1. Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2010 by Bedford/St. Martin's1 Recommendation reports address four kinds of questions: What should we do about Problem X? Should we do Function X? Should we use Technology A or Technology B to do Function X? We currently use Method A to do Function X. Should we be using Method B?

2. Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2010 by Bedford/St. Martin's2 Feasibility reports answer three kinds of questions: questions of possibility questions of economic wisdom questions of perception

3. Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2010 by Bedford/St. Martin's3 Identify the problem or opportunity. Establish criteria for responding to the problem or opportunity. Determine the options. Study each option according to the criteria. Draw conclusions about each option. Formulate recommendations based on the conclusions. Use a problem-solving method in preparing a recommendation report

4. Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2010 by Bedford/St. Martin's4 Use logic boxes to plot a series of options

5. Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2010 by Bedford/St. Martin's5 Use a matrix to compare and contrast options

6. Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2010 by Bedford/St. Martin's6 Bias can creep in at three stages of the analysis of options: determining which criteria to examine deciding the range of values for each criterion assigning values to criteria

7. Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2010 by Bedford/St. Martin's7 You can present your conclusions in three ways: Rank all the options. Classify all the options in two categories: acceptable and unacceptable. Present a compound conclusion.

8. Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2010 by Bedford/St. Martin's8 Most recommendation reports have three major sections: the body of the report the front matter the back matter

9. Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2010 by Bedford/St. Martin's9 A typical recommendation report has five body elements: introduction methods results conclusions recommendations

10. Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2010 by Bedford/St. Martin's10 An introduction typically answers nine questions: What is the subject of the report? What is the purpose of the report? What is the background of the report? What are your sources of information? What is the scope of the report?

11. Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2010 by Bedford/St. Martin's11 An introduction typically answers nine questions (cont.): What are the most significant findings? What are your recommendations? What is the organization of the report? What key terms are you using in the report?

12. Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2010 by Bedford/St. Martin's12 Address the following four questions in writing the body of your report: Methods. What did you do? Results. What did you see? Conclusions. What does it mean? Recommendations. What should we do?

13. Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2010 by Bedford/St. Martin's13 Consider these four factors in writing your recommendations: content tone form location

14. Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2010 by Bedford/St. Martin's14 A typical recommendation report contains seven elements in the front matter: letter of transmittal cover title page abstract table of contents list of illustrations executive summary

15. Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2010 by Bedford/St. Martin's15 Understand the difference between the two types of abstracts A descriptive abstract describes the kinds of information contained in the document. An informative abstract presents the major findings.

16. Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2010 by Bedford/St. Martin's16 Follow these five guidelines in writing an executive summary: Use specific evidence in describing the background. Be specific in describing the research. Describe the methods briefly. Describe the findings according to your readers’ needs. Ask an outside reader to review your draft.

17. Chapter 19. Writing Recommendation Reports © 2010 by Bedford/St. Martin's17 A typical recommendation report includes three elements in the back matter: glossary and list of symbols references appendices