1. Planning the Report and Managing Data

2. Planning the Report and Managing Data
Finding Sources
Collecting Data
Displaying Quantitative Information
Interpreting Data

3. Planning the Report and Managing Data
Finding Sources
Collecting Data
Displaying Quantitative Information
Interpreting Data

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

5. Plan Your Approach
Define the report purpose
Analyze the intended audience
Determine what data is needed to solve the problem or make a decision
Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

6. Secondary Data Primary Data
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
Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

7. 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Unpublished (not widely disseminated)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
© ALEXARANDA/SHUTTERSTOCK
MICROSTOCK MAN/CUTCASTER
Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

8. Evaluating Internet Resources
Authority
Accuracy and Reliability
Purpose/Objectivity
Coverage
Currency
NATTHAPOL VANASRIVILAI/ISTOCKPHOTO.COM
Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

9. 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?
Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

10. Planning the Report and Managing Data
Finding Sources
Collecting Data
Displaying Quantitative Information
Interpreting Data

11. When to Use Questionnaires
The information can be provided easily and quickly
The target audience is homogeneous
Sufficient time is available
Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

12. Constructing the Questionnaire
Content
Organization
Format
Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

13. 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
Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

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

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

16. 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
Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

17. Use an easy-to-answer format
Questionnaire Format
Use an easy-to-answer format
Ensure that your questionnaire has a professional appearance
Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

18. Planning the Report and Managing Data
Finding Sources
Collecting Data
Displaying Quantitative Information
Interpreting Data

19. Using Tables for Reports and Presentations
Why Tables Are Useful
What 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
Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

20. HASCO EMPLOYMENT LEVELS
How to Format a Table
Cross-tabulations
Table Number
Table 3
HASCO EMPLOYMENT LEVELS
As of December 10, 2013
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—2011, Metropolitan State University Press, St. Louis, MO, 2011, p. 183.
a Includes all special-project and work-for-hire employees.
Title
Subtitle
Column Headings
Source (optional)
Footnote (optional)
Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

21. How Can You Improve This Chart?
Cost of Living Comparison: McLean, VA, and Beverly Hills, CA
Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

22. Chart Types Line charts show trends over time Bar charts compare items
Pie charts show parts of a whole
Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

23. Creating Infographics
Storyboard the content
Choose graphics and styles
Explain the data
Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

24. Planning the Report and Managing Data
Finding Sources
Collecting Data
Displaying Quantitative Information
Interpreting Data

25. 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.
Isolation
Context
Synthesis
SERGEJ KHAKIMULLIN/SHUTTERSTOCK
Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting

26. Discuss Overall Findings and…
Trends
Unexpected findings
Data that reinforces or contradicts other data
Extreme values
Data that raises questions
Finding Sources | Collecting | Displaying | Interpreting