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ACC 202 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric
Overview
Successful entrepreneurs understand all aspects of business,
especially costs and costing systems. Managerial accounting
provides a framework for strategic
analysis and planning with regard to cost behaviors and costing
systems. In this final project, you have the opportunity to act as
an entrepreneur and apply
managerial accounting principles to evaluate and manage costs
related to your products within a costing system. Additionally,
you will demonstrate your ability
to communicate your findings effectively to internal
stakeholders, just as an actual business owner would need to do.
Specifically, you will assume the role of the owner of a
hypothetical small business. In your milestone work, you will
develop financial strategies prior to opening
your business. For the final submission, you will create a
presentation for your investors after your business has been in
operation for a certain period of time.
You will use the provided scenarios to complete your project.
The project is divided into three milestones, which will be
submitted at various points throughout
the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final
submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules
Two, Four, and Five. The final product will
be submitted in Module Seven.
In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the
following course outcomes:
-202-01: Apply fundamental costing systems to optimize
operations within a business
-202-02: Assess financial performance to communicate
financial planning strategies to internal stakeholders
-202-03: Leverage fundamental managerial accounting
methods to support the mission of an organization
Prompt
In a detailed presentation (12 to 15 slides in length, plus
speaker notes and an addendum), explain and defend your
costing strategies (i.e., the business plan
created in your first and second milestones) and share your
business’s performance to-date (i.e., the work from your third
milestone). Be sure to effectively
communicate to your stakeholders by breaking down concepts
and using investor-friendly language to build their trust and
confidence.
Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed.
Most of the critical elements align with a particular course
outcome (shown in brackets).
I. Introduce your presentation
A. Outline your company’s profile, including its name, location,
and mission and vision.
B. Explain for your investors the purpose of the presentation.
What do you plan to communicate, and why should your
investors pay attention? In
other words, try to persuade your investors that the accounting
information you are about to share is important. [ACC-202-03]
C. Explain and defend your methods for generating the
information that you are about to share in terms of your
adherence to industry standards
and the AICPA code of ethics. In other words, why should your
investors trust that you are delivering accurate financial data
and that your
decision-making process has been ethical? [ACC-202-03]
2
D. Specifically, be sure to illustrate how your managerial
accounting methods support the mission of your organization,
using examples. [ACC-202-
03]
II. Financial Strategy: Review your original business plan and
costing strategies using the prior-to-opening scenario
information.
A. Justify your use of job order costing. Be sure to compare and
contrast the various costing systems you learned about in this
course as part of
your defense. [ACC-202-01]
B. Explain and defend the selling prices that you established for
grooming, day care, and boarding. Be sure to reference your
cost-volume-profit
analysis in your defense. [ACC-202-02]
C. Explain and defend your selected target profits for each area
of your business. Be sure to reference your cost-volume-profit
analysis in your
defense. [ACC-202-02]
D. Explain and defend your contribution margin per unit and
contribution margin ratio. Be sure to reference your cost-
volume-profit analysis in
your defense. [ACC-202-02]
III. Financial Statements: Assess your financial performance to-
date using the post-opening scenario information.
A. Financial Statements
1. Share the statement of cost of services and logically interpret
the business’s performance against the provided benchmarks.
[ACC-202-
02]
2. Share the income statement and logically interpret the
business’s performance against the provided benchmarks.
[ACC-202-02]
B. Variance Analysis
1. Identify all variances for the direct labor time and the
materials price. [ACC-202-02]
2. Evaluate the significance of the variances in terms of the
potential to impact future budgeting decisions and planning.
[ACC-202-02]
IV. In an addendum, submit your completed workbook,
including the following:
A. Accurately classify all of your costs in the “Cost
Classification” tab. [ACC-202-01]
B. Conduct a cost-volume profit analysis:
1. Determine your contribution margin per unit and contribution
margin ratio in the “Contribution Margin Analysis” tab. [ACC-
202-01]
2. Determine your break-even points for achieving your target
profits in the “Break-even analysis” tab. [ACC-202-01]
Milestones
Milestone One: First Part of Workbook
In Module Two, you will submit the “Cost Classifications” and
“Variable_Fixed” tabs in your provided final project workbook.
This milestone will be graded with
the Milestone One Rubric.
3
Milestone Two: Second Part of Workbook
In Module Four, you will submit the “Contribution Margin
Analysis” and “Break-even Analysis” tabs in your provided
final project workbook. This milestone will
be graded with the Milestone Two Rubric.
Milestone Three: Final Workbook
In Module Five, you will submit “COS Schedule,” “Income
Statement,” and “Variances” tabs in your provided final project
workbook. This milestone will be
graded with the Milestone Three Rubric.
Final Submission: Presentation to Investors
In Module Seven, you will submit your final project. It should
be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical
elements of the final prompt. It should
reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the
course. This submission will be graded with the Final Project
Rubric.
Deliverables
Milestone Deliverable Module Due Grading
One Cost Classification Tabs Two Graded separately; Milestone
One Rubric
Two Financial Scope of the Business Plan Four Graded
separately; Milestone Two Rubric
Three Draft Presentation to Investors Five Graded separately;
Milestone Three Rubric
Final Submission: Presentation to Investors Seven Graded
separately; Final Project Rubric
Final Project Rubric
Guidelines for Submission: Your presentation to investors must
be at least 12–15 slides plus speaker notes, and all citations
should follow APA formatting.
Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs
Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value
Introduce:
Company’s Profile
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
judiciously includes details
relevant to the target audience
of the presentation
Outlines the company’s profile,
including its name, location,
and mission and vision
Outlines the company’s profile
but fails to include its name,
location, and mission and vision
Does not outline the company’s
profile
3
4
Introduce: Purpose
[ACC-202-03]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates nuanced
appreciation for the role of
managerial accounting in
ethically supporting the mission
of an organization
Explains the purpose of the
presentation, including a
persuasive case for the
importance of the accounting
information to be shared
Explains the purpose of the
presentation, but fails to fully
or persuasively make a case for
the importance of the
accounting information
Does not explain the purpose of
the presentation
7
Introduce: Defend of
Methods
[ACC-202-03]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates nuanced
appreciation for the role of
managerial accounting in
ethically supporting the mission
of an organization
Explains and defends the
methods for generating the
information in the presentation
in terms of their adherence to
industry standards and the
AICPA code of ethics
Explains the methods for
generating the information in
the presentation, but fails to
fully defend the methods in
terms of their adherence to
industry standards and the
AICPA code of ethics
Does not explain the methods
for generating the information
in the presentation
7
Introduce: Support
the Mission
[ACC-202-03]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates nuanced
appreciation for the role of
managerial accounting in
ethically supporting the mission
of an organization
Illustrates how the managerial
accounting methods support
the mission of the organization
using specific examples
Discusses how the managerial
accounting methods support
the mission of the organization,
but fails to fully or accurately
illustrate using specific
examples
Does not discuss illustrate how
the managerial accounting
methods support the mission of
the organization
7
Financial Strategy:
Costing Systems
[ACC-202-01]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates keen insight into
key cost behaviors and cost
systems
Justifies the use of job order
costing by comparing and
contrasting the various costing
systems covered in the course
Discusses the use of job order
costing but fails to fully or
accurately justify its use by
comparing and contrasting the
various costing systems
covered in the course
Does not discuss the use of job
order costing
6
Financial Strategy:
Selling Prices
[ACC-202-02]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates strategic ability
to propose costing solutions
supported by the financial data
Explains and defends the selling
prices for grooming, day care,
and boarding by citing financial
data from the cost-volume-
profit analysis
Explains the selling prices for
grooming, day care, and
boarding, but fails to fully or
accurately defend each price by
citing financial data from the
cost-volume-profit analysis
Does not explain the selling
prices for grooming, day care,
and boarding
8
Financial Strategy:
Target Profits
[ACC-202-02]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates strategic ability
to propose costing solutions
supported by the financial data
Explains and defends the target
profits for each area of the
business by citing financial data
from the cost-volume-profit
analysis
Explains the target profits for
each area of the business, but
fails to fully or accurately
defend each one by citing
financial data from the cost-
volume-profit analysis
Does not explain the target
profits for each area of the
business
8
5
Financial Strategy:
Contribution Margin
[ACC-202-02]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates strategic ability
to propose costing solutions
supported by the financial data
Explains and defends the
contribution margin per unit
and contribution margin ratio
by citing financial data from the
cost-volume-profit analysis
Explains the contribution
margin per unit and
contribution margin ratio, but
fails to fully or accurately
defend each by citing financial
data from the cost-volume-
profit analysis
Does not explain the
contribution margin per unit
and contribution margin ratio
8
Financial
Statements:
Statement of Cost of
Services
[ACC-202-02]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates sophisticated
ability to evaluate critical
performance measures for
strategic planning
Shares the statement of cost of
services and logically interprets
the business’s performance
against the provided
benchmarks
Shares the statement of cost of
services, but there are
inaccuracies in the statement,
or the interpretation has gaps
in logic or fails to address the
provided benchmarks
Does not share the statement
of cost of services
6
Financial
Statements: Income
Statement
[ACC-202-02]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates sophisticated
ability to evaluate critical
performance measures for
strategic planning
Shares the income statement
and logically interprets the
business’ performance against
the provided benchmarks
Shares the income statement,
but there are inaccuracies in
the statement or the
interpretation has gaps in logic
or fails to address the provided
benchmarks
Does not share the income
statement
6
Variance Analysis:
Identify
[ACC-202-02]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates sophisticated
ability to evaluate critical
performance measures for
strategic planning
Accurately identifies all
variances for the direct labor
time and the materials price
Identifies variances for the
direct labor time and the
materials price, but fails to fully
or accurately identify each
Does not identify variances for
the direct labor time and the
materials price
6
Variance Analysis:
Significance of the
Variance
[ACC-202-02]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates sophisticated
ability to evaluate critical
performance measures for
strategic planning
Evaluates the significance of
the variances in terms of their
potential to impact future
budgeting decisions and
planning
Evaluates the significance of
the variances, but fails to fully
or accurately identify their
potential to impact future
budgeting decisions and
planning
Does not evaluate the
significance of the variances
7
Addendum: Classify
Costs
[ACC-202-01]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates keen insight into
key cost behaviors and cost
systems
Accurately classifies all costs in
the “Cost Classification” tab of
the workbook
Classifies costs in the “Cost
Classification” tab, but fails to
fully or accurately classify each
Does not classify costs in the
“Cost Classification” tab of the
workbook
6
6
Addendum:
Contribution Margin
[ACC-202-01]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates keen insight into
key cost behaviors and cost
systems
Determines the contribution
margin per unit and
contribution margin ratio in the
“Contribution Margin Analysis”
tab of the workbook
Determines the contribution
margin per unit and
contribution margin ratio in the
“Contribution Margin Analysis”
tab of the workbook, but fails
to fully or accurately complete
the analysis
Does not determine the
contribution margin per unit
and contribution margin ratio in
the “Contribution Margin
Analysis” tab of the workbook
6
Addendum: Break-
Even Points
[ACC-202-01]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates keen insight into
key cost behaviors and cost
systems
Determines the break-even
points for achieving the target
profits in the “Break-even
analysis” tab of the workbook
Determines the break-even
points for achieving the target
profits in the “Break-even
analysis” tab of the workbook,
but fails to fully or accurately
complete the analysis
Does not determine the break-
even points for achieving the
target profits in the “Break-
even analysis” tab of the
workbook
6
Effective Business
Communication
[ACC-202-02]
Meets “Proficient” criteria and
demonstrates sophisticated
ability to effectively
communicate to internal
stakeholders
Main ideas are clearly
communicated and references
are properly cited throughout
the presentation
There are minor issues with the
communication of ideas or use
of citations that negatively
impact the effectiveness of the
presentation
There are critical errors in the
communication of ideas that
negatively impact basic
comprehension of the
presentation
3
Total 100%
7
Appendix
Scenario: Prior to Opening, Part I: You plan to open a pet-
services business that will offer dog grooming, day care, and
boarding. You can be creative in deciding
the name of your business (e.g., “Inspiring Dog Care”), its
geographical location (e.g., Chicago), and its mission and vision
for adding value to the community. You
will be asked to make choices for a few other details to
customize your case; otherwise, you should use the information
below.
There are 12 kennels (single dog only) and the day care area can
house 10 large dogs and 12 small dogs each day. The grooming
facility is 200 square feet, the
boarding facility is 2,500 square feet, and the day care is 1,500
square feet. Your groomer can groom five dogs a day for five
days a week; each groom consists of
1.5 labor hours. You also offer dog day care six days a week,
and kenneling every day. You have taken out a loan for start-up
costs and the monthly payment is
$420; it goes into effect immediately and should be accounted
for in your costs. With limited cash contribution and loan
funding, you located two angel
investors. You will collect a modest draw for the first year of
$600 a month; remember to divide evenly among the services.
