1. Collecting and Managing Data 21 slides
Chapter 11
Collecting and Managing Data
21 slides

2. Collecting and analyzing data
Develop an effective questionnaire and cover letter.
Conduct a data-gathering interview.
Construct clear, concise, and accurate tables.
Determine the most effective chart form and construct any needed charts.
Interpret the data for the report reader.
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3. Constructing questionnaire items
Necessary
Not: What percentage of new start-up com-panies failed in Michigan last year? (question of fact)
But: What percentage of new start-up com-panies do you think failed in Michigan last year? (question of opinion)
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4. Questionnaire items Unbiased
Not: Do you think new companies fail primarily because of a lack of adequate funding?
But: What do you think is the major reason that new companies fail?
OBER, CONTEMPORARY BUSINESS COMMUNICATION, 6/E. COPYRIGHT © HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
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5. Questionnaire items (cont’d)
Unambiguous
Not: Do you think it takes a long time for the average start-up firm to secure financing?
But: How many months do you think it takes the average start-up company to secure financing?
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6. Questionnaire items (cont’d)
Exhaustive and mutually exclusive
Not: How many months did it take you to secure financing for your new company? __ 4 months __ 4-6 months __ more than 6 months
But: How many months did it take you to secure financing for your new company? __ 0-4 months __ 5-6 months __ more than 6 months
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7. Questionnaire items (cont’d)
One idea
Not: Banks should set aside more funds for start-up companies because they are so important to the economy. __ agree __ no opinion __ disagree
But: Banks should set aside more funds for start-up companies. __ agree __ no opinion __ disagree
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8. Interview questions Open versus closed
Open: How were you treated by the loan officer?
Closed: Do you feel you were treated fairly by the loan officer?
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9. Interview questions (cont’d)
Direct versus indirect
Direct: What is your opinion of First National Bank?
Indirect: How do you think most entrepreneurs feel about First National Bank?
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10. Interview questions (cont’d)
Probing
Could you give me an example?
What do you mean by that?
Why?
In what way?
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11. HASCO EMPLOYMENT LEVELS
Format of a table
Table Number
Table 3
HASCO EMPLOYMENT LEVELS
As of December 10, 2005
Employee Type
Total
By Department
Annual
Admin
Prod
Sales
Change
Full-time nonexempt
389 27
345 17
-3.0%
Full-time exempt
143 19 15
109
13.5%
Temporary 31 4 22 5
5.3%
Othera 21 13 8
-1.6%
584 63
382
139
5.9%
Source: Madison County Facts—2001, Metropolitan State University Press, St. Louis, MO, 2001, p. 183.
a Includes all special-project and work-for-hire employees.
Cross-tabulations
Title
Subtitle
Column Headings
Source (optional)
Footnote (optional)
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12. Line chart Figure 1. Employee Distribution: 2001-2007 100 200 300 400
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
2001
2002
2003
2004
2005
2006
2007
Nonexempt
Exempt
No. of Employees
Figure 1. Employee Distribution:

13. Bar chart Figure 1. Employee Distribution: 2005–2006 50 100 150 20050
100
150
200
250
300
350
400
450
500
Nonexempt
Exempt
Temporary
Other
2005
2006
No. of Employees
Figure 1. Employee Distribution: 2005–2006

14. Pie chart
Figure 1. Employees by Type

15. Key terms bar chart cross-tabulation questionnaire interview guide
line chart
pie chart
questionnaire
survey
table
visual aids
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16. Bar chart
Figure 4. No. of Employees Rating Banking Services as Very Important

17. S
URBAN SYSTEMS U
LAB 11 test
Not too many years ago, computers were something of an of-
fice novelty, most office workers then performed one major visual
task the reading of black characters printed on white paper laid
flat or nearly flat on a desk.
novelty. Most (RUN-ON)
task: (EXP)
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18. S U Office workers now spend there days looking into a monitor
URBAN SYSTEMS U
Office workers now spend there days looking into a monitor
who’s screen is almost perpendicular to the desk. Some screens
still display low-contrast green characters on a dark background.
The higher the contrast, the easier faster and more accurately a
worker can perform their visual tasks.
Their (WORD)
Whose (WORD)
easier, faster, (SER)
his or her (AGR)
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19. S U While the electric illumination produced by a buildings
URBAN SYSTEMS U
While the electric illumination produced by a buildings
system may be ideal for performing paper tasks they could create
conditions inappropriate for computer-based tasks. Managers must
recognize that office lighting have many qualities but the dif-
ferences aren't apparent in a cursory survey of the work area.
Glare creates visual discomfort. Which is often subtle, due
building’s (SING POSS)
tasks, (INTRO)
It (AGR)
Has (AGR)
qualities, (IND)
discomfort, which (FRAG)
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20. S U to your eyes amazing ability to except relatively-poor viewing
URBAN SYSTEMS U
to your eyes amazing ability to except relatively-poor viewing
conditions. Tiny ocular muscles react to lighting and causes the
eyes to adapt, minimizing viewing problems. Long term viewing
problems however cause these muscles to become strained. These
conditions can make the workplace far less hospitable, and can
have a damaging affect on productivity and moral. In addition, a
productivity loss of one percent in a payroll of $1,000,000.00
costs the company $10000 annually.
eyes’ (PLUR POSS)
accept (WORD)
relatively poor (ADJ)
Cause (AGR)
Long-term (COMP)
problems, however, (TRAN)
hospitable (NO COMMA)
effect (WORD)
morale. (SPELL)
(NO.FIGURE)
$1 million (NO.FIGURE)
$10,000 (NO.FIGURE)
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21. End: Chapter 11 PPT (Total of 21 Slides)
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