Business Problem Memo Research Proposal Students will write a proposal for a memo in which they request authorization to research a problem at their current, or past workplace- a problem with which they have first-hand experience. This might involve adopting a new organizational structure, policy, procedure, product line/piece of equipment; or pursuing a new mission, market, or line or research. First, demonstrate that there is a problem (i.e., providing evidence of its existence and its impact on the company) and then summarize how you would study-- and eventually solve-- the problem if authorized to proceed. Be sure you request permission to find a research-based solution at the end of your proposal. Your proposal should not include any solutions. You will read reliable resources and cite them to propose a research-based solution in your final memo. You should not choose a problem that you already know how to solve. Your proposed solution in the final memo will need to be research-based. Be sure to meet the following requirements: 1. Background and evidence that a problem or need for change exists 2. A research plan and timeline, including an indication of how and when you will present your findings 3. Some indication of what you will need (e.g., release time; support staff; budget; access to sensitive data) to complete research to find the best solution 4. Request permission to work on finding a solution to the outlined problem or need for change This memo proposal should be no more than 250 words (1 page), double-spaced using APA citations (if necessary), and addressed to someone in a position to act on it. Please note, this proposal will be turned in to a complete memo in the Final Business Memo that includes research-based solutions to the problem that you address in this proposal. There should be no solutions listed in this proposal. You do not actually have to conduct research and collect data for this assignment. Your research will be literary research where you find similar organizations who discuss how they solved similar issues or literature from academics or experts in the area. You will turn in the draft of the proposal (not graded, but required) for peer review (done in class Wednesday, November 16). You should also bring a hard paper copy to class for the peer review activity. This is a proposal (not the actual memo itself). You will be assessed according to the following rubric. Criteria Deficient 0< score <7 Adequate 7< score <8 Good 8< score <9 Excellent 9< score <10 Purpose: makes the purpose clear at the onset with a strong thesis/purpose statement Problem: defines a problem with clear evidence of its existence Persuasion: addresses audience concerns, objections, and counterarguments Organization: uses unified, coherent, well-developed sections with effective introduction, transit.

1. Business Problem Memo Research Proposal
Students will write a proposal for a memo in which they request
authorization to research a problem at their current, or past
workplace- a problem with which they have first-hand
experience. This might involve adopting a new organizational
structure, policy, procedure, product line/piece of equipment; or
pursuing a new mission, market, or line or research.
First, demonstrate that there is a problem (i.e., providing
evidence of its existence and its impact on the company) and
then summarize how you would study-- and eventually solve--
the problem if authorized to proceed. Be sure you request
permission to find a research-based solution at the end of your
proposal. Your proposal should not include any solutions. You
will read reliable resources and cite them to propose a research-
based solution in your final memo. You should not choose a
problem that you already know how to solve. Your proposed
solution in the final memo will need to be research-based.
Be sure to meet the following requirements:
1. Background and evidence that a problem or need for change
exists
2. A research plan and timeline, including an indication of how
and when you will present your findings
3. Some indication of what you will need (e.g., release time;
support staff; budget; access to sensitive data) to complete
research to find the best solution
4. Request permission to work on finding a solution to the
outlined problem or need for change
This memo proposal should be no more than 250 words (1
page), double-spaced using APA citations (if necessary), and
addressed to someone in a position to act on it.
Please note, this proposal will be turned in to a complete memo
in the Final Business Memo that includes research-based
solutions to the problem that you address in this proposal. There
should be no solutions listed in this proposal. You do not

2. actually have to conduct research and collect data for this
assignment. Your research will be literary research where you
find similar organizations who discuss how they solved similar
issues or literature from academics or experts in the area. You
will turn in the draft of the proposal (not graded, but required)
for peer review (done in class Wednesday, November 16). You
should also bring a hard paper copy to class for the peer review
activity.
This is a proposal (not the actual memo itself).
You will be assessed according to the following rubric.
Criteria
Deficient
0< score <7
Adequate
7< score <8
Good
8< score <9
Excellent
9< score <10
Purpose:
makes the purpose clear at the onset with a
strong thesis/purpose statement
Problem: defines a problem with clear evidence of its existence
Persuasion: addresses audience concerns, objections, and
counterarguments

3. Organization:
uses unified, coherent, well-developed
sections with effective introduction, transitions, and conclusion
Scope:
uses appropriate scope (not too much or too
little information); provides enough context for those unfamiliar
with the topic; meets the length requirement
Permission: requests permission to study and eventually solve
the problem
Argument: provides sound reasons, rationale, and evidence to
establish the need for change (using APA references, if
necessary)

4. Format and Document Design: uses headings, indents, and white
space for high skim value; follows prescribed format
Style and Tone: uses varied and sophisticated language and
syntax with appropriate tone for the given audience
Mechanics:
uses proper grammar, spelling and
punctuation; uses clear, concise, and varied sentences
PROFESSOR & STUDENT REPLIES
PROFESSOR REPLY QUESTION #1: Good post. Chapter 15 of
your textbook discusses several important elements in victim
profiling. What are several of these elements?

