Prospect Report and Presentation Engineering Economics and Project Management Used in CEVE 322

Prospect Presentation Situation Standard situation: a regular meeting to determine what investment proposals (“prospects”) to approve Committee hears these routinely Communication involved: written prospect report to committee, handout, PPT, and presentation Person who prepared the prospect report distributes the handout, gives the presentation, answers questions, provides additional details

Similarities in Structure Report, presentation, and handout structured in the same way –Summary –Discussion Decision process drives what is presented “Front matter” of headings conveys situational information

Audience Expects TWO-PART STRUCTURE Summary Briefly: Situation, problem/task, importance, your responsibilities, your actions, conclusions, recommendations Discussion Organized to answer questions: Explains background, analyzes problem, proposes solutions, expresses conclusion in detail (perhaps with implementation details, etc.)

Written Prospect Report Summary Discussion –Opportunity: describes “prospect” such as power plant, oil field, refinery, gas field in current economic situation –Interpretation of options, figures –Detailed recommendations –Appendices and figures Answers the question, “Should the company invest in a prospect?”

Getting to the Point Go to “bottom-line” unless controversial State main point for audience that wants “big picture” Give “MUST KNOW” points to support decision

Cover in Discussion Models developed and used for the analysis –deterministic –probabilistic Sensitivity chart ranking key input parameters Bases for the choices in input distributions Graphical and statistical descriptions of outputs

Information at Your Fingertips Capture key information on your project electronically, available if necessary Prepare extra tables or graphs in PowerPoint to answer audience’s “Yes, but... “ objections Use as appendices or as follow-up slides

Handout for Talk Summary of main points Key figures List of assumptions related to model Contact information

Criteria for Prospect Reports, Presentations Accessibility Comprehensibility Usability Interpersonal / Intercultural Effectiveness Routine format helps audience find info Familiarity allows minimal explanation, focus on specific info Known criteria imply required info Detailed knowledge key to personal trust

More resources are available for you under “Engineering Communication” at Connexions at at the Cain Project site at in your course Communication Folder in OWLSPACE Lead through Excellence in Engineering Communication