Note: For simplicity, base all calculations using 30 days in each
month.
You estimate the following staffing needs:
week
22 eight-hour days per month
a week
work 22 eight-hour days per month
A complete list of additional costs is provided below:
bowls: $3.59/unit
o Daycare: Two bowls last for every 75 dogs that attend
daycare.
o Boarding: Two bowls last for every 100 dogs that are boarded;
you need two bowls per kennel.
o Grooming: Each bowl lasts for 20 grooms and you need four
bowls at all times.
$1,000
sed on square
footage
8
based on square footage
-gallon pail, which can be used for
100 grooms
o Day care: You need to have 12 towels for every 25 dogs.
o Boarding: You need to have 12 towels for every 40 dogs.
o Grooming: You need to have two towels for every groom per
day.
-inch straight is $194.99, and (1) ear-and-nose
is $7.49; each can be used for 200 grooms.
-pack; one toy will last for two dogs in day
care, per day.
o Odoban: $14.55/gallon: Each area will dilute 1 oz to 1 gallon
of water; allocate based on square footage.
o Simple Green: $15.66/gallon: each area will dilute 1 oz to 1
gallon of water; allocate based on square footage.
Scenario: Prior to Opening, Part II: Your market research
indicated the following price ranges as optimal for your area:
o With pricing at $18 per dog per day, you can expect to have
22 dogs per day.
o With pricing at $20 per dog per day, you can expect to have
15 dogs per day.
o With pricing at $25 per dog per day, you can expect to have
10 dogs per day.
o With pricing at $25 per dog per day, you can expect to have
12 dogs per day.
o With pricing at $28 per dog per day, you can expect to have
10 dogs per day.
o With pricing at $30 per dog per day, you can expect to have 7
dogs per day.
o With pricing at $25 per groom, you can expect to do 5 grooms
per day.
o With pricing at $30 per groom, you can expect to do 4 grooms
per day.
o With pricing at $35 per groom, you can expect to do 3 grooms
per day.
Additionally, you need to compare your break-even points for
the following target profits for each area of your business:
9
o Break-even
o $417 target profit each month
o $667 target profit each month
o Break-even
o $583 target profit each month
o $909 target profit each month
o Break-even
o $1,000 target profit each month
o $1,500 target profit each month
Post-opening Scenario: Your angel investors are silent in
relation to the business; however, they require board meetings
for status updates on the company’s
financial health. Therefore, you need to analyze your company’s
performance over the last month using the data provided below.
Note: Your instructor will create an announcement sharing the
income statement data by the end of Module Four. All of the
data you need for the cost-of-
goods-manufactured statement can be found in the “COS
Schedule” tab of your workbook.
For your variance analysis, use the following financial data:
Direct Materials/Labor Original Projection Actual
Shampoo 1000 ounces ($2/groom) 1200 ounces ($3/groom)
Grooming Labor 1.5 hrs/groom @ $12 2.25 hrs/groom @ $11.50
To: ENGL-315-45 Classmates
From: Student
Date: August 5, 2018
Subject: What keeps the black market in business
Every day billions of goods and services are exchanged on the
world's markets. We see this in retail stores, securities
exchanges, and other avenues. These mediums of exchange are
regulated by governments and commissions that seek to ensure
the smooth, fair, and legal transfer of goods. However, this is
also another way consumers can get access to the products and
services they desire while flying under the government's radar.
This is through what is referred to as the black market.
The black market can be defined as a market with several types
of illegal trading of both goods and services, which cannot
satisfy demand due to scarcity or heavy taxation. Therefore, a
market can be referred to as the “black market” mainly because
of three reasons;
1. The illegal structure of the transaction.
2. The illegal nature of services or goods sold.
3. The illegal structure of transaction as well as the illegal
nature of services or products being transacted.
The black market is rumored to be equal or more significant
than most legal demands regarding market capitalization.
According to Havocscope, the current value of the globe’s black
markets stands at 1.81 trillion dollars. However, this is not the
real worth of the black market capitals, since the Black market
is characterized by a secret nature, which makes it hard to
ascertain its actual quality. The constant rise of the black
market value and black market trade can attribute the fact to the
legislation put in place for the moderation of controlled
services.
Some of the reasons that make the of what keeps the black
market in business:
• Unrecorded transactions
• Licensing restrictions
• Outlawed controlled substances
Unrecorded transactions
Almost all of the operations performed in these black markets
are unrecorded. The reason why people trade services or goods
in the black markets, is because such people do not want to
incur the taxation of illegal products or services. However, we
cannot deny the fact that some individuals engage in black
market trade, just because they were unaware that there are laws
they are not adhering to. An example of how people can find
themselves participating in black market services without
knowing is when they hire housekeepers but do not realize they
are meant to pay employment taxes.
Licensing restrictions
Another reason that makes people endeavor in black market
transactions is that of the licensing restrictions that are imposed
by the government on the many occupations, making individuals
who cannot cope with the enormous fees engage in black
markets. In some situations, the process of acquiring the
required licenses for operating a particular business can be
costly to a businessperson, not forgetting the long process it
takes to do it.
Outlawed controlled substances
The argument over whether an outlawing controlled substance
leads to the growth of the black market is a long-standing one.
This measure which aimed at deterring the use of controlled
substances has associations with the constant growth of the
black market. The scarcity of controlled substances leads to a
higher demand for these substances. Most of these controlled
substances cannot be found in the regular markets, which makes
the black market the only market containing them.
Here, I provide subheadings for a reason such as unrecorded
transactions, licensing restrictions, outlawed controlled
substances. These shortened subheadings can enable a reader to
easily and quickly get a glimpse of the reasons. The explanation
that follows the subtitles enhances understanding.
Student
College Business Management
Reference:
https://www.havocscope.com/market-value/
Rapid River Drive
Houston, TX 09876
February 16, 2012
Francine Page
Champlain College
PO Box 670
Burlington, VT 05401
Subject: Progress towards Week 1 goals as a workplace writer
Dear Francine:
As one of the assignments for Week 1 of this course, you asked
each of us to identify personal goals that we hoped to
accomplish by taking this course. I would like to revisit each of
those goals as a basis for my final learning letter.
