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Q:
Compared to offline content, the composition of online content requires unique considerations. Which of these statements strengthens this argument?
A) Mia should make sure that all her content on the company website is accurate and bias-free because today's readers are very critical of the information they receive.
B) The article on inflation was useful and well written. The important concepts in the main article were hyperlinked, so that they can be explained in detail in the subsequent links.
C) Earlier most towns had just one newspaper, but today the number of newspapers has definitely grown.
D) To create effective headings, one should use meaningful keywords and avoid the temptation of resorting to clever wordplay.
E) Magazines, both online and offline, are finding it difficult to gain sufficient readership due to an increasing number of substitutes.
Q:
Erin has been asked to maintain a "live" website. Therefore, she needs to ________.
A) use the inverted pyramid style
B) maintain outdated information on the website in chronological order
C) keep adding fresh content and deleting content that is out of date or no longer relevant to the organization's target audience
D) write effective headings and links that serve for both site navigation and content skimming
E) adapt her content for a global audience
Q:
Adapting online content for a global audience is the ideal, but it is expensive. Some companies deal with this issue by ________.
A) localizing the homepage of a website but keeping the more detailed content in its original language
B) avoiding reader-oriented content
C) localizing the entire website and charging for access
D) providing more detail than may be needed
E) accepting that the web is not conducive to localizing content
Q:
A work plan for a proposal, which describes how you'll accomplish what must be done, states when work will begin, how it will be divided into stages, when you'll finish, and whether follow-up will be needed. This is usually included in the ________.
A) introduction
B) scope
C) body
D) close
E) conclusion
Q:
The introduction of a proposal describes the problem you intend to solve or the opportunity you want to pursue, along with your suggested solution. However, proposal introductions can vary depending on whether the proposal is internal or external, direct or indirect, and most obviously when it is solicited or unsolicited. Which of the following proposal introductions would strengthen the argument that a solicited proposal should be direct in order to garner interest?
A) If you are an entrepreneur based out of your garage, or a work-from-home mother, a good home office will give you the necessary edge to stay focused at your tasks. So, we at JWS Remodeling Solutions would be happy to convert your existing living room into a home office according to your specifications, in the shortest possible time.
B) JWS Remodeling Solutions would be happy to convert your existing living room area into a home office according to the specifications mentioned in your request. As part of our early bird offer, you will receive a 10 percent discount on the quoted price. We can begin work on November 23 and we'll complete the project by December 15th. That is a week faster than requested.
C) JWS Remodeling Solutions has been in the business of helping entrepreneurs create better work places for the past two years. We would be happy to convert your existing living room area into a home office, in the shortest possible time, thanks to the revolutionary technology of interlocking rivets. As a bonus, it also helps save space!
D) JWS Remodeling Solutions would be happy to convert your existing living room area into a home office. Our construction approach is unique. We provide a full staff of licensed tradespeople and schedule our projects in a manner that seamlessly links the different stages of the project.
E) We understand that every effort counts in the struggle against global warming, and that is why all our materials are sourced from recycling plants and from renewable resources which have the lowest carbon footprint. JWS Remodeling Solutions would be happy to convert your existing living room area into a home office according to the specifications that you requested.
Q:
In his proposal when Richard is indicating exactly how he will accomplish the solution, he is presenting the ________.
A) organizational plan
B) work plan
C) statement of qualifications
D) request for proposal
E) statement of solution
Q:
Readers understand that a proposal is a persuasive message, so they're willing to accommodate a degree of ________ in your writing.
A) drama
B) monotony
C) inconsistency
D) promotional emphasis
E) humor
Q:
The appendix of the report usually includes ________.
A) discussion and analyses of potential courses of action
B) facts, statistical evidence, and trends
C) procedures or steps in a process
D) supporting reasons for conclusions or recommendations
E) additional information or less important details
Q:
Karen is aware that the introduction for a report depends on the nature and length of the report, the circumstances under which she is writing it, and her relationship with the audience. If she is trying to determine what is and what isn't covered in the report, she is ascertaining ________.
A) authorization
B) purpose
C) scope
D) background
E) sources
Q:
Which of the following can help to strengthen an argument for a persuasive proposal?
A) Include humor, similes, metaphors, and colorful adjectives to avoid monotonous writing.
