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 page (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. That
is, 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 should be
emailed to me and your assigned peer response team by 7:00pm on
W, 4/19 and your polished
Final Draft is due by 7:00pm on R,
4/27.
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. 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.
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. That is, this
section should provide a brief history of your field research. This discussion
should contextualize your team's research so that the client can understand
better 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:
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.
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.
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 style guidelines. 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.
Other Client
Web Project Links:
Formatting Reference | Project
3 Overview | Client Criteria | Client
Research | Oral Progress Report | Considerations
for OPR
421 syllabus | 421
calendar
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