The document provides guidance on writing for business analysis. It outlines a 6-step process for writing documents: prewriting, drafting a framework/outline, revising, editing, proofreading, and publishing. Key aspects of each step are described, such as researching topics, brainstorming, creating an outline, reviewing logical flow, editing for clarity and flow, and proofreading for errors. Technical writing guidelines are also provided, such as using active voice and defining technical terms. The document emphasizes tailoring writing for the intended audience and including only relevant information to effectively convey the writer's intent.
The art of technical writing for York UniversitySusan Visser
As an expert, you know a lot about your area of expertise. Now is the time for you to share what you know so others think of you as an expert. Do this by writing! Writing is hard work, but with these tips, you'll be an expert at that too!
Vince Ricci, University of Tokyo, Center for Innovation in Engineering Education (CIEE).
Please check out the course blog here
http://techwritingtodai.blogspot.com
Special thanks Morimura-sensei, Mr. Entzinger and the CIEE staff.
The art of technical writing for York UniversitySusan Visser
As an expert, you know a lot about your area of expertise. Now is the time for you to share what you know so others think of you as an expert. Do this by writing! Writing is hard work, but with these tips, you'll be an expert at that too!
Vince Ricci, University of Tokyo, Center for Innovation in Engineering Education (CIEE).
Please check out the course blog here
http://techwritingtodai.blogspot.com
Special thanks Morimura-sensei, Mr. Entzinger and the CIEE staff.
Documentation Workbook Series. Step 3 Presenting Information (Technical Writing)Adrienne Bellehumeur
This booklet is part of Step 3 Presenting of the five-step documentation process (Step 1 – Capturing Information, Step 2 – Structuring Information, Step 3 – Presenting Information, Step 4 –Communicating Information, Step 5 – Storing and Maintaining Information). This booklet provides some basic tips, techniques, approaches and exercises for understanding and practicing effective technical writing.
This presentation is part of the material we created for a workshop on technical writing (with specific focus on writing white papers). Sharing it for the use of broader technical community who is interested in technical writing.
We all need to be able to write clear, concise texts that convey our messages. Writing is a difficult skill to master but there are some tips you can learn to help you.
• Learn 8 really easy to use techniques to make your writing clear and effective
• Help your readers by structuring your sentences and paragraphs
• Learn how to adapt your key messages for different audiences
• Adapt your writing style to different formats including policy papers, reports, web writing and writing for social media
This advanced writing skills course is for staff who have to write a variety of texts under time pressure. It is designed for people who work in policy areas who have to express complex issues clearly.
Here are the 10 steps to effective business writing as outlined by Jack E. Appleman in his book. Presented to my colleagues.
Disclaimer: I did not write the book and am in no way affiliated with the author, Jack E. Appleman.
What is a Report?
A report is document that gives a reader information and requires the reader to do something with that information. Report can be used:
• To suggest new ideas and options.
• To ask people to accept a point of view.
• To influence decisions.
• To ask people to make choices between alternative recommendations.
Documentation Workbook Series. Step 3 Presenting Information (Technical Writing)Adrienne Bellehumeur
This booklet is part of Step 3 Presenting of the five-step documentation process (Step 1 – Capturing Information, Step 2 – Structuring Information, Step 3 – Presenting Information, Step 4 –Communicating Information, Step 5 – Storing and Maintaining Information). This booklet provides some basic tips, techniques, approaches and exercises for understanding and practicing effective technical writing.
This presentation is part of the material we created for a workshop on technical writing (with specific focus on writing white papers). Sharing it for the use of broader technical community who is interested in technical writing.
We all need to be able to write clear, concise texts that convey our messages. Writing is a difficult skill to master but there are some tips you can learn to help you.
• Learn 8 really easy to use techniques to make your writing clear and effective
• Help your readers by structuring your sentences and paragraphs
• Learn how to adapt your key messages for different audiences
• Adapt your writing style to different formats including policy papers, reports, web writing and writing for social media
This advanced writing skills course is for staff who have to write a variety of texts under time pressure. It is designed for people who work in policy areas who have to express complex issues clearly.
Here are the 10 steps to effective business writing as outlined by Jack E. Appleman in his book. Presented to my colleagues.
Disclaimer: I did not write the book and am in no way affiliated with the author, Jack E. Appleman.
What is a Report?
A report is document that gives a reader information and requires the reader to do something with that information. Report can be used:
• To suggest new ideas and options.
• To ask people to accept a point of view.
• To influence decisions.
• To ask people to make choices between alternative recommendations.
