Posted in Research Report Task: Your boss/stakeholder in your project has asked you to write an informative, interesting, analytical, recommendations research report on one of the topics below (see list of topics or choose a topic of your own and ask me to approve it). Following the report format (Week 6 and 7 Content) you will investigate this topic/issue, provide researched information about various aspects on the topic and conclude with a list of recommendations (based on your research findings). A sample report will be discussed in Week 7. Research Component:
• Include at least five sources from places such as the Internet, newspapers, magazines, books, interviews, etc.
• At least one of these sources must be peer reviewed. You must include at least one citation or paraphrase from each source, using the APA style of documentation.
• Please ensure you consult the CRAAP/COCOA for reliability of sources (Week 4 Content). • There must be a References page at the end of your report that should be linked to your
in-‐text references. *Note: Wikipedia is not an acceptable source and will not count towards your research component. Requirements:
• Format: formal report addressed to me OR to your boss/stakeholder • Length: approx. 15 pages long, including graphics and References page • Components: title page, table of contents, list of figures, executive summary,
introduction, body, conclusions & recommendations, appendix (if applicable), References • Pattern: direct or the indirect, depending on your audience • Correct APA format throughout, including in-‐text citations and References page (for
information regarding APA format, consult the Purdue University Online Writing Lab: APA Formatting and Style Guide)
• Organization: sections with effective headings and subheadings • Full block format; single-‐spaced, 1 blank line between paragraphs; main sections start on
a new page • Font: Times New Roman 12-‐point for text. You can use larger font for headings. • Style and Grammar: Apply all of the principles of effective business communication,
including correct punctuation, grammar, and spelling *Note: this should be a recommendations report-‐ not an informational report. Overall you are providing the reader with information (in the beginning) about your topic to eventually convince them of your recommendations (at the end).
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This list of possible topics may form the basis of your research reports (depending on breadth and scope of material available). You may also submit a topic for approval outside of this list via email.
• Developing a marketing partnership with HR to support corporate brand • A marketing response to changing customer requirements: the drive towards wellness • Identifying internal/external customers and meeting their needs • Development marketing platforms within the recruitment cycle • Developing long-‐term customer/employee relationships • Identifying and creating new markets – new strategies for Marketing • Developing competitive marketing strategies internationally • How a brand promise drives change in a multinational organization • Brand repositioning and communications • Corporate versus product branding • Developing a marketing partnership with other departments to support corporate brand • Identifying internal/external customers and meeting their needs • Developing long-‐term customer/employee relationships
Late Penalty: Late assignments will be penalized at a rate of 10% per day (including weekends). After 3 days, the Dropbox will close and assignments will no longer be accepted. Academic Integrity: All papers will be checked for plagiarism using Turnitin. Please make sure you reference your sources correctly and view your % of copied text. It is acceptable for this report to have approximately 15-‐20% of matching text to your references and or in-‐text quotations. If you are concerned please check the Turnitin score before the due date. Submissions cannot be altered after the due date has passed.
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Evaluation Criteria:
RESEARCH REPORT GRADE Report structure/ sections: 1. Title page, table of contents, list of figures, executive summary /10 2. Introduction
• Topic chosen is specific, focused, and appropriate • Report addresses important questions related to topic • Introduction explains importance of this research, provides background about
business situation or problem to be solved • Intro mentions solution/ proposal (for direct pattern reports)
/10
3. Findings, Analysis, and Recommendations • Specific and pertinent facts are provided about topic • Facts and ideas are presented clearly • Recommendations, if applicable, are based on findings • Summary, if applicable, is an appropriate recap of main points
/30
Use of Sources • At least 5 appropriate, high-‐quality sources used effectively to support findings
and/or recommendations • Source material integrated well, with appropriate signal phrases, in-‐text
citations, parenthetical references, etc. • APA format used without error
/20
Formatting, readability, and usability of document • Correct report format • Sufficient, consistently written, and formatted headings to guide reader • Some information presented graphically via charts, diagrams, tables, etc. (taken
from sources or created by student) • Long paragraphs avoided in favour of manageable paragraphs and/or
bulleted/numbered points, where appropriate • Appropriate tone (objective, formal)
/10
Free of all grammatical, spelling, and stylistic errors /20 TOTAL /100
