Imagine: You work for Bex Consultants, a business-to-business services company with approximately 50 on-site only employees
Imagine: You work for Bex Consultants, a business-to-business services company with approximately 50 on-site only employees
Product Recommendation Report
Business Report
Overview
Business reports take many forms in the workplace, from short reports to 100+-page documents. Regardless of length, business reports showcase the sender’s ability to answer questions using evidence (or, research) in a well-organized and clearly designed manner. Many business reports also make evidence-supported recommendations.
In this report, you will compose a business report that shows your ability to answer a question with reliable, credible information and make an evidence-supported recommendation. Your report will show your receiver-centric, professional, clear, concise, and evidence-driven business communication skills.
Scenario / Prompt
Imagine: You work for Bex Consultants, a business-to-business services company with approximately 50 on-site only employees. Bex Consultants recently invited all employees to submit recommendations reports for products or software that would improve employees’ work experience and/or productivity. The open call for proposals that was sent to all employees is available below:
Dear employees,
Effective work environments are one of the keys to employee happiness and fulfillment. Is there a type of product or program that would improve the work experience and productivity of Bex Consultants’ employees?
If so, please consider submitting your recommendation for a valuable product or program to Procurement Team.
The funds to purchase new products or programs are limited. Therefore, proposals should clearly establish the following information:
- why the proposed type of product or program will improve Rex employees’ work experience and/or productivity
- the top three versions of the product or program being recommended
- e.g., if recommending new computer mice, which specific three mice should the Procurement Team consider?
- for each version, indicate the features (including the estimated cost) that should be considered
- your recommendation for which of the three would be optimal
Submit your proposal in memo report format to the Procurement Team by (see date in Blackboard).
Thank you for your consideration and contribution to Bex employees continued success.
Sincerely,
The Procurement Team
Bex Consultants
936-867-5309 ext. 739
Key Guidelines for Content, Format, and Language
Content
Review the open call from the Procurement Team for guidance on the main content expected in the proposal. An introduction and conclusion should be included in addition to sections and content that responds to the team’s expectations.
Format
Your proposal report should follow memo report guidelines. The memo header information should be included at the beginning of the first page only. The report content should follow effective report formatting guidelines, including using specific section headings and other visual design elements as appropriate. Page numbers should be included in the bottom right corner.
Language
Your report language should be professional, clear, concise, and evidence-driven. It should be focused on achieving your communication goals with your receiver. Remember that your receiver for this report is the Bex Consultants Procurement Team, not your professor.
Use formal language. Do NOT use informal (conversational) language in this report. Use objective tone/voice. Communicate and document objective and factual information. Do NOT use contractions or personal pronouns. Your report should demonstrate the principles of effective business communication.
Specific Evidence Expectations
Use a variety of credible, relevant sources to develop your report. The report must also make meaningful use of information from at least six credible, reliable sources. Use APA style for all citations, both in-text and in the References list.
Important Note: APA style should be used for citations and language choices only. The report should be formatted as a memo report. Do not use APA formatting for the title page, header, etc.
Use effective page design, illustrations, charts, and graphs to enhance and illustrate your message. Your report must include at least 1 effective figure that you design/create (tables, flowcharts, charts, graphs, etc.) and that is effectively incorporated into the text of the report. More figures are encouraged, if used effectively.
Submission Details
You will submit your proposal report to the Blackboard submission location for the Business Report assignment.
The report should be submitted as a Microsoft Word or PDF file. If your file is not accessible, you will not earn credit for the assignment.
This assignment qualifies for the Late Work Policy only. See full policy details in the syllabus.
Grading
The Business Report is worth 100 points, and it accounts for 15% of your final grade. Review the grading rubric on the following pages.
