Business Analytical Report

BIS 101WI Essential Business Communications Skills

Assignment #4, Business Analytical Report Peer Review

Peer Reviewer Instructions: Before starting, download a copy of this document and save it to your hard drive. Provide your input on the downloaded version (be sure to include student names, below), save it, and then upload the completed peer review to Discussion Board #4 by the due date.

Name of Student : Mohammed Name of Reviewer : Kyle

WHAT TO DO

· STEP 1: Review the business analytical report carefully with an attitude to look for ways the author can improve his/her report.

· STEP 2: Provide meaningful suggestions for improvement.

Reminder: This is an important part of the business communications process—peers will frequently review others’ work in business, so please take this activity seriously and provide solid and helpful improvement input. Be specific in your reviews and provide examples and reasons why you suggest a certain improvement, etc.

OVERALL ASSESSMENT Highlight the Y or N appropriately when answering the questions below:

Format

Y or N Is the report written in a reader-centered (top-down processing) way by making the report structure transparent through strong use of topic sentences, transitions, forecasting throughout, and the opening moves of subject, purpose, main points etc. formula for each section except for the conclusion, recommendations? Y

Introduction/Problem Definition/Scope

Y or N Does the introduction present a full overview of the problem and does it approach the problem in comprehensive ways (is the scope /angle accurate, not too narrow or wide)? Y

Y or N If anybody reads it, can they think up alternate issues or angle and different causes and effects? Y

Y or N Does the introduction contain six opening moves as described in the assignment? (Moves 1-6: including subject, purpose of proposal, main point, importance, background info, and forecast organization of document) Y

Elements of Report

Y or N Does the writer use the scientific reporting structure of Introduction, Methods, Results and Discussion, conclusion with recommendations effectively? Y

Y or N Does the report feature front matter such as title page, table of contents, executive summary, as well as back matter, appendices, and references, as described in assignment? Y

Visual and Textual Rhetoric

Y or N Overall, is visual organization used effectively for the report, look neat? Y

Y or N Are visuals used to tell a simple story, do they represent data effectively, and are they referred to in-text and labeled with a description (i.e., Figure 1: Water conservation flow chart)? Y/N

Y or N Overall, is visual organization used effectively for the report, look neat? Y

Y or N Are the following used: section headers, chunking of text, effective use of HATS headings, art, typography, spacing (visual design principles) to create a visually well-organized and visually accessible rapport that is easy to read? Y

Research Methods/Results/ Discussion/Recommendation/ Cost, Ethics

Y or N Does the methodology section outline 2-3 clear Research Questions that the report proceeds to answer? Y

Y or N Are Research questions clearly defined and methods are tied to research questions as qualitative, quantitative or both (mixed methods)? Y

Y or N Are Results and Discussion presented in-depth and does the author incorporate scholarly journals and primary data and discuss them at an academic level? Y

Conclusion

Y or N Does the methodology section outline 2-3 clear Research Questions that the report proceeds to answer? Y

Y or N In the conclusion section, are conclusions reasonable and logically follow from data gathered and discussed in results and discussion section? Y

Recommendations

Y or N Are recommendations feasible and logical based on data gathered and logically follows from results, rather than being a “wish list” of the author? Y

Y or N Does the author remain objective throughout the report, and avoid giving recommendations elsewhere in the report or inserting their opinions EXCEPT for the recommendations, and is this informed? Y

APA/Grammar

Y or N Use of APA conforms to standards as defined by Online Writing Lab at Purdue (no errors in documenting sources in-text or your references)? N

Y or N Is there correct use of paraphrase, summary (99 percent), in-text quotes (1%) according to APA standards with a indicating of how the source is used together and with a source attribution either in-text or in parenthesis (last name, year, page)? N

ANALYTICAL REPORT SECTIONS. Provide feedback for each section as requested.

1. Introduction. Share ideas in the introduction that seem under-researched or in need of further thinking: Does a good job.

2. Problem/Needs statement. What problem/issue, in your own words, is the author of the proposal addressing? What is their angle to the topic – i.e. what outcome are they seeking? Lack of communication. They are seeking a solution for better communication.

3. Methods. Does the methods section present research questions, explain whether these create a qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods approach, and take the reader through the actual process of gathering data step-by-step and describe limitations to the study as if it were a scientific study? Is their method valid to measuring what they intend to measure? It has 3 research questions. They create a qualitative approach because they are open ended. The method is valid.

4. Results and Discussion. Does the author show they have done extensive research/thinking about the problem or issue and do they accurately discuss the various contexts of their research in this/these section(s) in-depth? He proves he has done good research on his issue.

5. Conclusion. Does the author extract 4-6 patterns that have logically arisen from their results section in a clear manner? Yes

6. Possible Recommendations. Do the recommendations sound feasible/realistic and are they based on patterns observed? Can you think of other recommendations that the author could/should consider given your understanding of the problem or issue? I recommend bolding your headings and going into a little more detail.

OVERALL

Give 5 concrete tips that will help the author create the best report possible. Give feedback.

a. Bold your headings

b. Under your diagrams give an explanation

c. Go into more detail

d. Add an appendix

e. Provide a link for your sources

f. Check some of your grammar