200817
Business Communication Skills
Assignment No. 2
Report Structure and Information
Assignment 2 - Structure
Recommended structure – flow – emphasis – no. of words.
Assignment 2 - Structure • Introduction (200 words)
– Very important area of the report– first impressions - this is what the reader reads first – lead in the topic – what are you going to write about
– Introduce key words / phases

Introduction (example from marketing)
In Australia there are close to one million business buyers. This is far short of approximately 18 million consumers but the total sales volume in the business market far surpasses the total sales to the consumer market. Although business buying behaviour and consumer buying behaviour are similar because they both involve individuals making purchasing decisions, the differences between the buying behaviours of these groups is of greater significance. These differences are important in understanding the behaviour of business buying and consumer buying markets.
Officeworks is a branch of Australia’s leading retail group Coles Myer Ltd. Launched in 1994, it was aimed to cater specifically for the needs of small business, the home office and students. It has approximately 40 stores and is continually adding new stores Australia wide. Its range of products include all office supplies such as stationary, computers and other business machines, furniture and office kitchen and bathroom supplies. Officeworks is a company that experiences both consumer buying and business buying.Officeworks will be used as an example in this report to illustrate the difference between consumer and business buying behaviour. Its marketing strategy will be assessed to see how it incorporates and has been influenced by both consumer and business buyers. Finally, recommendations will be made about how its marketing strategy could be expanded to further meet the needs of business buyers.
https://unilearning.uow.edu.au/report/4b.html
200817 Business Communication Skills
Introduction (example from accounting)
This report provides information obtained through ratio analysis, regarding the profitability, liquidity and financial stability of Outdoor Equipment Ltd for the years 1993-1995. This report will pay particular attention to the earning power, liquidity and credit management, inventory management and debt management, and will highlight major strengths and weaknesses while offering some explanation for observed changes. The report will comment on the prospects of the company and make recommendations that would improve Outdoor Equipment’s Ltd’s current performance. These observations do have limitations which will be noted. This report will explain how a cash flow statement and a prospectus could enhance analysis.
https://unilearning.uow.edu.au/report/4b.html
200817 Business Communication Skills
Assignment 2 - Structure
• Introduction (200 words)
• Key Arguments of the Authors (400 words)
– Very important area of the report
– State clearly the arguments of the 2 authors
– Use evidence to state your claims (eg. Quotes, examples)
200817 BCS
• Introduction (200 words)
• Key Arguments of the Authors (400 words)
• Differences in the Arguments (400 words)
– Another very important area of the report
– State clearly / evaluate the differences of the 2 authors
– Maybe look at a Table to illustrate your answers
– Use evidence to state your claims (eg. Quotes, examples).
Tables

• Introduction (200 words)
• Key Arguments of the Authors (400 words)
• Differences in the Arguments (400 words)
• Recommendations (300 words)
– Another very important area of the report
– Your “thoughts” – based on personal and work experience
• Back up with evidence / references
Recommendations (example from marketing)
It is recommended:
• that Choice Chocolate take immediate measures to launch and promote Slim Choice alongside its existing product range; that Slim Choice adopt a fresh and healthy image and be promoted in the media using slim, energetic and young models;
• that the models convey a sense of health and vitality to the consumer while enjoying Slim Choice;
• that the slogan “A Slim Choice a day keeps you going all the way” be used in the launch campaign;
• that 6 April, the 10th Anniversary of the World Congress on Health and Diet, be the date for the launch;
• that all the reporters be presented with free samples of Slim Choice, along with product endorsement statements by renowned health experts as part of the launch campaign;
• that Slim Choice be available at all supermarkets, candy stores, health food shops and newsagencies from the date of the launch.
https://unilearning.uow.edu.au/report/4b.html
• Introduction (200 words)
• Key Arguments of the Authors (400 words)
• Differences in the Arguments (400 words)
• Recommendations (300 words)
• Conclusion (100 words)
– Your “wrap-up” of the report.
Conclusion (example from accounting)
Outdoor Equipment Ltd is not in a very secure financial position. Improvements in every area of the company are needed if the company is, in the first instance, to survive and then grow. The key areas of reform are the liquidity of the company and the quantity and quality of working capital, profitability, and financial stability. Management must address these areas simultaneously if the company is to overcome its present poor record.
https://unilearning.uow.edu.au/report/4b.html
• Introduction (200 words)
• Key Arguments of the Authors (400 words)
• Differences in the Arguments (400 words)
• Recommendations (300 words)
• Conclusion (100 words)
• References
– Minimum of 6 reputable and relevant information sources….academic and/or reputable industry journals. – Use the APA / Harvard Referencing Method
References
• Bowman, J.P. and Branchaw, B.P. (1988). Business Report Writing, 2nd ed Chicago: The Dryden Press
• Canberra University (n.d.) Academic Skills Centre: Report Writing. Retrieved January 4,
2015 from http://www.canberra.edu.au/studyskills/writing/reports
• Charles Sturt University and New South Wales Department of Education and Training. (n.d.) Writing a Business Report. Retrieved November 19, 2015 from http://www.hsc. csu.edu.au/business_studies/intro/writing/writing.html
• Eunson, B. (2007). Business Writing, Milton: John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd
• Kimberley, N and Crosling, G (2008) Student Q Manual, (pp.42-46), (4th ed.) Clayton: Faculty of Business and Economics, Monash University
• Meyer, C. (2010). Communicating for Results: A Canadian Student’s Guide, 2nd ed., Ontario: Oxford University Press
• Executive Summary (100 words)
• Introduction (200 words)
• Key Arguments of the Authors (400 words)
• Differences in the Arguments (400 words)
• Recommendations (300 words)
• Conclusion (100 words)
• References
• Exec. Summary – write this after you have written and read through your report
Executive Summary
The operation of garden taps can pose a difficulty for many tap users. This report describes and evaluates the range of possible design solutions the design team has generated. A lack of commercially available solutions to the problem was identified and three alternative solutions were subsequently designed. Evaluation of the alternative solutions identified a tap handle extension, named ‘Easy Tap’, as the optimal solution to the problem. This tap handle extension consists of a channel-type attachment, onto which a vertical tube is joined, which in turn supports a larger handle that is over twice the length of the existing tap handle. 'Easy Tap' is able to slide onto the existing tap handle, its over-size handle providing a greater torque-moment for the user that overcomes the difficulty of operating the tap. A commercial evaluation suggests that ‘Easy Tap' will not only be a possible design solution to the problem but will also be a commercially viable solution to the problem.
https://unilearning.uow.edu.au/report/4b.html
• Table of Contents
• Executive Summary (100 words)
• Introduction (200 words)
• Key Arguments of the Authors (400 words)
• Differences in the Arguments (400 words)
• Recommendations (300 words)
• Conclusion (100 words)
• References

Example
• Table of Contents
• Executive Summary (100 words)
• Introduction (200 words)
• Key Arguments of the Authors (400 words)
• Differences in the Arguments (400 words)
• Recommendations (300 words)
• Conclusion (100 words)
• References
• Appendix
Graphs

200817 Business Communication Skills
• Table of Contents
• Executive Summary (100 words)
• Introduction (200 words)
• Key Arguments of the Authors (400 words)
• Differences in the Arguments (400 words)
• Recommendations (300 words)
• Conclusion (100 words)
• References
• Appendix