My goals in Week 1 were to do the following:
· Develop a more personal writing style that reflects who I am
but that remains formal enough for my company’s culture
· Enhance my day-to-day writing skills to make it easier to
respond professionally to readers with varying levels of
technical expertise
· Increase my ability to write meaningful and more direct
correspondence by using structures that clarify meaning
To use these goals as main headings for my final letter, I’ve
revised them for conciseness:
· Develop a more personal writing style
· Enhance my day-to-day writing skills
· Increase my ability to write meaningful and more direct
correspondence
Develop a more personal writing style
In my current job as a Network Defense Manager, I have a daily
obligation to communicate with my superiors, coworkers,
subordinates, and third party organizations to accomplish my
tasks. Most of my correspondence is via the use of email
messages. I have learned that effective communication is an
important factor in my job. That is the only way that work gets
done.
A strength of my personal style has always been my ability to
gather information and collect factual data. Concrete,
indisputable data serves as justification for my response and
feedback. Providing my factual details in my correspondence
also allows the recipient(s) to review my sources and references
to either accept my information or lead to further discussions on
the topic at hand.
In Week 1 of the course, I began to add to my well-researched
messages a couple of more personal touches that I believe have
been effective with my readers. For example, I now open my
emails with a brief, friendly greeting and a Plain English
version of the main point I want to make. I usually sign my
emails.
Enhance my day-to-day writing skills
My daily obligation to communicate with my superiors,
coworkers, subordinates, and third party organizations affords
me the chance to work on enhancing my day-to-day writing
skills. Taking this course has really opened my eyes to
conducting personal evaluations of my writing. For example,
I’ve set up my work computer so that I can run my MS Word
Spelling & Grammar checker before sending off important email
messages. I may have scores that show I’m using more technical
terminology than I used for in my illustrated business-style
report, but I try to use shorter sentences now when I’m
explaining highly technical processes. Here’s an example from a
recent email:
Here’s how to identify Spam in your AOL account:
· If you haven’t already set up your computer to send suspected
Spam messages to a special Spam folder, set it up now.
· When a Spam message appears in this folder, right-click the
sender address.
· View the pull-down menu as shown below.
· At the bottom of the above menu will be “View Message
Source.” (See below.)
· Here’s where you can make a decision about whether the
message is really from a trusted source—or not.
Notice that I’m also making use of an illustration/screen shot to
explain technical material. I find that I can save words and
increase understanding by explicitly introducing and following
up on illustrations I use.
The greatest opportunity to improve my writing skills that I
have discovered, however, while in this course, is peer review.
I don’t believe there is a better way to improve your writing
skills than having another person review your work. This is
commonly referred to as a having a “second pair of eyes” look
at your writing. I now ask one or another of my co-workers,
depending on the topic, to read a sensitive message if I’m not
feeling confident about the tone of voice that might be coming
through to the reader. Just getting one other person’s quick
impression can make the difference between a reader taking
what I’m saying in the way I intend it—or not!
Finally, our quick review of basic punctuation in Weeks 2 and 3
got me to thinking a little more clearly about such things as
when to use a colon as opposed to a semicolon. In the past, I
often used a semicolon to introduce a list, when a colon was
what I needed.
Here’s an example from an early draft of my illustrated report:
Online backup
This is slightly more difficult, but still relatively simple; Create
a Carbonite account, download and
install the client, select the folders you want to keep safe, wait
for the backup to complete.
Here’s how I’d present this information today: Online
backup
Online backup is slightly more difficult than USB backup, but
still relatively simple:
· Create a Carbonite account
· Download and install the client
· Select the folders you want to keep safe
· Wait for the backup to complete
Notice that I’d not only use a colon (rather than a semicolon) to
introduce my list but that I’d bullet the steps in the process to
make them easier to understand.
Applying more effort to verifying documents that I draft or
produce is one goal that I constantly struggle with because once
I have drafted an email or a document, I do not want to exert
any more effort into checking the document for clarity, errors,
etc. Often, I feel as though drafting the document has taken a
lot of energy to accomplish and I have so much other work to do
that I can’t afford to waste any time to review the information I
wrote.
However, my supervisor reminds me from time to time when I
make simple grammatical errors on administrative paperwork
such as leave and overtime requests that I submit. These
documents are already in template form; all I have to do is fill
in the pertinent information that takes minimal amount of time.
Making these repeated mistakes forces me to ask myself, “If I
am making errors on simple documents, what errors am I
making on larger, more important documents?” Our review of
punctuation has increased my determination to take a second
look at the correctness of even routine kinds of writing that I
do.
Increase my ability to write meaningful and more direct
correspondence
The analytical thinker within me has a tendency to ramble.
Increasing my ability to write meaningful and more direct
correspondence involves learning how to get to the point.
Throughout the course, I learned that the bottom line up front
(BLUF) method works really well against combatting the
“ramble.” BLUF helps me to stay on topic and helps to provide
a “blueprint” of the message I am preparing to draft.
I’ve discovered that this main point (Bottom Line) can be in a
number of places, but that it definitely needs to be in a Subject
Line and first paragraph. I believe this letter illustrates my new
habit of including my main point or topic in at least these two
places. I include the topic of my letter in a Subject slot (see
above), and I include it again in my opening paragraph with the
words “I would like to revisit each of those goals as a basis for
my final learning letter.”
To further help readers access documents, I’ve begun to use a
blueprint and have been trying to develop the habit of starting
with a main point. Especially when conveying somewhat
technical information, I’ve found that taking a minute or two to
jot down the two or three main parts of it helps me to get myself
organized. It seems to help my readers as well—I don’t seem to
be getting as many replies with questions that suggest that my
reader has read only my first paragraph or so! Using a blueprint
(see above) has certainly helped me write this final letter
without too much rambling.
Ultimately, I believe I’ve made some progress towards the three
goals I set in Week 1 with the intention of becoming a more
clear and readable workplace writer. I’ve gotten used to
receiving advice from others and have become a little more
confident in giving it to others. Just talking about writing in a
specific, practical way has been helpful.
Sincerely,
Jacob Landless
From: Student
To: Teacher
Subject: Goals as a workplace writer
Date: July
Here are my goals;
· Improve in logical organization and sequencing of my
documents.
I want to improve on how I logically group and tier my
information to enable my audience to readily identify
significant details as well as delineate essential information
from the background information I will have provided. I want to
ensure that my documents start in the best manner and the
information moves and closes clearly and logically.
· Improve on the clarity and accuracy of my writings.
I consider myself a good writer, but there is a need to improve
on the clarity and accuracy of my work. Writing more concisely
and ensuring that the content is clear is a key priority. I should
be clear about my objectives of writing to ensure that my target
audience is well convinced with my work.