BUS 210 Project One Management Brief Text-Only VersionOrganizatiVannaSchrader3
BUS 210 Project One Management Brief Text-Only Version
Organizational chart of the SNHU Pet Supply Company’s organizational structure. The outline is as follows:
1. CEO
a. VP Manchester
i. Human Resources
ii. Information Technology
iii. Toys
1. Product Development
2. Merchandising
3. Marketing
4. Sales
5. Supply Chain
6. Retail Operation
iv. Food
1. Product Development
2. Merchandising
3. Marketing
4. Sales
5. Supply Chain
6. Retail Operation
v. Supplies
1. Product Development
2. Merchandising
3. Marketing
4. Sales
5. Supply Chain
6. Retail Operation
b. VP Denver
i. Human Resources
ii. Information Technology
iii. Toys
1. Product Development
2. Merchandising
3. Marketing
4. Sales
5. Supply Chain
6. Retail Operation
iv. Food
1. Product Development
2. Merchandising
3. Marketing
4. Sales
5. Supply Chain
6. Retail Operation
v. Supplies
1. Product Development
2. Merchandising
3. Marketing
4. Sales
5. Supply Chain
6. Retail Operation
Written Assignment RubricRubric for Final ProjectCriterionExceptionalProficientMarginalUnacceptableIntroductionYou effectively establish the context and purpose of the paper.You adequately establish the context and purpose of the paper.You miminally establish the context and purpose of the paper.You ineffectively establish the context and purpose of the paper.Thesis statementYour thesis statement is exceptionally lucid and concise; it effectively explains to the reader what he or she should expect from the paper.Your thesis statement is clearly stated and reasonably concise; it provides the reader a with a coherent preview of the paper.Your thesis statement lacks clarity or is overly complex or wordy; it only partially prepares the reader for the rest of the paper.Your assignment lacks a thesis statement, or the statement is inadequate or incomprehensible.Content developmentYou use carefully chosen, authoritative, and compelling content that demonstrates mastery of the subject; provide an advanced and thoughtful analysis of ideas; present an in-depth synthesis of ideas demonstrating insight and interpretation; and include meticulous references to readings wherever necessary.You use appropriate and relevant content that demonstrates sufficient command of the subject; provide a germane analysis of ideas; and include references to readings.You use somewhat appropriate content that demonstrates limited command of the subject; provide a cursory analysis of ideas that lacks insight and interpretation; and include minimal references to readings.You use inappropriate and irrelevant content, provide little, if any, analysis, and do not include references to readings.ConclusionsYou offer a clear answer to your research question and articulate related outcomes (consequences and implications) through careful reasoning and informed evaluation.You offer a sufficient answer to your research question and state outcomes (consequences and implications) satisfactorily.You offer a weak answer to your research question and state outcomes ( ...
2 pages APA 7th edition due DescriptionChapter1 drafting an effe.docxRAJU852744
2 pages APA 7th edition due
Description
Chapter1 drafting an effective Purpose Statement-Please use the last paper as a framework for this research as a guide for all the chapters.Look at the teacher’s notes which are important feedback as guidance
Assignment-Create a draft for only chapter1 Analysis and Synthesis
Once you have added extra evidence of support, you must utilize your higher order thinking and writing skills. It is not enough to provide an annotated bibliography of what multiple studies have found. In addition, you have to be careful that you are not just summarizing a study that you have read. You must identify the themes that run through multiple studies as a main idea for your writing and then use multiple references to support those themes … or even conflict the themes. One writing strategy to help you focus on the synthesis is to avoid writing sentences that start with “One study demonstrates…” or “Jones and Smith determined …” If you keep the subjects of your sentences as the content that you are discussing, you will be able to show multiple points of evidence by including two or more citations for the theme.
Impactful Research
It is critical that a scholar contributes to the body of knowledge within his/her field that will be impactful to society as a whole. This is evidenced within the dissertation by the Significance section in Chapter 1. In this week, we want you to add to your existing draft of the dissertation by summarizing why your study is significant to your research field or the applied practice. Remember to use citations that demonstrate why this is significant by demonstrating the impact of the possible results.
Information to include for chapter 1
· Section 1
o Narrowing Your Topic
o Writing an Effective Purpose Statement
o Problem Statement, Purpose Statement, and Applied Doctoral Project or Dissertation-in-Practice Question Help
o Alignment of Problem, Purpose, and Questions
o Significance of the Project
o Avoiding Common Mistakes
o Conceptual Framework
Writing an Effective Purpose Statement
An important step in the successful completion of an Applied Doctoral Project/Dissertation in Practice is starting off with an accurate and precise purpose statement.
This document will provide some general ideas or guidelines related to effective purpose statements. Included will be guidance on how to compose them. Finally, you will find some sample purpose statements below so that you can see what your effective purpose statement can look like. All this information comes from faculty who want you to succeed in the process.
General Guidelines
Keep these in mind WHEN to compose THE purpose statement
Good purpose statements:
· Flow from the problem statement and actually address the proposed problem
· Are concise and clear
· Answer the question ‘Why are you doing this project?’
