Click here for an example of a short report in LETTER FORM and herefor a model ofMEMO FORM. Please note that this assignment requires MEMO FORM. Alsonote that you must include references for your report.
Step 1Read the scenario below and choose a piece of equipment, software, orprocedure to conduct research on. Locate at least 3 textual sources and2 visual sources and compile an APA style annotated bibliography listingthese sources. Click here for an explanation and example of an annotated bibliography (use APA 6th edition standards for your own reference entries).
The Scenario:
Itis 10 years in the future and you work for a company in your field ofstudy (you can invent any names or titles necessary to complete theassignment, but use an actual company/institution in your field. Youhave noticed a problem with your company’s production or practices, andyou know of a piece of equipment, software, or procedure that couldsolve the problem. This could be a cutting-edge piece of laboratoryequipment for a chemical or medical facility, a 3D printer for amanufacturing company, or a new piece of earthmoving equipment for anengineering firm. It could also be a recommendation for changingtraining protocols, for adopting a new advertising plan, or evenadopting a bonus system to motivate employee productivity. Choose aproduct or procedure that actually exists, as this will ensure you canfind good research sources. You want your company to purchase thisequipment/software or adopt this new/amended procedure. You approachyour immediate supervisor about the problem and your proposed solution,and s/he asks you to prepare a short, informal report (the focus of thisassignment). If s/he is persuaded by your informal report that yoursolution is a good one, s/he will approve a more extensive, formalreport to be presented to the company’s Board of Directors for a finaldecision (the focus of the Course Level Assessment).
Thefirst step is to learn as much as possible about theequipment/software/procedure. Check trade and professional publications,manufacturers’ materials, the Internet, and library databases for themost recent information, paying particular attention to descriptions ofthe equipment/software/procedure, its capabilities/potential, where andhow it has been successfully used, costs of acquisition/implementation,durability and maintenance/sustainability factors, and other relevantdetails. You will compile your information in an annotated bibliography(Step 1).
Step 2Write a 400 – 500 word short, informal report in memo form. The reportshould sum up your research on the equipment/software/procedure and makea cogent argument for its value to your company. The report MUSTinclude 1 visual element borrowed from a source and 1 visual element youdesign in a program such as Paint, Gimp, or the chart function of Word.Submit your report to your department supervisor (make up his/hername). Include in-text citations for direct quotes and paraphrases andinclude APA style references at the end of your report. Be sure toinclude citations/references for visuals as well.
*******Note:If you are recommending a change in company procedures or the adoptionof a new procedure, provide a step-by-step description of that procedureand its potential benefits. However, you should also briefly discussany difficulties your company may have in making the change, and providesolutions for those difficulties. REMEMBER: This is a short reportintended to generate interest in your suggestion, so provide enoughinformation to demonstrate its plausibility, but don’t get bogged downin minute details. Your goal is to gain approval for a longer, moredetailed report.
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