· Learn to better use PowerPoint and its tools.
I am aware of the 7x7 rule when it comes to writing
PowerPoint. However, at times I fail to use the speaker notes to
elaborate more on my content. I intend always to use the
speaker notes section to enhance understanding.
· Gain a better understanding of business-style reports.
I understand the structure of the report varies based on the
nature of the story. I need to differentiate when to use formal
or informal reports to communicate professionally.

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1 ACC 202 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric Ove.docx

  • 1. 1 ACC 202 Final Project Guidelines and Rubric Overview Successful entrepreneurs understand all aspects of business, especially costs and costing systems. Managerial accounting provides a framework for strategic analysis and planning with regard to cost behaviors and costing systems. In this final project, you have the opportunity to act as an entrepreneur and apply managerial accounting principles to evaluate and manage costs related to your products within a costing system. Additionally, you will demonstrate your ability to communicate your findings effectively to internal stakeholders, just as an actual business owner would need to do. Specifically, you will assume the role of the owner of a hypothetical small business. In your milestone work, you will develop financial strategies prior to opening your business. For the final submission, you will create a presentation for your investors after your business has been in operation for a certain period of time. You will use the provided scenarios to complete your project. The project is divided into three milestones, which will be submitted at various points throughout the course to scaffold learning and ensure quality final submissions. These milestones will be submitted in Modules Two, Four, and Five. The final product will be submitted in Module Seven.
  • 2. In this assignment, you will demonstrate your mastery of the following course outcomes: -202-01: Apply fundamental costing systems to optimize operations within a business -202-02: Assess financial performance to communicate financial planning strategies to internal stakeholders -202-03: Leverage fundamental managerial accounting methods to support the mission of an organization Prompt In a detailed presentation (12 to 15 slides in length, plus speaker notes and an addendum), explain and defend your costing strategies (i.e., the business plan created in your first and second milestones) and share your business’s performance to-date (i.e., the work from your third milestone). Be sure to effectively communicate to your stakeholders by breaking down concepts and using investor-friendly language to build their trust and confidence. Specifically, the following critical elements must be addressed. Most of the critical elements align with a particular course outcome (shown in brackets). I. Introduce your presentation A. Outline your company’s profile, including its name, location, and mission and vision. B. Explain for your investors the purpose of the presentation. What do you plan to communicate, and why should your
  • 3. investors pay attention? In other words, try to persuade your investors that the accounting information you are about to share is important. [ACC-202-03] C. Explain and defend your methods for generating the information that you are about to share in terms of your adherence to industry standards and the AICPA code of ethics. In other words, why should your investors trust that you are delivering accurate financial data and that your decision-making process has been ethical? [ACC-202-03] 2 D. Specifically, be sure to illustrate how your managerial accounting methods support the mission of your organization, using examples. [ACC-202- 03] II. Financial Strategy: Review your original business plan and costing strategies using the prior-to-opening scenario information. A. Justify your use of job order costing. Be sure to compare and contrast the various costing systems you learned about in this course as part of your defense. [ACC-202-01] B. Explain and defend the selling prices that you established for grooming, day care, and boarding. Be sure to reference your cost-volume-profit
  • 4. analysis in your defense. [ACC-202-02] C. Explain and defend your selected target profits for each area of your business. Be sure to reference your cost-volume-profit analysis in your defense. [ACC-202-02] D. Explain and defend your contribution margin per unit and contribution margin ratio. Be sure to reference your cost- volume-profit analysis in your defense. [ACC-202-02] III. Financial Statements: Assess your financial performance to- date using the post-opening scenario information. A. Financial Statements 1. Share the statement of cost of services and logically interpret the business’s performance against the provided benchmarks. [ACC-202- 02] 2. Share the income statement and logically interpret the business’s performance against the provided benchmarks. [ACC-202-02] B. Variance Analysis 1. Identify all variances for the direct labor time and the materials price. [ACC-202-02] 2. Evaluate the significance of the variances in terms of the potential to impact future budgeting decisions and planning. [ACC-202-02] IV. In an addendum, submit your completed workbook, including the following:
  • 5. A. Accurately classify all of your costs in the “Cost Classification” tab. [ACC-202-01] B. Conduct a cost-volume profit analysis: 1. Determine your contribution margin per unit and contribution margin ratio in the “Contribution Margin Analysis” tab. [ACC- 202-01] 2. Determine your break-even points for achieving your target profits in the “Break-even analysis” tab. [ACC-202-01] Milestones Milestone One: First Part of Workbook In Module Two, you will submit the “Cost Classifications” and “Variable_Fixed” tabs in your provided final project workbook. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone One Rubric. 3 Milestone Two: Second Part of Workbook In Module Four, you will submit the “Contribution Margin Analysis” and “Break-even Analysis” tabs in your provided final project workbook. This milestone will be graded with the Milestone Two Rubric. Milestone Three: Final Workbook In Module Five, you will submit “COS Schedule,” “Income Statement,” and “Variances” tabs in your provided final project workbook. This milestone will be
  • 6. graded with the Milestone Three Rubric. Final Submission: Presentation to Investors In Module Seven, you will submit your final project. It should be a complete, polished artifact containing all of the critical elements of the final prompt. It should reflect the incorporation of feedback gained throughout the course. This submission will be graded with the Final Project Rubric. Deliverables Milestone Deliverable Module Due Grading One Cost Classification Tabs Two Graded separately; Milestone One Rubric Two Financial Scope of the Business Plan Four Graded separately; Milestone Two Rubric Three Draft Presentation to Investors Five Graded separately; Milestone Three Rubric Final Submission: Presentation to Investors Seven Graded separately; Final Project Rubric Final Project Rubric Guidelines for Submission: Your presentation to investors must be at least 12–15 slides plus speaker notes, and all citations should follow APA formatting. Critical Elements Exemplary (100%) Proficient (85%) Needs Improvement (55%) Not Evident (0%) Value
  • 7. Introduce: Company’s Profile Meets “Proficient” criteria and judiciously includes details relevant to the target audience of the presentation Outlines the company’s profile, including its name, location, and mission and vision Outlines the company’s profile but fails to include its name, location, and mission and vision Does not outline the company’s profile 3 4 Introduce: Purpose [ACC-202-03] Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates nuanced appreciation for the role of managerial accounting in ethically supporting the mission of an organization
  • 8. Explains the purpose of the presentation, including a persuasive case for the importance of the accounting information to be shared Explains the purpose of the presentation, but fails to fully or persuasively make a case for the importance of the accounting information Does not explain the purpose of the presentation 7 Introduce: Defend of Methods [ACC-202-03] Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates nuanced appreciation for the role of managerial accounting in ethically supporting the mission of an organization Explains and defends the methods for generating the information in the presentation in terms of their adherence to industry standards and the AICPA code of ethics