· Match the methodology to your questions
· Hav.
Developing Research-Based Solutions to Problems of Practice ScorinLinaCovington707
Developing Research-Based
Solution
s to Problems of Practice Scoring Guide
CRITERIA
NON-PERFORMANCE
BASIC
PROFICIENT
DISTINGUISHED
Define a problem of practice in an organization.
20%
Does not define a problem of practice in an organization.
Provides a somewhat unclear or inaccurate problem of practice in an organization.
Defines a problem of practice in an organization.
Defines a problem of practice in an organization concisely and incorporates strong support from scholarly sources.
Analyze key findings from two original, peer reviewed research reports from within the last 5 years.
20%
Does not analyze key findings from two original, peer reviewed research reports from within the last 5 years.
Provides somewhat unclear or inaccurate analysis of findings from two original, peer reviewed research reports from within the last 5 years.
Analyzes key findings from two original, peer reviewed research reports from within the last 5 years.
Analyzes key findings from two original, peer reviewed research reports from within the last 5 years, incorporating strong support from scholarly sources.
Evaluate key findings from the research reports.
20%
Does not evaluate key findings from the research reports
Provides a somewhat unclear or inaccurate evaluation of key findings from the research reports.
Evaluates key findings from the research reports.
Evaluates key findings from the research reports, incorporating strong support from scholarly sources.
Propose an evidence based solution to the problem of practice.
20%
Does not propose an evidence based solution to the problem of practice.
Provides an incomplete solution to the problem of practice.
Proposes an evidence based solution to the problem of practice.
Proposes an evidence based solution to the problem of practice, incorporating strong support from scholarly sources.
Convey purpose, in an appropriate tone and style, incorporating supporting evidence and adhering to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards.
10%
Does not convey purpose, in an appropriate tone and style, incorporating supporting evidence and adhering to organizational, professional, and writing scholarly standards.
Conveys purpose, in an appropriate tone or style. Clear, effective communication is inhibited by insufficient supporting evidence and/or minimal adherence to applicable writing standards.
Conveys purpose, in an appropriate tone and style, incorporating supporting evidence and adhering to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards.
Conveys clear purpose, in a tone and style well-suited to the intended audience. Supports assertions, arguments, and conclusions with relevant, credible, and convincing evidence. Exhibits strict and nearly flawless adherence to organizational, professional, and scholarly writing standards.
Apply APA style and formatting to scholarly writing.
10%
Does not apply APA style and formatting to scholarly writing.
Applies APA style and formatting to scholarly writing ...
A step by step guide to report writing Step 1 Choose your top.docxannetnash8266
A step by step guide to report writing
Step 1 Choose your topic
If you are given a list of topics from which to choose, select the one that interests you the most or that may have relevance to your chosen career.
If you are allowed to create your own report topic choose a subject that you want to learn more about and that interests you or is a current problem in your workplace that you wish to address.
Step 2 Read the instructions relating to your assessments as set down in your Course Guide
Always check your course guide to ensure that you are clear about what you are required to do.
• When is the report due?
• How long is it?
• What is the format?
• What is the structure?
• How does this topic relate to the course?
• How does this topic relate to the current area being studied?
Step 3 Analyse the topic
Break the topic into its component parts to understand what the main issue is that must be addressed.
Report topics can usually be divided into three sections:
• Content What is the issue or problem to be addressed?
• Instruction What have you been asked to do in relation to the topic?
• Scope How has the topic been limited – is there a focus on particular organisations/ countries /year(s)?
Underline key words and draw circles around the action/instruction words.
It is really important that you understand what the instruction words are telling you to do.
Step 4 Brain storm – what do you already know about the issue?
A brainstorm is the beginning of a mind map – these random ideas can be organised into a structured mind map that will provide you with a guide for your research and your writing.
• Using your reading, lectures and your own experiences think about what you already know about the problem/issue.
• On a blank piece of paper, write down all the ideas that you think might be related to the subject under review
• Write down where you think you need to go to get information other than from books, journals websites etc. Think about who you know in business who you might be able to interview.
Step 5 Starting your research
Although you are required to read and research widely, it is better to gain an overview of the topic by firstly reading the recommended texts – don’t go straight online unless instructed to do so by your lecturer or tutor.
The texts will give you a broad understanding of .the main ideas, writers and theories associated with the issue.
By familiarising yourself with the key concepts, the next stage of your investigation will be more targeted.
Step 6 Mind mapping
A mind map is a visual way of gathering your ideas about a particular topic.
Mind maps help you to identify the main ideas and what research needs to be conducted to provide the evidence that supports these ideas.
