Your team's target document is a collaboratively written recommendation report
which comments upon the potential for either the construction and maintenance
of a Web site (feasibility study) or revisions to an already existing page (usability
study). This document should effectively mediate between the client's needs
and the course's goals for this project. Your team's work should reflect consideration
of both the client's desires and resources and the class's criteria for the
research and production of a professional recommendation report.
Your completed 1st Draft of the Recommendation Report is due Sunday,
December 1st at 9pm. Students will read
over the reports in preparation for in-class peer review on Monday, December
2. The final draft of your recommendation report is due by 6pm
on Friday, December 6.
Directions for Submission: You should bring
the printed version of the project to ENAD 233. The electronic
version (and all supporting files, if any) should be sent to me (and all team
members) by 6pm also. Email my copy to jbay@purdue.edu.
Purposes
The purpose of the report is to communicate directly to the client,
both visually and verbally, feasible steps that its organization could take
in order to better utilize the potentials of the Web for promotion, ecommerce,
archiving information, or client relations. Your recommendations should focus
upon a few well-researched options that the client could implement immediately.
These options, however, also must enhance the client's long-term Web communications
plans. Although you may need to pay some attention to logistical issues, such
as ISPs, software programs, and the like, your report should not simply consist
of a how-to manual for creating basic Web pages. Refer the client to such information
and focus instead on recommendations espcially suited to the client's goals
and rhetorical context. It is expected that all teams will submit their report
to the client upon completion of the project as a professional courtest and
to reciprocate for the good will of the client in working with Purdue University
students.
Report sections
Your 7-9 page (not including appendices), single-spaced, full-blocked report
should integrate visuals throughout and will have 7 main components:
1. Title page
2. Overview
3. Analyses
4. Recommendations
- Description
- Rationale
- Plan
5. Cost Analyses
6. List of Resources
7. Appendices
Description
of report sections
Your recommendation report, addressed directly to the client, must include
the following sections.
Title page
Should include the title of the report, the client for which the report
is produced, the authors' names, and the date on which the report is submitted
to the client.
Overview
Should provide a brief description of the report, including a general analysis
of the client's needs and the team's proposed responses to those needs.
Analysis
Should contextualize the report within the larger project. This
section should provide a brief history of your field research. This discussion
should contextualize your team's research so that the client can better understand
the process that your team followed in order to formulate its recommendations.
Recommendations
As mentioned above, your team should highlight a few manageable options
that the client can implement in order to meet its long-term Web communication
goals. Whether you are conducting a feasibility or usability study, each of
your recommendations should include the following 3 components:
a description should explain to the client the steps or actions that you are advocating. Your description should provide specific details from your research in relationship to the client's context and needs.
a rationale should explain the why of your support of this particular action; explain to the client both why your team sees this action as feasible and how this action will benefit the client both immediately and in the long term.
a plan should describe to the client the specific steps necessary for the implementation and maintenance of this recommended action. Your discussion should also include a timeframe for these steps. Again, provide specific details from your field research.
Cost
analyses
Should provide an analysis and estimate of the cost factors involved in
your client's implementation and maintenance of your team's recommendations.
In addition to your written summary, your team should provide this information
to the client in the form of table(s) which break down the costs for each
recommendation, as well as for all the recommendations combined. Some cost
factors to consider include personnel, hardware, software, internet access,
maintenance, etc.
List of sources
Should reference all internal and external sources consulted throughout
the research process including those sources related to costs and expenditures.
These sources should be formatted following APA or MLA style guidelines (just be consistent). For
instructions, consult Purdue's
Online Writing Lab.
Appendices
Should include documents that support and enhance your recommendations
to the client. Potential attachments include technical documentation,
instructions, glossaries, illustrations of pages, a diagram of potential
Web page layout, etc.