  • 9. Explains the methods for generating the information in the presentation, but fails to fully defend the methods in terms of their adherence to industry standards and the AICPA code of ethics Does not explain the methods for generating the information in the presentation 7 Introduce: Support the Mission [ACC-202-03] Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates nuanced appreciation for the role of managerial accounting in ethically supporting the mission of an organization Illustrates how the managerial accounting methods support the mission of the organization using specific examples Discusses how the managerial accounting methods support the mission of the organization, but fails to fully or accurately illustrate using specific
  • 10. examples Does not discuss illustrate how the managerial accounting methods support the mission of the organization 7 Financial Strategy: Costing Systems [ACC-202-01] Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates keen insight into key cost behaviors and cost systems Justifies the use of job order costing by comparing and contrasting the various costing systems covered in the course Discusses the use of job order costing but fails to fully or accurately justify its use by comparing and contrasting the various costing systems covered in the course Does not discuss the use of job order costing 6
  • 11. Financial Strategy: Selling Prices [ACC-202-02] Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates strategic ability to propose costing solutions supported by the financial data Explains and defends the selling prices for grooming, day care, and boarding by citing financial data from the cost-volume- profit analysis Explains the selling prices for grooming, day care, and boarding, but fails to fully or accurately defend each price by citing financial data from the cost-volume-profit analysis Does not explain the selling prices for grooming, day care, and boarding 8 Financial Strategy: Target Profits [ACC-202-02] Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates strategic ability to propose costing solutions supported by the financial data
  • 12. Explains and defends the target profits for each area of the business by citing financial data from the cost-volume-profit analysis Explains the target profits for each area of the business, but fails to fully or accurately defend each one by citing financial data from the cost- volume-profit analysis Does not explain the target profits for each area of the business 8 5 Financial Strategy: Contribution Margin [ACC-202-02] Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates strategic ability to propose costing solutions supported by the financial data Explains and defends the
  • 13. contribution margin per unit and contribution margin ratio by citing financial data from the cost-volume-profit analysis Explains the contribution margin per unit and contribution margin ratio, but fails to fully or accurately defend each by citing financial data from the cost-volume- profit analysis Does not explain the contribution margin per unit and contribution margin ratio 8 Financial Statements: Statement of Cost of Services [ACC-202-02] Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates sophisticated ability to evaluate critical performance measures for strategic planning Shares the statement of cost of services and logically interprets the business’s performance
  • 14. against the provided benchmarks Shares the statement of cost of services, but there are inaccuracies in the statement, or the interpretation has gaps in logic or fails to address the provided benchmarks Does not share the statement of cost of services 6 Financial Statements: Income Statement [ACC-202-02] Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates sophisticated ability to evaluate critical performance measures for strategic planning Shares the income statement and logically interprets the business’ performance against the provided benchmarks Shares the income statement, but there are inaccuracies in the statement or the interpretation has gaps in logic
  • 15. or fails to address the provided benchmarks Does not share the income statement 6 Variance Analysis: Identify [ACC-202-02] Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates sophisticated ability to evaluate critical performance measures for strategic planning Accurately identifies all variances for the direct labor time and the materials price Identifies variances for the direct labor time and the materials price, but fails to fully or accurately identify each Does not identify variances for the direct labor time and the materials price 6 Variance Analysis: Significance of the
  • 16. Variance [ACC-202-02] Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates sophisticated ability to evaluate critical performance measures for strategic planning Evaluates the significance of the variances in terms of their potential to impact future budgeting decisions and planning Evaluates the significance of the variances, but fails to fully or accurately identify their potential to impact future budgeting decisions and planning Does not evaluate the significance of the variances 7 Addendum: Classify Costs [ACC-202-01] Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates keen insight into key cost behaviors and cost
  • 17. systems Accurately classifies all costs in the “Cost Classification” tab of the workbook Classifies costs in the “Cost Classification” tab, but fails to fully or accurately classify each Does not classify costs in the “Cost Classification” tab of the workbook 6 6 Addendum: Contribution Margin [ACC-202-01] Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates keen insight into key cost behaviors and cost systems Determines the contribution margin per unit and contribution margin ratio in the “Contribution Margin Analysis” tab of the workbook
  • 18. Determines the contribution margin per unit and contribution margin ratio in the “Contribution Margin Analysis” tab of the workbook, but fails to fully or accurately complete the analysis Does not determine the contribution margin per unit and contribution margin ratio in the “Contribution Margin Analysis” tab of the workbook 6 Addendum: Break- Even Points [ACC-202-01] Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates keen insight into key cost behaviors and cost systems Determines the break-even points for achieving the target profits in the “Break-even analysis” tab of the workbook Determines the break-even points for achieving the target profits in the “Break-even analysis” tab of the workbook,
  • 19. but fails to fully or accurately complete the analysis Does not determine the break- even points for achieving the target profits in the “Break- even analysis” tab of the workbook 6 Effective Business Communication [ACC-202-02] Meets “Proficient” criteria and demonstrates sophisticated ability to effectively communicate to internal stakeholders Main ideas are clearly communicated and references are properly cited throughout the presentation There are minor issues with the communication of ideas or use of citations that negatively impact the effectiveness of the presentation There are critical errors in the communication of ideas that negatively impact basic
  • 20. comprehension of the presentation 3 Total 100% 7 Appendix Scenario: Prior to Opening, Part I: You plan to open a pet- services business that will offer dog grooming, day care, and boarding. You can be creative in deciding the name of your business (e.g., “Inspiring Dog Care”), its geographical location (e.g., Chicago), and its mission and vision for adding value to the community. You will be asked to make choices for a few other details to customize your case; otherwise, you should use the information below. There are 12 kennels (single dog only) and the day care area can house 10 large dogs and 12 small dogs each day. The grooming facility is 200 square feet, the boarding facility is 2,500 square feet, and the day care is 1,500 square feet. Your groomer can groom five dogs a day for five days a week; each groom consists of 1.5 labor hours. You also offer dog day care six days a week, and kenneling every day. You have taken out a loan for start-up
  • 21. costs and the monthly payment is $420; it goes into effect immediately and should be accounted for in your costs. With limited cash contribution and loan funding, you located two angel investors. You will collect a modest draw for the first year of $600 a month; remember to divide evenly among the services. Note: For simplicity, base all calculations using 30 days in each month. You estimate the following staffing needs: week 22 eight-hour days per month a week work 22 eight-hour days per month A complete list of additional costs is provided below: bowls: $3.59/unit o Daycare: Two bowls last for every 75 dogs that attend daycare. o Boarding: Two bowls last for every 100 dogs that are boarded; you need two bowls per kennel. o Grooming: Each bowl lasts for 20 grooms and you need four bowls at all times.