Your mind map is a good time management resource. It will help you focus your search for information more efficiently and to organise your ideas into a coherent and logical structure when you write your .
Theme: Digital Technology in Our Lives
Research Essay 2
Guided Research Writing / Fall 2016
Introduction to Assignment:
We have been exploring the theme of digital technology in our lives, which is related to our earlier
theme of academic integrity and our own experiences in this class. During our written and spoken
discussions, many ideas have arisen, including how much new technology has changed human’s lives
and possibly our brains, opinions and research on multitasking, the benefits and drawbacks of using new
technology, the typical panicked response throughout history when a new kind of technology is created,
and ways to reduce the negative effects of technology in everyday life.
Assignment Requirements:
For this assignment, you will write a 3 to 4 page essay (typed and double-spaced) that answers one of
the following questions:
1. How can new technologies such as the Internet be used most effectively? In other words, how
can we minimize their negative effects and enhance their positive effects?
2. When the written language began to be widely used in Greece in the fourth century B.C.,
Socrates, a philosopher of the time, opposed it, saying that writing was a lot less flexible than
oral language and also that it would have a negative effect on our mind, destroying our ability to
memorize. What are some similar objections to the development of new technology?
3. How have new technologies such as the Internet affected education?
To successfully complete this assignment, you group must support your thesis with a variety of evidence
from at least three of our sources.
• An Assignment that Prevents Plagiarism
(Weimer)
• Digital Nation (Dretzin)
• Does the Internet Make You Dumber (Carr)
• Generation Plagiarism? (Gabriel)
• Mind over Mass Media (Pinker)
• Harvard to Adopt Student Honesty Pledge
(Coughlan)
• Survey: Many Students Say Cheating’s OK
(Slobogin)
• Top Ten Reasons Students Plagiarize & What
You Can Do about It (Cleary)
Due Dates:
Below is a sketch of the required steps in the writing process. Final paper grades may be reduced 5
points for every late or missing assignment. More detailed instructions for each will be given in “Weekly
Assignments” on D2L or in class.
Assignment Due Date and Time Submission Method
Rough Outline Monday, Nov. 21, 8AM Submit to D2L dropbox
Detailed Outline or notes on
possible evidence for each point
Wednesday, Nov. 23, beginning
of class
Bring paper to class
First Draft Friday, Nov. 25, 8AM Submit to D2L dropbox
Peer review Do during class Wed, Nov. 30 Bring paper to class
Final draft Monday, Dec. 5, 8AM Submit to D2L dropbox
This research essay will be graded on the following:
How well have you developed your thesis?
• Does your paper answer the research question in a focused and interesting way?
• Are your main supporting points / claims general enough to be supported by evidence from different
sou ...
Report about your project
learn how to make report on your respective college project.
report on Software, Application, and how to write efficient analytic and gigantic presentation.
Assignment 1 Inventory Management SystemsDue Week 2 and worth 1.docxsherni1
Assignment 1: Inventory Management Systems
Due Week 2 and worth 100 points
Your sister owns a small clothing store. During a conversation at a family dinner, she mentions her frustration with having to manually track and reorder high demand items. She would like an automated system but has a very small budget.
Write a 4-5 page paper in which you create a plan for a low-cost automated inventory system in which you:
· Describe all the necessary equipment.
· Explain the costs involved in the creation of the system.
· Describe the ongoing maintenance that will be required.
· Provide a workflow diagram in Visio or equivalent software to illustrate how the system will work.
Your assignment must:
· Be typed, double-spaced, using Times New Roman font (size 12), with one-inch margins on all sides; citations and references must follow APA or school-specific format. Check with your professor for any additional instructions.
· Include a cover page containing the title of the assignment, the student’s name, the professor’s name, the course title, and the date. The cover page and the reference page are not included in the required assignment page length.
· Include charts or diagrams created in Excel, Visio, MS Project, or one of their equivalents such as Open Project, Dia, and OpenOffice. The completed diagrams/charts must be imported into the Word document before the paper is submitted.
The specific Course Learning Outcomes associated with this assignment are:
· Describe the types of business needs that can be addressed using information technology-based solutions.
· Create requirements for a system through a formal technique that enables a productive change in a way the business is conducted.
· Use contemporary CASE tools in process and data modeling.
· Use technology and information resources to research issues in systems analysis and development.
· Write clearly and concisely about Systems Analysis and Development topics using proper writing mechanics and technical style conventions.
Grading for this assignment will be based on answer quality, logic/organization of the paper, and language and writing skills, using the following rubric.
Chapter 13
Organizing, Writing,
and Outlining Presentations
*
Chapter Outcomes
Organize and support your main points
Choose an appropriate organizational pattern for your speech
Move smoothly from point to point
Choose appropriate and powerful language
Chapter Outcomes (cont.)