B) Research the competition so you know what other proposals your audience is likely to read.
C) Don't include details the audience already knows to leave out repetition.
D) Include plenty of graphics and multimedia to enhance communication.
E) Write using formal corporate-speak to communicate complex issues.
Q:
________ come after a body of material and summarize the information for your readers, helping them absorb details.
A) Review sections
B) Footnotes
C) Preview sections
D) Callouts
E) Endnotes
Q:
After a thorough analysis of the existing payroll management system, you have come up with multiple action points with details about where these changes should be implemented and by whom. In this analytical report, would you focus on conclusions or recommendations? Explain your answer.
Note that your action points could radically change the efficiency of the system, if implemented. However, since the changes are going to ruffle a time-tested system, it may be received with a lot of skepticism. If you sense that your readers will not receive these changes well, how would you modify your approach?
Q:
As part of your primary research, you are conducting a real-time videotaped interview with a manager of a large retail store. After a few questions you notice that he is showing signs of impatience. How should you respond? What might you do differently to prevent this from happening in the future? Explain your answers.
Q:
You are a customer in the luxury car market. Do you feel that your suggestions will be better received by the producers of these cars if they ask you to fill an online survey form, which declares that your feedback is valuable to the organization, or if somebody from the organization interviewed you face-to-face? Explain your answer.
Q:
Differentiate between primary and secondary research. Explain why a scenario where only a primary research would suffice will never occur. If you had to conduct an analysis in a large organization regarding certain policy changes, which primary research method would you adopt and why?
Q:
Briefly explain the primary function of a statement of purpose indicating the most useful way to phrase one. You have been asked to help a company find ways to reduce the amount it spends on employee health and dental benefits. Write a statement of purpose for the report that you will produce.
Q:
Solicited proposals offer more flexibility, as the recipients aren't expecting to receive them and thus, require you to convince your readers that a problem or opportunity exists.
Q:
Proposals are grouped into two general categories: internal proposals that request decisions from managers from within the organization; external proposals request decisions from parties outside the organization.
Q:
The yardstick approach is a common logical approach used when building your conclusion. In this approach, you use a number of criteria to decide which option to select from two or more possibilities.
Q:
The purpose of analytical reports is to provide the feedback that employees, managers, and others need to make decisions, take action, and respond to changes.
Q:
To organize your website effectively, help online readers scan and absorb information by breaking it into self-contained, easily readable chunks that are linked together logically.
Q:
In informational reports, if the information is disappointing, it is better to use the direct approach.
Q:
To develop an effective survey questionnaire, add compound and leading questions so the answers are easy to analyze.
Q:
You do not have to cite a source for knowledge that is generally known among your readers or is a well-known fact.
Q:
Enterprise search engines are powerful search tools that search all computers on a company's network.
Q:
Online databases and specialty search engines help you access parts of the hidden Internet.
Q:
Whereas a recommendation interprets information, a conclusion suggests what to do about the information.
Q:
Plagiarism is presenting someone else's ideas in your own words without giving proper credit.
Q:
The first step of effective business research is to locate the data and information you need.
Q:
The direct approach is a better choice if the audience is unsure about your credibility because it gives you a chance to prove your points and gradually overcome audience reservations.
Q:
For a junior member of a status-conscious organization, the direct approach is the most popular and convenient for business reports; it saves time, makes the rest of the report easier to follow, and produces a more forceful document.
Q:
Statement of purpose helps explain who you are preparing the report for and where you plan to deliver.
Q:
Which of the following is true about proposals?
A) Unsolicited proposals are prepared at the request of external parties that require a product or service.
B) Solicited proposals include instructions that specify exactly the type of work to be performed or products to be delivered, along with budgets, deadlines, and other requirements.
C) Request for proposals offer more flexibility but are challenging because recipients aren't expecting to receive them.
D) Proposals can be grouped into two general categories: internal and external proposals.
E) A good proposal provides feedback on a wide variety of an organization's functions, including sales, inventories, expenses, shipments, and so on.
Q:
Harry provides computer-based solutions to offices and helps them reduce their carbon footprint by reducing paper consumption. To expand his business, he is planning to send unsolicited proposals to a dozen offices. While doing this, he ________.