  • 22. $1,000 sed on square footage 8 based on square footage -gallon pail, which can be used for 100 grooms o Day care: You need to have 12 towels for every 25 dogs. o Boarding: You need to have 12 towels for every 40 dogs.
  • 23. o Grooming: You need to have two towels for every groom per day. -inch straight is $194.99, and (1) ear-and-nose is $7.49; each can be used for 200 grooms. -pack; one toy will last for two dogs in day care, per day. o Odoban: $14.55/gallon: Each area will dilute 1 oz to 1 gallon of water; allocate based on square footage. o Simple Green: $15.66/gallon: each area will dilute 1 oz to 1 gallon of water; allocate based on square footage. Scenario: Prior to Opening, Part II: Your market research indicated the following price ranges as optimal for your area: o With pricing at $18 per dog per day, you can expect to have 22 dogs per day. o With pricing at $20 per dog per day, you can expect to have 15 dogs per day. o With pricing at $25 per dog per day, you can expect to have 10 dogs per day. o With pricing at $25 per dog per day, you can expect to have 12 dogs per day. o With pricing at $28 per dog per day, you can expect to have
  • 24. 10 dogs per day. o With pricing at $30 per dog per day, you can expect to have 7 dogs per day. o With pricing at $25 per groom, you can expect to do 5 grooms per day. o With pricing at $30 per groom, you can expect to do 4 grooms per day. o With pricing at $35 per groom, you can expect to do 3 grooms per day. Additionally, you need to compare your break-even points for the following target profits for each area of your business: 9 o Break-even o $417 target profit each month o $667 target profit each month o Break-even o $583 target profit each month o $909 target profit each month
  • 25. o Break-even o $1,000 target profit each month o $1,500 target profit each month Post-opening Scenario: Your angel investors are silent in relation to the business; however, they require board meetings for status updates on the company’s financial health. Therefore, you need to analyze your company’s performance over the last month using the data provided below. Note: Your instructor will create an announcement sharing the income statement data by the end of Module Four. All of the data you need for the cost-of- goods-manufactured statement can be found in the “COS Schedule” tab of your workbook. For your variance analysis, use the following financial data: Direct Materials/Labor Original Projection Actual Shampoo 1000 ounces ($2/groom) 1200 ounces ($3/groom) Grooming Labor 1.5 hrs/groom @ $12 2.25 hrs/groom @ $11.50 To: ENGL-315-45 Classmates From: Student Date: August 5, 2018 Subject: What keeps the black market in business Every day billions of goods and services are exchanged on the
  • 26. world's markets. We see this in retail stores, securities exchanges, and other avenues. These mediums of exchange are regulated by governments and commissions that seek to ensure the smooth, fair, and legal transfer of goods. However, this is also another way consumers can get access to the products and services they desire while flying under the government's radar. This is through what is referred to as the black market. The black market can be defined as a market with several types of illegal trading of both goods and services, which cannot satisfy demand due to scarcity or heavy taxation. Therefore, a market can be referred to as the “black market” mainly because of three reasons; 1. The illegal structure of the transaction. 2. The illegal nature of services or goods sold. 3. The illegal structure of transaction as well as the illegal nature of services or products being transacted. The black market is rumored to be equal or more significant than most legal demands regarding market capitalization. According to Havocscope, the current value of the globe’s black markets stands at 1.81 trillion dollars. However, this is not the real worth of the black market capitals, since the Black market is characterized by a secret nature, which makes it hard to ascertain its actual quality. The constant rise of the black market value and black market trade can attribute the fact to the legislation put in place for the moderation of controlled services. Some of the reasons that make the of what keeps the black market in business: • Unrecorded transactions • Licensing restrictions • Outlawed controlled substances Unrecorded transactions
  • 27. Almost all of the operations performed in these black markets are unrecorded. The reason why people trade services or goods in the black markets, is because such people do not want to incur the taxation of illegal products or services. However, we cannot deny the fact that some individuals engage in black market trade, just because they were unaware that there are laws they are not adhering to. An example of how people can find themselves participating in black market services without knowing is when they hire housekeepers but do not realize they are meant to pay employment taxes. Licensing restrictions Another reason that makes people endeavor in black market transactions is that of the licensing restrictions that are imposed by the government on the many occupations, making individuals who cannot cope with the enormous fees engage in black markets. In some situations, the process of acquiring the required licenses for operating a particular business can be costly to a businessperson, not forgetting the long process it takes to do it. Outlawed controlled substances The argument over whether an outlawing controlled substance leads to the growth of the black market is a long-standing one. This measure which aimed at deterring the use of controlled substances has associations with the constant growth of the black market. The scarcity of controlled substances leads to a higher demand for these substances. Most of these controlled substances cannot be found in the regular markets, which makes the black market the only market containing them. Here, I provide subheadings for a reason such as unrecorded transactions, licensing restrictions, outlawed controlled substances. These shortened subheadings can enable a reader to easily and quickly get a glimpse of the reasons. The explanation that follows the subtitles enhances understanding.