5. STUDENT REPLY #2 STACEY WHITLOW
The population I chose to describe as being vulnerable to serial
and mass murders is LGBT community. This vulnerable
population is four times more likely than non-LGBT people to
experience violent victimization, including murder, rape, sexual
assault, and aggravated or simple assault. LGBT people are
more likely to experience violence both by someone well-known
to the victim and at the hands of a stranger. Important Elements
in Victim Profiling is Physical traits, Marital status, Personal
lifestyle, Occupation, Education, Personal demographics,
medical history, psychosexual history, Court history and Last
activities. “One description is anti-LGBT prejudice at home,
work, or school, which would make LGBT community
particularly vulnerable to victimization in numerous areas of
their everyday life.” Gay (closeted) serial killers were
sometimes more effective because both they and their victims
were living a secret double life. They were already acclimatized

6. to surreptitious behavior covering up what they are and more so
angry at this community because they cannot come out and they
take their rage out, because they were abused by a male in their
childhood. “Much of the research on serial murders has
concentrated on finding similarities among these murders. With
few exceptions, the victims of serial killers have been ignored.
One of the greatest similarities among serial killers is their
consistent choice of victims. The serial Killer preys on people
who tend to be vulnerable or those who are easy to lure and
dominate.” (David Ford 1980s) Closeted people are still
particularly susceptible to victimization by predators. If there
are no witnesses, confidantes, family members are not able to
link the victim’s disappearance to the killer, that gives the killer
an advantage.
From 2007 to 2008, serial killings of Gay men startled the
whole city of San Paolo, Brazil. It was reported by investigators
that the killings occurred during the Great LGBT Parade and
took place in “The Paturis Park” because of which it also has
the name “Paturis Park murders.” It is among those countries
with the most numbers of LGBT people. One of the meeting
points for gay people in Sao Paolo was Paturis Park where they
used to meet. People had hatred towards the LGBT community
which sometimes increased the death of many of the
community. Exactly after two weeks after the Great LGBT
pride, police announced the presence of a serial killer aiming at
gay men. The first killing was reported on 4 July 2007, but it
was believed that the killer claiming himself to be the rainbow
maniac has already preyed on his first victim when a gay male
was found dead in Paturis Park in the same manner. Police
officials explained that the killer has murdered all his victims in
a brutal way showing his hatred towards the Community. They
stated that 11 of 13 victims were shot dead on the forehead with
lowered pants worn by gay males. Police started surveilling the
Paturis Park as all murders occurred there. It was a meeting
point for the LGBT Community. The officials arrested Jairo

7. Francisco Franco. Though the culprit was Franco, he was
released by the court because of the majority vote by jury
members four for not guilty and two for guilty on 23 August
2011.
References:
https://forensicyard.com/rainbow-maniac-of-paturis-park-
murders/
Targets of Predators: Part 1: Chapter 1 “Victims of Serial
Killers”
Profiling Violent Crimes: An Investigative Tool. Chapter 15,
“The Victim in Criminal Profiling”

8. STUDENT REPLY #3 Allie Bullard
Holmes and Holmes (2009) state that "the most obvious element
in the profiling process is a physical description of the victim."
With this in mind for this week's discussion, I believe that
school children are a population that would be vulnerable to
both a serial killer and a mass murderer. As covered in earlier
weeks, a mass murderer has four or more victims in one incident
and does not repeat or have a cool-off period. On the other
hand, a serial killer has 3 or more victims in multiple locations
and with multiple incidents along with a cool-off period. We see
children all too often be the victims of mass murderers with the
all too frequent school shootings that happen all over the
country. In the 2022 school year alone, there have already been
40 school shootings. The Atlanta Monster is an example of a
serial killer targeting children. I believe children are a
vulnerable population because of their lack of knowledge and
ability to fight back. Younger children especially are at times
not believed when they speak up, often being dismissed as
imaginative or just being playful. With them at times
spontaneous decision-making to, for example, run away from
their parents or guardians in large public places or to wander off
because something caught their eye, children can get lost easily
and a lost child is likely to be taken by someone with devious
plans. Holmes and Holmes (2009) again state that a person's
daily activities can be a reason why they are picked by serial
killers. If a child walks home alone from school this can make
them an easy target as well.
References
https://www.edweek.org/leadership/school-shootings-this-year-
how-many-and-where/2022/01
Holmes, R. M., & Holmes, S. T. (2008). Profiling Violent

9. Crimes: An Investigative Tool (4th ed.). SAGE Publications,
Inc. (US).
https://mbsdirect.vitalsource.com/books/9781452241128