A) should use the direct approach
B) should avoid mentioning costs this early
C) should keep the proposal short
D) needs to convince his readers that a problem or an opportunity exists
E) should make sure that the proposal is mailed, proposals on paper are generally preferred
Q:
________ are generally prepared at the request of external parties that require a product or a service.
A) Business plans
B) Solicited proposals
C) Request for proposals
D) Policy papers
E) Due diligence reports
Q:
Proposals that request funds from government agencies and other sponsoring organizations are ________ proposals.
A) investment
B) grant
C) sales
D) solicited
E) external
Q:
Internal proposals ________.
A) examine the financial aspects of a proposed decision studies events that happened in the past, with the hope of learning how to avoid similar failures in the future
B) assess the likelihood of success for new products or sales
C) convey information showing similarities and differences between two or more entities
D) request decisions from managers within the organization
E) request decisions from parties outside the organization
Q:
When planning analytical reports for audiences that are potentially skeptical or hostile, consider using the ________.
A) indirect approach and unfold your recommendations using a series of five steps
B) indirect approach to logically build toward your conclusion or recommendation
C) direct approach to highlight the actions you expect from your audience
D) direct approach, focusing immediately on your conclusions or recommendations
E) direct approach and arrange the material in a categorical order
Q:
Percy has been asked to suggest his recommendations after reviewing the new policy changes in the organization. Using the direct approach and the 5-steps to unfold his recommendations, Percy should conclude his recommendations by ________.
A) summarizing the problem
B) mentioning potential risks
C) summarizing the recommendations
D) listing the recommendations
E) giving details on procedures, costs, and benefits
Q:
Ryan needs to create a report, which will explore the potential ramifications of a decision, that he and the other managers are considering. For this he needs to create a ________ report.
A) market analysis
B) compliance
C) troubleshooting
D) feasibility
E) policy
Q:
Joe's company has incurred substantial losses due to a few unplanned investments in technology shares. He needs to prepare a report which brings out the lessons learned from this debacle. Reports of this kind are examples of ________.
A) policy reports
B) troubleshooting reports
C) failure analysis reports
D) due diligence reports
E) compliance reports
Q:
Sue needs to create a report that looks into the financial implications of acquiring another company. So she needs to prepare a(n) ________.
A) failure analysis report
B) market analysis report
C) analytical report
D) feasibility report
E) due diligence report
Q:
Ron is setting up a website for his organization, which will cater to multiple target audiences like potential employees, customers, investors, and the news media. To organize his site effectively and help the readers explore on their own, he should ________.
A) develop the content and then plan the site structure
B) let his readers be in control by creating links and pathways
C) make a detailed work plan with a linear outline
D) keep information in large chunks, that are linked logically
E) provide a clear list of instructions
Q:
________ is a term used by website designers to describe the structure and navigational flow of all the parts of a website.
A) Topical organization
B) Metacrawlers
C) Search engine optimization
D) Informational design
E) Information architecture
Q:
Ricky has to prepare an informational report to simply present his company's annual sales, profits, and investments. Which of the following topical organizations is most suitable for such a report?
A) geography
B) sequence
C) category
D) similarities
E) chronology
Q:
Ruth has to prepare an informational report, highlighting the disadvantages of an older approach and the advantages of a newer approach. The topical organization of her material would involve ________.
A) comparison
B) category
C) similarities
D) sequence
E) chronology
Q:
Samantha needs to prepare and present a report which details the handling of certain hazardous materials in the organization's premises. For this she needs to prepare a ________.
A) compliance report
B) progress report
C) due diligence report
D) trouble shooting report
E) business plan
Q:
________ provide feedback on a wide variety of an organization's functions, including sales, inventories, expenses, shipments, and so on.
A) Business plans
B) Personal activity reports
C) Policy reports
D) Operating reports
E) Position papers
Q:
Which of the following is true about conducting interviews?
A) Open-ended questions elicit a specific answer, such as yes or no.
B) Interviews are more effective when done spontaneously, especially if you'd like to quote your subjects in writing.
C) Interviews can have a variety of formats, including email exchanges to group discussions.
D) Closed questions should be included to solicit opinions, insights, and information.
E) Include many closed questions to take full advantage of the interactive interview setting.
