

Executive dashboards are customized ________.

Accepted Answer

Executive dashboards are online presentations of highly summarized business information designed specifically for the use of top-level executives. They provide an at-a-glance view of key performance indicators (KPIs) relevant to the executive's role, allowing them to quickly identify trends and make data-driven decisions. The other choices are not accurate descriptions of executive dashboards.

Question 6

"To identify potential markets for our new chocolate chip cookies," is a good statement of purpose for informational reports. Which of the following is a good statement of purpose for analytical reports?

Accepted Answer

Analytical reports are used to evaluate and analyze information to make decisions or recommendations. Assessing the benefits of investing in the manufacturing sector for the next quarter is an example of an analytical report as it involves analyzing information and making a recommendation for future actions. Providing feedback, updating progress, and submitting statutory information are all examples of informational reports.

Question 7

Which of the following reports contains data, facts, and feedback but not analysis or recommendations?

Accepted Answer

Informational reports contain data, facts, and feedback, but do not include analysis or recommendations. Investment proposals, due diligence reports, and funding proposals all typically include analysis and recommendations.

Question 8

Documents that contain data, facts, feedback, and other types of information including analysis or recommendations are ________.

Accepted Answer

Analytical reports contain data, facts, feedback, and analysis or recommendations, making it the most appropriate choice. Informational reports also contain information, but they do not necessarily include analysis or recommendations. Personal activity reports relate specifically to an individual's activities and may not contain broader information, while position papers express a particular viewpoint or stance on an issue.

Question 9

The process of effective research involves planning, locating data, processing data, applying your findings, and ________.

Accepted Answer

Efficient management of information is the necessary last step in the research process. After processing and applying your findings, you need to effectively organize and catalog the information you have collected for easy access and future reference. This involves using appropriate tools such as bibliographic software and databases to ensure accuracy and completeness of your data. This way, you can easily retrieve and use your data in future research or for other purposes.

Question 10

Documents that present persuasive recommendations to audiences, often involving investments or purchases are ________.

Accepted Answer

Proposals typically include persuasive recommendations to audiences, often involving investments or purchases. Position papers may present arguments and analysis of a particular issue, but they do not necessarily make specific recommendations. Operating reports provide information on the performance of a business or organization, but do not typically include recommendations for investments or purchases. Due diligence reports are typically prepared in the context of mergers and acquisitions, and focus on assessing the risks and opportunities associated with a particular transaction, rather than presenting recommendations to a broader audience.

Question 11

Kathy has just completed primary research for the company's pilot product, "Jovial Jingles." Her manager has asked her to include secondary research information as well. For this, she should include ________.

Accepted Answer

Secondary research refers to information that is already available, such as articles from magazines, newspapers, public websites, books, and other reports. Options A and B relate to primary research. Option D refers to reviewing the primary research, which is not secondary research.

Question 12

Analytical reports include reports to assess opportunities, solve problems, and ________.

Accepted Answer

Analytical reports are meant to provide important information needed to facilitate decision-making. Therefore, the best choice is D, which is "support decisions."

Question 13

In which of these scenarios is a more detailed work plan most appropriate?

Accepted Answer

A more detailed work plan is most appropriate for a report involving collaboration between three teams based in different cities to ensure that everyone is on the same page, timelines are synchronized, and responsibilities are clear. A detailed work plan may not be necessary for the other scenarios.

Question 14

Zahra has to conduct market research on the viability of her company's new product. While planning her research, she needs to define its purpose (the conclusion he needs to reach at the end of the process). She should therefore develop a(n) ________.

Accepted Answer

Developing a problem statement is crucial in defining the purpose of the market research. It enables Zahra to identify and refine the research objective and hypothesis, as well as outline the key questions that the research should aim to answer. Work plan, objectives document, and statement of scope are also important components in planning market research, but they do not define the purpose of the research as clearly as the problem statement does.

Question 15

Yang has to prepare a lengthy report, on the status of his project. However, he is short on time and energy. Your suggestion to him would be to start ________.

Accepted Answer

Starting by analyzing the situation and developing a work plan will give Yang a clear direction on how to proceed with the report. This will also help him in organizing the content and prioritizing the information to be included in the report. By starting with this step, Yang can efficiently use his limited time and energy to create a comprehensive and well-structured report.

Question 16

Reports that judge the merits of past decisions are ________.

Accepted Answer

Feasibility reports assess the success or failure of past decisions and determine if they were viable options. General project proposals, compliance reports, and due diligence reports do not necessarily evaluate past decisions.

Question 17

"To update the board of directors on the progress of the research project," explains why you are preparing the report. This would typically be the ________.

Accepted Answer

The statement "to update the board of directors on the progress of the research project" indicates the purpose of preparing the report, making D the correct choice as the statement of purpose. A would refer to the name of the report, B would describe what the report is about, and C would be a more detailed explanation of the proposed project.

Question 18

Keeping in mind the importance of media requirements on her reports and how that reflects on her skills, Susan dresses up a routine marketing report in extensive multimedia. This act would be viewed as ________.

Accepted Answer

Susan's act of dressing up a routine marketing report in extensive multimedia, despite its potential to reflect positively on her skills, is likely considered a waste of valuable company resources. This is because the added multimedia elements may not add substantive value to the report and could consume additional time and resources that could be better allocated elsewhere.

Question 19

As a researcher, Dan is aware of how his research tactics will affect the people from whom he gathers data and information, the people who read his results, and the people who are affected by the way he presents those results. Hence, Dan is aware of his ________.

Accepted Answer

Dan's awareness of how his research tactics will affect the people involved shows that he recognizes his ethical responsibilities in conducting research. It is important for researchers to consider the potential impact of their work on all stakeholders and adhere to ethical principles in order to maintain the trustworthiness and credibility of their research.

Question 20

Proposals that request decisions from parties outside the organization are ________.

Accepted Answer

Grant proposals are written to request decisions and funding from parties outside of the organization, such as government agencies, foundations, or other funding sources. Project status proposals typically update internal stakeholders on the progress of a project, rather than requesting external decisions. Trouble shooting proposals aim to solve a problem within the organization, rather than seeking external decisions. Diligence proposals are typically used in mergers and acquisitions to assess the viability and potential risks of a transaction, rather than requesting external decisions.

Quiz 10: Understanding and Planning Reports and Proposals