Develop a strong introduction, a crucial part of all speeches
Conclude with the same strength as in the introduction
Prepare an effective outline
*
Organizing Your Speech Points
Main points are
The central claims that support your specific purpose and thesis statement
Ideas that will lead the audience to accept or consider what you are asking them to do, believe, or consider
*
Organizing Your Speech Points (cont.)
Identifying your main points
Include about three to four per speech.
Each main point should be one ma ...
Sheet1 your name hereadvertiser #1advertiser #2advertiser #3advert
WritingProcessForBusinessAnalysis-Guide
1. Writing for Business Analysis: Quick Guide
Step 1 Prewriting Process
STEP 2: DRAFTING THE FRAMEWORK (Building the document blueprint)
Creating an Outline
1) Research your topic- get good understanding.
2) Start a brainstorming session; get answers of questions
from “The Pre-writing Process”. From these answers
organize your thoughts with identified elements, ideas, concepts, and
premises as they occur and inspire you.
3) Begin outlining your document with a “list of bullet points” of all “main
messages”.
4) Review, what you wrote. What you thought to be a main point might
wind up as a sub-point or supporting point and vice versa. If so, move
the sub-point under the appropriate main point.
5) Work through this process for a coherent story to evolve.
Limit number of key points between three and five!
Storyboarding
Storyboarding is great tool for detailed
and complex subjects. Writer visualizes
the information.
Advertising and Movie industry uses
storyboards to pitch Ideas to convey a scene-
by-scene feeling for the story in a short
amount of time. Gaps are also exposed in the story.
Writer identifies logical steps in their thought processes.
Mostly outline created transition into a storyboard or storyboard
can be an alternative to an outline. This process of going from an
organized concept to a narrative of the concept into detailed
segments; the storyboard brings the story to life.
Rewrite document using simple, direct writing. Don’t try to be sophisticated. Be concrete (Set up and discuss relevant facts and
keep the material centered on the facts (those elements that can't be contradicted; they are proven to be true, have actually
happened, or actually exist) Be specific: Hone in on the crux of the issue and how it applies to your audience. Maintain your core
message throughout the document or presentation. Include glossary of difficult terms. Avoid run-on sentences (fused
sentences) and jargon
‘to be’ Verbs (is, was, and were): Active vs. Passive voice
Use Active Voice is precise. By identifying ‘the actor’ who performs the action, the active voice doesn't leave the reader in doubt. Passive
sentences often leave out the actor, leaving the reader with questions such as, "To whom is the writer referring?" or "Who is doing that?" Most of the
time, these questions arise subconsciously and therefore tend to take the reader away from your point. The flight WAS cancelled by the airline,
is in the passive voice while The airline CANCELLED the flight is in the active voice. The active voice is more direct, concise and engaging. "To
be" verbs, such as "is," "was" and "were" are indicators of the passive voice. Theoretically, a lower amount of "to be" verbs, maybe present in
less than 20% of sentences, indicates better writing.
Exceptions: Use Passive sentences when you don't want to identify the actor, or receiver is more important than the actor or you want
to avoid a first-person pronoun. or rearranging the Subject with Object (actor)
Writer’sGoals
1)“Easytoread”.
2)Reader‘captivatesthecontents’.
3)Readers’thinkingmatcheswithwriting
styleofthewriter.Theylikewriter,
AUDIENCE
Analysis
Understand
Demographics
Interests
Environment
Needs
Customization
Expectation
2. Step 4: Revising (Validating the logical flow )
Stay consistent with your points, don't stray. Remove any superfluous information and content. Avoid being repetitive.
Support your points with coherent and organized arguments that stand on their own, but are persuasive. Instead, support this
assertion with facts. Background and supporting information should only be included as it pertains to clarifying, defining, or
illuminating points. Edit to highlight your points just as you would trim bushes and shrubbery away from a building to expose
architectural detail.
Editing: In-depth review to ensure the content flows logically and answers questions audience might have.
Words are evaluated for their specific meaning and context. Sentences and paragraphs are rearranged.
Stay in tune with your audience's intent. What is their reason for consuming your message? What is their frame of reference?
At this point, don’t worry too much about typos, spelling, and style details. You can catch them in the proofreading stage.
Proofreading : Spelling and Grammar Counts
Proofreading is the last superficial pass through the document to ensure you’ve captured and corrected any errors in spelling,
grammar, punctuation, etc. It’s time to make sure the document is professional, polished, and ready to be delivered.
CHECKLIST
The writer’s goal: Convey thoughts, concepts, ideas, stories,
and material in a manner that the audience understands.
Filter information through the context of the audience so
that it makes sense, not necessarily to every lay reader, but to your
particular audience.
1) Eliminate words that are not common without altering your
intent and meaning.