Business Report Rubric
Professional, Clear, Concise, Evidence-Driven
| Excellent 90-100% | Good 80-89% | Adequate 65-79%% | Deficient <64% | |
| Professional (15%) | Message is very professional. Courtesy: Phrasing is tactful, follows standards of business etiquette; uses objective tone throughout report. Accuracy: Message has fewer than 1 grammar/punctuation error per page/section; message demonstrates careful attention to detail. Conventionality: All elements of the memo report are included in the appropriate order. | Message is mostly professional, but may have minor issues with… Courtesy: up to 3 instances of non-objective voice or unprofessional phrasing. Accuracy: 1-2 grammar/punctuation errors or 1-2 instances of inattention to detail per page/section Conventionality: All memo report conventions are included but may have up to one inaccuracy. | Message is somewhat professional. It may have minor issues with… Courtesy: more than 3 instances of non-objective voice or unprofessional phrasing. Accuracy: 3-4 grammar/punctuation errors or 3 instances of inattention to detail per page/section Conventionality: Report is missing one memo report convention. | Message is unprofessional. It has significant issues with… Courtesy: extensive use of non-objective tone or other inappropriate language Accuracy: more than 4 grammar/punctuation errors or inattention to detail per page/section Conventionality: more than one memo report convention is missing. |
| Clear (20%) | Message is clear. Message is clearly tailored to the receiver and the receiver’s situation. Each section clearly presents the central idea that is appropriate for the section. Sections use a linear organization for ideas, beginning with the main idea for the section. Supporting points and information are organized clearly and ordered logically. Ideas are expressed in a way that is easy for the receiver to follow. Concrete details and active voice are used throughout the section. Formatting is expertly used to present the main points with maximum clarity, including headings and other visual design choices that improve readability. | Message is mostly clear. The main point of each section may be general rather than focused on the unique business situation. Central idea for the section is included but not at the beginning of the section. Supporting points and information are organized clearly but may not be optimally ordered. Ideas are expressed in a way that is easy for the receiver to follow. Some concrete details and active voice is used. Formatting is effectively used to organize the main points visually, with fewer than 3 inconsistencies in headings and other visual design elements. | Message is somewhat clear. Main points are generic, or they may be more implied than explicit. Supporting points and information are implied, or they may be stated without explanation or detail. Information may not be ordered logically. Few concrete details and active voice are used. Formatting is inconsistent and/or visual design elements are distracting. No more than 5 inconsistencies in headings and visual design choices. | Message is unclear. Main points are vague, unclear, missing, or not relevant. Supporting points and information are disorganized. Problems with ambiguous language or awkward wording that make the message confusing. Formatting detracts from the receiver’s comprehension. |
| Concise (15%) | Message shows careful consideration of receiver’s needs for content. Essential information is included; nonessential information is excluded. Message is presented in a concise and efficient way. | Most essential information is included; most nonessential information is excluded. 1 relevant content section is missing, or 1 irrelevant section is included in the report. Message may be somewhat wordy or inefficient. | May be missing some key information or may include too much nonessential information. 2 relevant content sections are missing, or 2 irrelevant sections are included in the report. Message is wordy. | Key information is difficult for the receiver to find. Poor balance of essential and nonessential information. More than 2 relevant and significant content sections are missing, or more 2 irrelevant sections are included. |
| Evidence-Driven- Choosing Evidence (15%) | Evidence selected from a variety of highly credible sources, including at least 6 reliable and credible sources. Evidence is relevant and represents most recent data available; any use of older sources establishes tradition; uses a mix of evidence types consistent with receiver needs. | Evidence selected from a variety of sources, with 5 credible sources; evidence is relevant and reasonably up-to-date. | Evidence selected from 4 credible sources, or at least five sources are used but their credibility and quality is questionable quality, such as being somewhat out-of-date or a highly biased source. May have too much reliance on a single evidence source or may appear that evidence was gathered via a single web search. | Evidence selected from irrelevant, out-of-date, or otherwise dubious sources. Fewer than 4 sources are used. |
| Evidence-Driven- Using Evidence (Text) (15%) | Evidence used in ways that increases the power of the argument. Evidence is used to support all claims. Use of source content is clearly explained. Evidence is presented skillfully and accurately. | Evidence is used to support most claims. Evidence is incorporated and explained in most but not all instances. Evidence is presented accurately; may place some of the burden on the receiver to decipher. | Evidence is used to support only some claims or presented without linking to the main points. Evidence is “dropped in” with ineffective efforts at incorporation. | Evidence is presented inaccurately, illogically, or deceptively. Evidence is rarely incorporated and explained. Alternatively, points are made without evidence to support them. |
| Evidence-Driven- Using Evidence (Visual) (10%) | At least 1 effectively designed, student-created figure is included to enhance the message. Appropriate source info is included (where applicable). Any figures/ images created by others are appropriately cited. All figures are aligned with report content in a clear and professional manner. Significance of figures is referenced in the report text. | At least 1 effectively designed, student-created figure is included to enhance the message. Appropriate source info is included (where applicable). There is no more than 1 ineffective or absent design/content component. Up to 1 inconsistency in figure alignment. Significance of figures is referenced in the report text most of the time. | Relevant figures are included, but they are not created by the student; appropriate citation and in-text justification/ explanation is included for the figure. Up to 2 ineffective or absent design/content components. Up to 2 inconsistencies in figure alignment. Significance of figures is referenced in the report text half of the time or less. | No student-created figures are included. More than 1 of the included figures or images are not clearly relevant. Student-created figures use more than 2 ineffective design choices, or are missing more than 2 essential components of an effective figure. Figures are unethical or misleading. Figures or figure content is not cited. More than one figure is inconsistently aligned. Significance of figures is not referenced in the report text. |
| Evidence-Driven- Citing Evidence (10%) | Uses APA style consistently for in-text and References list citations. All references are complete and correct. References list is accurately designed. Use of source material is professional, contextualized, and cited in the report body. | Sources are cited but may include minor errors or lack complete explanations. Three or fewer errors in in-text and References list citations (does not include errors of omission). Design of References list is mostly accurate. Three or fewer instances of ineffective contextualization of source material in the body of the report. | Evidence is cited but in inefficient or incomplete ways. 3-5 errors in in-text and References list citations (does not include errors of omission). Design of References list includes 3-5 inconsistencies and/or inaccuracies. 3-5 instances of source material not being contextualized or uses of ineffective contextualization in the body of the report. | Major problems with citing evidence; raises questions regarding credibility of argument and sender. More than 5 errors in in-text and References list citations (does not include errors of omission). Design of References list includes more than 5 inconsistencies and/or inaccuracies. More than 5 instances of source material not being contextualized or uses of ineffective contextualization in the body of the report. |
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