  • 28. Student College Business Management Reference: https://www.havocscope.com/market-value/ Rapid River Drive Houston, TX 09876 February 16, 2012 Francine Page Champlain College PO Box 670 Burlington, VT 05401 Subject: Progress towards Week 1 goals as a workplace writer Dear Francine: As one of the assignments for Week 1 of this course, you asked each of us to identify personal goals that we hoped to accomplish by taking this course. I would like to revisit each of those goals as a basis for my final learning letter. My goals in Week 1 were to do the following: · Develop a more personal writing style that reflects who I am but that remains formal enough for my company’s culture · Enhance my day-to-day writing skills to make it easier to respond professionally to readers with varying levels of technical expertise · Increase my ability to write meaningful and more direct correspondence by using structures that clarify meaning
  • 29. To use these goals as main headings for my final letter, I’ve revised them for conciseness: · Develop a more personal writing style · Enhance my day-to-day writing skills · Increase my ability to write meaningful and more direct correspondence Develop a more personal writing style In my current job as a Network Defense Manager, I have a daily obligation to communicate with my superiors, coworkers, subordinates, and third party organizations to accomplish my tasks. Most of my correspondence is via the use of email messages. I have learned that effective communication is an important factor in my job. That is the only way that work gets done. A strength of my personal style has always been my ability to gather information and collect factual data. Concrete, indisputable data serves as justification for my response and feedback. Providing my factual details in my correspondence also allows the recipient(s) to review my sources and references to either accept my information or lead to further discussions on the topic at hand. In Week 1 of the course, I began to add to my well-researched messages a couple of more personal touches that I believe have been effective with my readers. For example, I now open my emails with a brief, friendly greeting and a Plain English version of the main point I want to make. I usually sign my emails. Enhance my day-to-day writing skills My daily obligation to communicate with my superiors, coworkers, subordinates, and third party organizations affords me the chance to work on enhancing my day-to-day writing
  • 30. skills. Taking this course has really opened my eyes to conducting personal evaluations of my writing. For example, I’ve set up my work computer so that I can run my MS Word Spelling & Grammar checker before sending off important email messages. I may have scores that show I’m using more technical terminology than I used for in my illustrated business-style report, but I try to use shorter sentences now when I’m explaining highly technical processes. Here’s an example from a recent email: Here’s how to identify Spam in your AOL account: · If you haven’t already set up your computer to send suspected Spam messages to a special Spam folder, set it up now. · When a Spam message appears in this folder, right-click the sender address. · View the pull-down menu as shown below. · At the bottom of the above menu will be “View Message Source.” (See below.) · Here’s where you can make a decision about whether the message is really from a trusted source—or not. Notice that I’m also making use of an illustration/screen shot to explain technical material. I find that I can save words and increase understanding by explicitly introducing and following up on illustrations I use. The greatest opportunity to improve my writing skills that I have discovered, however, while in this course, is peer review. I don’t believe there is a better way to improve your writing skills than having another person review your work. This is commonly referred to as a having a “second pair of eyes” look at your writing. I now ask one or another of my co-workers, depending on the topic, to read a sensitive message if I’m not
  • 31. feeling confident about the tone of voice that might be coming through to the reader. Just getting one other person’s quick impression can make the difference between a reader taking what I’m saying in the way I intend it—or not! Finally, our quick review of basic punctuation in Weeks 2 and 3 got me to thinking a little more clearly about such things as when to use a colon as opposed to a semicolon. In the past, I often used a semicolon to introduce a list, when a colon was what I needed. Here’s an example from an early draft of my illustrated report: Online backup This is slightly more difficult, but still relatively simple; Create a Carbonite account, download and install the client, select the folders you want to keep safe, wait for the backup to complete. Here’s how I’d present this information today: Online backup Online backup is slightly more difficult than USB backup, but still relatively simple: · Create a Carbonite account · Download and install the client · Select the folders you want to keep safe · Wait for the backup to complete Notice that I’d not only use a colon (rather than a semicolon) to introduce my list but that I’d bullet the steps in the process to make them easier to understand. Applying more effort to verifying documents that I draft or produce is one goal that I constantly struggle with because once I have drafted an email or a document, I do not want to exert any more effort into checking the document for clarity, errors, etc. Often, I feel as though drafting the document has taken a lot of energy to accomplish and I have so much other work to do
  • 32. that I can’t afford to waste any time to review the information I wrote. However, my supervisor reminds me from time to time when I make simple grammatical errors on administrative paperwork such as leave and overtime requests that I submit. These documents are already in template form; all I have to do is fill in the pertinent information that takes minimal amount of time. Making these repeated mistakes forces me to ask myself, “If I am making errors on simple documents, what errors am I making on larger, more important documents?” Our review of punctuation has increased my determination to take a second look at the correctness of even routine kinds of writing that I do. Increase my ability to write meaningful and more direct correspondence The analytical thinker within me has a tendency to ramble. Increasing my ability to write meaningful and more direct correspondence involves learning how to get to the point. Throughout the course, I learned that the bottom line up front (BLUF) method works really well against combatting the “ramble.” BLUF helps me to stay on topic and helps to provide a “blueprint” of the message I am preparing to draft. I’ve discovered that this main point (Bottom Line) can be in a number of places, but that it definitely needs to be in a Subject Line and first paragraph. I believe this letter illustrates my new habit of including my main point or topic in at least these two places. I include the topic of my letter in a Subject slot (see above), and I include it again in my opening paragraph with the words “I would like to revisit each of those goals as a basis for my final learning letter.”
  • 33. To further help readers access documents, I’ve begun to use a blueprint and have been trying to develop the habit of starting with a main point. Especially when conveying somewhat technical information, I’ve found that taking a minute or two to jot down the two or three main parts of it helps me to get myself organized. It seems to help my readers as well—I don’t seem to be getting as many replies with questions that suggest that my reader has read only my first paragraph or so! Using a blueprint (see above) has certainly helped me write this final letter without too much rambling. Ultimately, I believe I’ve made some progress towards the three goals I set in Week 1 with the intention of becoming a more clear and readable workplace writer. I’ve gotten used to receiving advice from others and have become a little more confident in giving it to others. Just talking about writing in a specific, practical way has been helpful. Sincerely, Jacob Landless From: Student To: Teacher Subject: Goals as a workplace writer Date: July Here are my goals; · Improve in logical organization and sequencing of my documents. I want to improve on how I logically group and tier my information to enable my audience to readily identify
  • 34. significant details as well as delineate essential information from the background information I will have provided. I want to ensure that my documents start in the best manner and the information moves and closes clearly and logically. · Improve on the clarity and accuracy of my writings. I consider myself a good writer, but there is a need to improve on the clarity and accuracy of my work. Writing more concisely and ensuring that the content is clear is a key priority. I should be clear about my objectives of writing to ensure that my target audience is well convinced with my work. · Learn to better use PowerPoint and its tools. I am aware of the 7x7 rule when it comes to writing PowerPoint. However, at times I fail to use the speaker notes to elaborate more on my content. I intend always to use the speaker notes section to enhance understanding. · Gain a better understanding of business-style reports. I understand the structure of the report varies based on the nature of the story. I need to differentiate when to use formal or informal reports to communicate professionally.