2) If the terms can't be replaced, define them for the audience
through glossaries, parenthetical statements, and in text
citations.
3) Read your work from the perspective of the audience to ensure
that your language supports your intent. If it doesn't support your
intent, then modify or eliminate the confusing terms and
language.
4) Make sure that your subject matter is supported with clear,
concise, and common language
Step 5: Publishing
You want Interior and exterior design on your work (Fonts,
page size and styles etc.)
Is your content ready for consumption? If yes, Print, email or
send hard copy to your information consumers.
George Orwell’s Six Rules for writing.
1) Never use a metaphor, simile, or other figure of speech
which you are used to seeing in print.
2) 2. Never use a long word where a short one will do.
3) 3. If it is possible to cut a word out, always cut it out.
4) 4. Never use the passive where you can use the active.
5. Never use a foreign phrase, a scientific word, or a jargon
word if you can think of an everyday English equivalent.
Break any of these rules sooner than say anything outright
barbarous
READABILITY SCORES: A COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS
DID YOU PERFORM A READABILITY TEST?
Flesch-KincaidScore School Level
90 to 100 5th
80 to 90 6th
70 to 80 7th
60 to 70 8th and 9th
50 to 60 high school
30 to 50 college
0 to 30 college graduate
Business Communication
Type/Class Theme Objective
Technical paper,
Manual or
Procedures
Linear Thoughts Inform , Educate
Sales Letter
Persuasive Create a Call To
Action
Story Telling
Emotional Narrate, Educate
Report or Inter
Office Memo etc.
Strictly
Informative
Request a decision,
inform
Executive Summary
Strictly
Informative
Inform , Educate,
Update
Article
Strictly
Informative
Inform , Educate,
Update
Blog
Strictly
Informative
Inform , Educate,
Update
News
Informative Inform , Educate,
Update
Business Planning
Linear & Logical
Thinking
Inform , educate,
request a decision,
create a call to
action
READING SCORE - POPULAR PUBLICATIONS
READER'S DIGEST 65
NEW YORK DAILY NEWS 60
TIME 52
NEWSWEEK 50
WALL STREET JOURNAL 43
NEW YORK TIMES 39
NEW YORK REVIEW OF BOOKS 35
HARVARD LAW REVIEW 32
3. Writing Plans
A business analyst will spend a lot of time writing plans such as:
1. Business plans
2. Project plans
3. Action plans
4. Communication plans
5. Change management plans
6. Training plan
STANDARD COMPONENTS OF PLAN
Section
Description
Executive
Summary
1. Two page summary of the entire plan
2. Includes who, what, where, when, why, how and how much
3. The reader should have a good understanding of the plan by just reading the executive summary
4. It should be written in a tone that excites the reader and makes her/him want to get into the details of
the plan
5. Always write the executive summary after you have finished writing the plan
Background
Provide enough information to orient the reader to the organization’s or department’s current
situation
Include statistics or market research but be brief, concise and relevant
Statement of the
Problem or
Challenge
Identify what the problem is and what impact it has on the organization
Objectives
Outline how you are going to solve the problem
Detail your end goals and expected outcomes
Action Plan
Provide specific activities and milestones to achieve your objectives
Required
Resources
Indicate which personnel need to be involved and the time commitment needed to make this a success
Required
Personnel
Identify which physical resources you are going to need, such as buildings, rooms, equipment, vehicles,
etc.
Time Frame
Outline the short and long term milestones
Provide a detailed timeline using a spreadsheet or gaant chart
Evaluation
Include an evaluation process to measure activities
The evaluation should occur during and on conclusion of the plan
it can be formal (professional auditors) or informal (surveys, after action reviews, exit interviews, etc.)
Metrics Develop effective measures to quantify outcomes
Budget and Budget
Justification
Outline all initial and ongoing costs for the plan
Include capital assets and operational costs
Appendices
Include appendices if you want the reader to have access to have additional information
This can help keep your plan to a manageable size
Reports (Big and Small)
After planning next logical step for BA’s work is thru Post Planning
to Implementation.
Communication of regular reports advising managers of the following
reports:
Status of your project, program, activities, and results. Monthly or
quarterly status reports, annual report, email update, newsletter and
performance measurement report.
Always include solutions, if status of the issue as "there are no
possible solutions at this time", this is just a quick status update, not
a report.
The best report format is one that will fit above the fold (message fit
in one screen – without scrolling down screen) in an email
message.
Report format
Steps Contents Extra Information
Frame the issue(s)
Clearly define the
issue, little
background if
required.
The background may
be needed on new
projects.
Present specific
solutions
Always include
possible solutions.
No solution means a
‘quick status report’
only, not a ‘report’
State the specific
decision(s) that need
to be made
End the report with a
specific action.
