Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning 8e BUSINESS COMMUNICATION In Person, In Print, Online Chapter 9 Planning the Report and Managing Data

Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Planning the Report and Managing Data Finding Sources Collecting Data Displaying Quantitative Information Interpreting Data

Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Planning the Report and Managing Data Finding Sources Collecting Data Displaying Quantitative Information Interpreting Data

Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting Criteria for a Business Report Useful The reader uses the report to make decisions and solve problems. Well Supported The reader can trust the information (facts and data). Organized The reader can locate information quickly.

[Click to edit Master title style] Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting Plan Your Approach Define the report purpose Analyze the intended audience Determine what data is needed to solve the problem or make a decision

[Click to edit Master title style] Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting Types of Data Secondary Data Data collected by someone else for some other purpose Primary Data Data collected by the researcher to solve a specific problem

Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting Types of Secondary Data Published (widely disseminated) Internet resources Journal, magazine, and newspaper articles Books Brochures and pamphlets Technical reports Unpublished (not widely disseminated) Company records (e.g., reports and s) Legal documents (e.g., court records) Personal files (e.g., expense records) Medical records

Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting Evaluating Internet Resources Authority Accuracy and Reliability Purpose/ObjectivityCoverageCurrency

Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting Evaluating Research Studies What was the purpose of the study? How was the data collected? How was the data analyzed? How consistent is the data with that from other studies? How old is the data?

Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Planning the Report and Managing Data Finding Sources Collecting Data Displaying Quantitative Information Interpreting Data

[Click to edit Master title style] Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting When to Use Questionnaires The information can be provided easily and quickly The target audience is homogeneous Sufficient time is available

Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting Following Complaint Letter, No "Mystery Shopper" Study of Doctors The Obama Administration had planned a survey to test how difficult it is for Medicaid and Medicare patients to get appointments with doctors. But following criticism about the cost of the study and the "proposed clandestine method of collecting information from physician offices," the study has been canceled. For data collection, the study called for mystery shoppers, who would pose as patients. In a letter, Senator Mark Kirk emphasized the "stealth" nature of the plan and his belief that the purpose of the study—to prove a shortage of doctors—has already been documented.letter, Link to the full story on the blog. Link to the full story on the blog.

Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting Constructing the Questionnaire ContentOrganization Format

[Click to edit Master title style] Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting Questionnaire Content Ask for information that is not available elsewhere Have a purpose for each question Use precise wording Use neutrally worded questions Ensure that the response choices are exhaustive and mutually exclusive Be careful about sensitive questions Pilot-test your questionnaire

Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting What’s Wrong with These Questions? 1.What is your age? ___ 2.Which of the following is most important to you when you select housing? ___ Location ___ Proximity to school ___ Price ___ Size ___ Number of rooms 3.Do you think that companies should block employee access to inappropriate websites that cause wasted time at work? Yes or No

Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting What’s Wrong with These Questions? 4.What percentage of new start-up companies failed in Michigan last year? 5.Do you think it takes a long time for the average start-up firm to secure financing? 6.Banks should set aside more funds for start-up companies because they are so important to the economy. __ agree __ no opinion __ disagree

[Click to edit Master title style] Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting Questionnaire Organization Arrange the questions in some logical order Arrange the alternatives for each question in some logical order Give the questionnaire a descriptive title

[Click to edit Master title style] Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting Questionnaire Format Use an easy-to-answer format Ensure that your questionnaire has a professional appearance

Video Example Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting A Business Owner Discusses Simple Survey Techniques If you owned a clothing store, what information about your customers would be most useful to you? What similar surveys have you taken? What encourages you to participate in a survey? Click image to play the video

[Click to edit Master title style] Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting A Business Owner Discusses Simple Survey Techniques

Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Planning the Report and Managing Data Finding Sources Collecting Data Displaying Quantitative Information Interpreting Data

Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting Using Tables for Reports and Presentations Why Tables Are UsefulWhat Tables Cannot Do Show numerical data in a more efficient and interesting way than with narrative text Be presented on a screen (with dense data) Provide more information than a chart does Show trends as obviously as a chart does Allow easy comparison of figures Capture attention as well as a chart does

Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting How to Format a Table Table 3 HASCO EMPLOYMENT LEVELS As of December 10, 2013 Employee Type Total By DepartmentAnnual AdminProdSalesChange Full-time nonexempt % Full-time exempt % Temporary % Other a % Total % Source: Madison County Facts—2011, Metropolitan State University Press, St. Louis, MO, 2011, p a Includes all special-project and work-for-hire employees. Table Number Title Subtitle Footnote (optional) Source (optional) Column Headings Cross-tabulations

Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting How Can You Improve This Chart? Cost of Living Comparison: McLean, VA, and Beverly Hills, CA

Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting Chart Types Line charts show trends over time Bar charts compare items Pie charts show parts of a whole

Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Planning the Report and Managing Data Finding Sources Collecting Data Displaying Quantitative Information Interpreting Data

Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting Three Steps in Interpreting Data Determine the meaning of each finding by itself, in conjunction with each other finding, and in conjunction with all other findings. IsolationContextSynthesis

[Click to edit Master title style] Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting Discuss Overall Findings and… Trends Unexpected findings Data that reinforces or contradicts other data Extreme values Data that raises questions

Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Additional Video Suggestions

Video Example Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting David McCandless TED Talk: Creative Data Visualization What is the value of presenting data for business audiences in more creative ways? In your opinion, which example in the video has the most impact?

Video Example Copyright © 2012 Cengage Learning Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting Comparing Soft Drink Sizes in Super Size Me What makes this description of soft drink sizes have more impact than a bar chart might have? What other ways could the film maker have made this point?