Q:
Richard needs to get in-depth information about a new performance analysis tool straight from an expert whose ideas would be quoted in a report. For this Richard should ________
A) use a simple survey format
B) ask closed questions to get the experts opinion
C) insist on a videotaped interview
D) email a copy of the questions to the expert, two days before the interview
E) ask questions which can only be answered in numbers or facts
Q:
Which of the following scenarios reflects sampling bias?
A) Natasha surveys 50 people at two leading malls to study consumer behavior in Atlanta.
B) Robert has designed a 20 minute online survey on product preference for his marketing class.
C) Brian includes leading questions to help people taking his product satisfaction survey.
D) Marilyn formulates a short and easy-to-answer property survey for East Clapham Town.
E) Brandon develops a group administered survey for 200 students at the same school to check the frequency of visits on various websites.
Q:
A survey is valid and reliable, if it ________.
A) produces distinct results in similar conditions
B) includes compound questions
C) includes immeasurable variables and coefficients
D) captures only the opinions of people who want to participate
E) produces identical results if repeated under similar circumstances
Q:
A survey is valid, if it ________.
A) produces identical results when repeated in different situations
B) measures what it is designed to measure
C) produces distinct results in similar conditions
D) captures only the opinions of people who want to participate
E) includes compound questions
Q:
Which of the following is an important function achieved by documenting one's sources?
A) They help avoid plagiarism.
B) They help readers relate to the material.
C) They help readers explore the topic in more detail, if desired.
D) They help take advantage of the source documentation tools.
E) They are the logical conclusion to online research.
Q:
April firmly believes in the power of the Google search engine. She rarely ventures beyond the first one or two pages of results though; this helps her save time and avoid getting overwhelmed by the results. Your suggestion to April would be ________.
A) to follow the direct approach and include Boolean expressions
B) that the algorithm used to rank the results might not reflect her priorities, so the first few hits might not be the best for her project
C) to use fewer search terms to find more results; use more search terms to find fewer results
D) to try variations of other search terms
E) to read the instructions, before using the search engines
Q:
Neville needs to conduct online research for "tips for creating reports/proposals, but not presentations." Using Boolean operators, his search string should look like ________.
A) tips for creating reports and proposals, but not presentations
B) tips OR creating AND reports OR proposals NOT presentations
C) tips AND creating AND reports OR proposals NOT presentations
D) tips AND creating AND reports AND proposals NOT presentations
E) tips AND creating AND reports AND proposals OR presentations
Q:
To define a query, the common Boolean operators used are ________.
A) AND, OR, IF
B) AND, OF, NOT
C) AND, OR, NOT
D) AND, OR, NO
E) AND, IF
Q:
Which of the following is a shortcoming of a conventional search engine?
A) time consuming nature of evaluation of quality of data
B) lack of better editing algorithms
C) inaccessibility to the hidden Internet
D) easy accessibility to the deep Internet
E) inability to compare multiple search engine data
Q:
________ help(s) boost website rankings in search results, but the ranking algorithms are kept secret to prevent unfair manipulation of the results.
A) Strategically-placed website logos
B) Search engine optimization techniques
C) Real-time customer feedback
D) Aggressive advertising strategies
E) Boolean operators
Q:
________ provide in-depth analysis coverage and analysis that often can't be found anywhere else, although they are less timely than newspapers, periodicals and online sources.
A) Directories
B) Almanacs
C) Business books
D) Government publications
E) Online databases
Q:
Rod is conducting secondary research for his report and has exhausted most of the online resources available to him. Which other secondary source of information should he consider?
A) historians
B) trade fairs
C) advertisements
D) museums
E) libraries
Q:
Instead of a logical interpretation of facts, Bertha concludes her report with these words"I propose, that we import only the ferrites required for the product and not the unprocessed magnetite." Here Bertha is giving her a(n) ________.
A) recommendation
B) conclusion
C) opinion
D) comparison
E) summarization
Q:
Linda wants to quote a source in her research. To mirror business language, she rephrases the quotation in her own words while excluding unnecessary details. To keep the document short, she avoids crediting the source. This is ________.
A) plagiarism
B) quoting
C) paraphrasing
D) summarizing
E) de-crediting
Q:
Quoting a source means ________.