Management
decision
Technical Documents
Let’s look at the characteristics of a technical document.
Examples of documents containing technical writing:
technical memos , business scoping documents , business requirements specifications , business use case scenarios
user manuals , training material , risk assessments , business impact analysis and vendor selection criteria
4. Framework for Technical Documents
Section Description
Summary
The purpose of the document
The scope (or context) of the document
The contents
Writer's intent
Follow the 5W questions: who, what, why, where, when, and how.
What are you trying to convey?
Why is it important?
Who are you writing to?
How are you planning to get your point across?
Audience
intent
Assess the intent and reason for needing the conveyed information.
Are there disconnects between your intent and the audience's intent?
What is the common ground?
What is the common thread of disconnect?
How can you rectify that disconnect without losing your intent?
Key points and
concepts
Create an outline and plan for your key points and concepts.
Use a flowchart (or storyboard) to help you visualize the flow of information. Aim for three
optimal key points, but no more than five.
Sub or
supporting
points
Consider your audience can retain three to five key points easily.
Build upon those key points with sub or supporting points.
Keep your focus. Generally, there is no limit to the number of sub points; however, if you
find yourself using too many, you may have been too broad in your characterization of the
parent key point.
Background
and supporting
information
Include background information only as it pertains to clarifying, defining, or illuminating
points.
Keep it specific and germane to the subject matter.
Background information can help to tell a story, but as in all storytelling, too much can lose
the audience by camouflaging your intent.
Superfluous
information
Remove superfluous information and content. We have a tendency to want to show an audience
how much we know, or we may be a little insecure in our presentation. You need to trust that the
information you have gathered and verified will:
Carry its own veracity,
Tell the story effectively without unnecessary detail
The Canadian Press Stylebook (13
th
edition) “the bible” uses Oxford English Dictionary as its authoritative guide for spelling.
Stylebook is standard for universities, colleges, and journalists in the country.
Titles (short titles and long titles)
Do not use titles rarely after the first use., Do not use the courtesy titles Mr., Mrs., Ms or Miss. Refer to a married couple by
their [first names] [last name] when they do not share the same last name, an explanation is necessary
Jane Smith and Erin Michaels, a married couple, do not share a surname.
Title Dr. is only used for ‘licensed health care professionals’ (dentists, veterinarians, and chiropractors etc). For PHD use
doctorate e.g. Jack Turner, a doctor of philosophy
Short Titles
[Short Title] [Given name] [Last Name] on first reference
Director John Edwards was consulted.
Long Titles
Long titles should be offset in apposition (title is placed with name as an explanatory equivalent) as [Given name] [Last
Name] [ , ] [long Title] on the first reference
Jane Rutherford, Acting Dean of Pharmacy, attended the meeting
Dr. David Malloy, Acting Vice-President (Research)
Capitalize the names of universities but not their departments
Numbers
Spell out the numbers one through nine; for 10 and above. Spell out numerals that start a sentence. For ages and
percentages, always use numerals, even for numbers less than 10.
Spell out casual expressions: A thousand times no!
Proper names: use words or numerals according to an organization’s practice: 3M, Twentieth Century Fund, Big Ten
Exception: If the sentence that begins with a calendar year: 1938 was a turbulent year for Leon.
5. Use Arabic numerals (0123456789), use Roman numerals (I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X) only for sequences of people or
animals, wars, monarchs and Popes such as in a lineage: World War II, King George VI, and Pope John XXIII
Do not use commas between other separate words that are part of one number: One thousand one hundred fifty-five
Do not list decades or centuries in the possessive form (i.e.: 1920s not 1920’s)
Large numbers: use a hyphen to connect a word ending in to another word: Twenty-one, one hundred forty-three, seventy-
six thousand five hundred eighty-seven
Cardinal numbers
Cardinal numbers (or cardinals) are numbers that answers the question "How Many?” such as 1, 2, 10, 101, and so on
and the corresponding words — one, two, ten and one hundred one.
Ordinal numbers
Ordinal numbers tells the position of something in a list: 1
st
, 2
nd
, 10
th
, and 101
st
(first, second, tenth, one hundred first and
so on)
Possessives
Use an apostrophe s for all words not ending in s. For those that end in an s, plural words are followed by an apostrophe
alone while singular words are followed by an apostrophe s, unless it would be distracting to speak it aloud with the extra
syllable, in which case use only an apostrophe:
Instructors’ salary. (Plural possessive)
Professor Jones’s class was unruly. (Singular possessive)
Jones and Frank’s proposal was accepted. (Joint possessive)
Abbreviations
Use abbreviations alone if the term is very familiar to most readers. Examples: CBC, RCMP and NDP. When using an
abbreviation that is not well known, write the full name in the first reference with the abbreviation in parentheses. Use the
abbreviation in all subsequent references. It is a good idea to limit
Omit periods in all-caps abbreviations or acronyms, e.g.: COU, MAPS, NSERC, BA, MA and LLD.