A) rewording the passage to enhance your argument
B) using your own sentence structures
C) reproducing the material exactly
D) listing references
E) sourcing information
Q:
Leo is evaluating his information sources, so that he can avoid embarrassing and potentially damaging mistakes. To check if his material is current and complete, he should evaluate ________.
A) if the author is just someone with an opinion
B) if the entire source document was accessed or only a selection from it
C) if the sources are biased or unbiased
D) if the references support the research
E) the material stands up to logical scrutiny
Q:
Which of the following sources would you use for primary research?
A) interviews
B) magazines
C) public websites
D) books
E) newspapers
Q:
Kathy has just completed primary research for the company's pilot product, "Jovial Jingles." Her manager has asked her to include secondary research information as well. For this, she should include ________.
A) information from research conducted using focus groups
B) information from research conducted only on specified core customers
C) information sourced from magazines, newspapers, public websites, books, and other reports
D) information from her review of the primary research
E) information from the repetition of the primary research and compare results
Q:
As a researcher, Dan is aware of how his research tactics will affect the people from whom he gathers data and information, the people who read his results, and the people who are affected by the way he presents those results. Hence, Dan is aware of his ________.
A) work plan
B) research strategy
C) sources for information
D) ethical responsibilities
E) medium of research
Q:
You can apply your research findings by ________.
A) planning a detailed work plan
B) phrasing a statement of purpose
C) selecting the right medium
D) explaining why you are preparing the report and what you plan to deliver
E) developing recommendations or drawing conclusions
Q:
Which of the following is the first step in conducting effective business research?
A) locate the data and information you need
B) apply your findings
C) plan your research
D) process the data and information you located
E) manage information efficiently
Q:
Bill needs to organize information for his report and he has been told to follow the direct approach. Bill should ________.
A) present the report's recommendations followed by the conclusions that led to that recommendation at the beginning of the report
B) present conclusions but no recommendations, at the end of the report
C) draw conclusions in the body of the report
D) present conclusions but no recommendations, in the body of the report
E) use the indirect approach if he is presenting only conclusions at the beginning
Q:
Executive dashboards are customized ________.
A) proposals, which are generated in real-time
B) tools, which help in drawing up plans
C) graphical presentations of key performance parameters
D) tools built on the concept of the three-step writing process
E) proposals, which report only highlights and cannot be electronically modified
Q:
In which of these scenarios is a more detailed work plan most appropriate?
A) a short report which needs to be prepared and mailed in a day
B) an informal report providing feedback about the new coffee machine in the office
C) an automated report generated by a software which analyzes data
D) a report prepared by a team manager regarding the new guidelines for organizational wikis
E) a report that involves collaboration between three teams that are based in different cities
Q:
"To identify potential markets for our new range of breakfast cookies," is a good statement of purpose for informational reports. Which of the following is a good statement of purpose for analytical reports?
A) To provide feedback about the newly installed technical hardware.
B) To assess the benefits of investing in the manufacturing sector for the next quarter and include possible improvisations.
C) To update the board of directors on the progress of the River Drive project.
D) To submit statutory information to the government agency.
E) To show auditors that the company meets compliance requirements.
Q:
The statement of purpose ________.
A) describes the structure and navigational flow of all the parts of a website
B) is an informal list of tasks and a simple schedule
C) explains why you are preparing the report and what you plan to deliver
D) is a logical interpretation of facts and other information that are provided in the report
E) is a customized graphical presentation of key performance parameters
Q:
Proposals which request decisions from parties outside the organization are ________.
A) grant proposals
B) project status proposals
C) trouble shooting proposals
D) diligence proposals
E) personal activity proposals
Q:
________ include reports to assess opportunities, solve problems, and support decisions.
A) Operating reports
B) Policy reports
C) Compliance reports
D) Progress reports
E) Analytical reports
Q:
________ include reports to document progress, demonstrate compliance, and monitor and control operations.
A) Informational reports
B) Market analysis reports
C) Due diligence reports
D) Troubleshooting reports
E) Feasibility reports
Q:
________ are documents which present persuasive recommendations to audiences, often involving investments or purchases.
A) Position papers
B) Operating reports
C) General project proposals
D) Due diligence reports
E) Market analysis reports
Q:
Which of the following documents contains data, feedback, and other types of information, including recommendations?
A) informational reports
B) personal activity reports
C) position papers
D) compliance reports
E) due diligence reports