Metric symbols are not abbreviations and are followed by a period only when they are at the end of a sentence, e.g., km—
singular and plural.
Use periods in
Geographical: such as U.S., P.E.I., B.C., or a single letter, such as E. or p.
Lower-case or mixed abbreviations such as e.g., i.e., B. Comm., etc.
Periods go at the end of abbreviations like B. Comm., B.Sc., Dr., Aug., Wed., but not abbreviations that begin and
end with a cap, e.g., PhD, PoW, MiG, U of T, etc.
“Ms” as a title of address is not abbreviation for anything so do not use a period. [Note: CP uses a period.]
Do not abbreviate “professor” even as a title of address, “department”, “ March”,” April”, “ May”, “ June” and “July” (CP).
Dates and times
Write out months and days of the week in full. Abbreviate only Jan., Feb., Aug., Sept., Oct., Nov. and Dec. (i.e. don’t
abbreviate “March”,” April”, “ May”, “ June” and “July”; they are already short!).
Dates not abbreviated, but months may be abbreviated when they follow a specific date:
January 2005 was cold, but on Mar. 5, 2005 all changed.
For time, use periods between “a.m.” and “p.m.” When referring to the time at the top of the clock (i.e. whole hours 12, 11,
10 etc.), do not include the zeroes: 7 a.m., 7:30 p.m., midnight, and noon.
Money
Use numerals if preceded by a symbol representing a currency, write it out if not. Use numerals for fractions under 10.
Show U.S., Canadian and other dollars using abbreviations without periods:
$5, five francs, $2 million, a $7-million house, $6.7 million, 2.5 cents, $500 million US, $2 Cdn, 6 cents.
Per cent
Spell out the word "per cent". Do not use the symbol % except in tables, graphics and charts:
Fewer than five per cent of the students attended the lecture.
Student participation increased by 20 per cent.
Telephone numbers
Preferred: 604-555-1212
Acceptable: (604) 555-1212, 604.555.1212
Unacceptable: 604/555/1212, 604/555-1212
References
The Web (Email and Web addresses)
Include the “www” when referencing web address (older browsers will not recognize the address without it) If possible, omit the “http://” or
“https://” from Web addresses that include the www. When deciding whether to include “http://,” “https://” and/or “www.” in web addresses,
test the URLs to make sure they work without these prefixes. Keep email or Web address URL hyperlinks in one piece. Don't insert
hyphens to reflect a line break, as the link will not work.
When a Web address comes at the end of a sentence, finish it with a period. If it is online, make sure the period is not part
of the hyperlink and URLs should be lowercase if they are not case sensitive.
Do not underline or italicize email or Web addresses.
6. Do not use phrases such as "click here" to indicate a hyperlink. The text should make sense without the hyperlinks.
For a passing reference to a website in text, the URL is sufficient; no reference list entry is needed.
Gussie Fink-Nottle has set up a discussion forum for newt fanciers (http://gfnnfg.livejournal.com/).
However, citing a particular document or piece of information from a website, include both a reference list entry and an in-text citation:
Author, A. (date). Title of document [Format description]. Retrieved from http://xxxxxxxxx
E-Books
Whole e-book:
Author, A. (date). TITLE OF BOOK. Retrieved from http://xxxxxxxxx
Author, A. (date). TITLE OF BOOK. doi:xxxxxxxxxxxx
Chapter in an e-book:
Author, A. (date). Title of chapter. In E. Editor (Ed.), TITLE OF BOOK (pp. xx–xx). Retrieved from http://xxxxxxxxx
Author, A. (date). Title of chapter. In E. Editor (Ed.), TITLE OF BOOK (pp. xx–xx). doi:xxxxxxxxxx
DOIs
A digital object identifier (DOI) typically located on the first page of an electronic document near the copyright notice and on the database
landing page for the document. Place the DOI at the end of the reference, and don’t add a period , example:
Author, A. (year). Title of article. JOURNAL TITLE, X, xxx–xxx. doi:xxxxxx
Book with one author
Adair, J. (1988) Effective time management: How to save time and spend it wisely, London: Pan Books.
Book with two authors
McCarthy, P. and Hatcher, C. (1996) Title of the book, Sydney: Allen and Unwin.
Book with three or more authors second or later edition
Fisher, R., Ury, W. and Patton, B. (1991) Title of the book, 2nd
edition, London: Century Business.
Books with an anonymous or unknown author
The University Encyclopedia (1985) London: Roydon.
Journal article
Muller, V. (Year) ‘Title of the Article ’, Name of The Journal, vol. 3, August, pp. 103-107