As noted in the project overview, you will develop your deliverable(s) after consulting with your client about the proposal. Unit 3, however, also requires that you offer an oral progress report to the class on your work in this project.

The deliverables for this unit include:

OPR (Oral Progress Report) delivered to class, and

client deliverable(s).

On this node, you will find all information that you need to complete unit 3 including required readings and recommended resources. If you have any questions about deadlines, please refer to the course calendar. If you have any questions about using the materials located on this page, feel free to contact me (kimmehea@u.arizona.edu, 621-1780, or 663-3500).

Please Note: Unit 3 is worth 25% of your total course grade with the OPR counting as 5% and the deliverable counting as 20%.


How can I maintain a stakeholder relationship with my client?
Once you have your client's approval, you need to consider a new stage in your client-consultant relationship--client maintenance. This stage is very important--you must continue to work from an ethic of mutual respect and stakeholding. Make appointments and keep them. Provide updates about your progress. Note possible changes to the project as those arise. In short, keep your client informed without burdening the organization in terms of time or other resources. Following your plan as stated in your proposal will help to ensure a strong client-consultant relationship.


What is the OPR and how should my team prepare?
In addition to keeping your client updated about your progress toward complete the deliverable(s), you and your team will provide the class with a formal update on your progress. This Oral Progress Report (OPR) will require you to prepare a presentation accompanied by PowerPoint slides and deliver that presentation to our class. These 10-minute presentations offer you and your peers an opportunity to share information and resources about the client project as well as practice your oral delivery skills.

suggested readings
Read pages 220-229 in The Business Writer's Companion.

project overview
Your team should give an overview of your presentation. Note: Your overview section should summarize the content of your presentation not the course project.

client context
Your team should discuss your client context. Who is your client? What is its mission and history? Who are the clients served by your organization? What are some of the particular points of interest about the organization and its constituency? Also, explain your relationship with your client. Access the rapport that you have established with your client and offer some goals you have for maintaining the relationship.

research & project development
Your team should discuss your research results and explain how your project deliverable(s) addresses the needs of your client. That is, your assessment of your client's needs should be supported by your field research not by uncomplicated, overgeneralizations about the benefits of your selected deliverable(s). You also should note here any changes that you made or are in the process of making in regards to the target deliverable(s).

project progress & timeline
Most importantly, your team should outline your progress toward creating the deliverable(s) as well as remaining tasks for the deliverable(s) completion. This section needs to provide specific accomplishments, goals, and steps in your team's progress. In addition, offer remaining tasks including further research, drafting, and revising timelines for your work.

slide show
Your team should integrate visuals throughout the presentation. Those visuals should be included on a series of well-design PowerPoint slides. A nicely paced program should include anywhere from 8-10 slides. Remember slides enhance a presentation. Those slides should provide cues not entire scripts for your discussion. I will provide more specific guidelines in terms of design and formatting expectations during our class meetings.

How do I develop the client deliverable(s)?
Based upon your client's response to the proposal, you and your team will have to begin producing the deliverable(s). At this point, you and your teammates are responsible for project management and deadline setting. The frequency of meetings, the patterns for planning, drafting, and revising portions of your deliverable(s) must be coordinate by all of you with your client as a guide. I, too, would welcome the opportunity to meet, discuss, and work with your developing projects. I am available for consultation, and so please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about this stage of the project.


When do I turn in my unit 3 materials for evaluation?
Please see the course calendar for relevant due dates and be certain to read the course update messages for further details about the project.


How can I learn more about progress reports & PowerPoint presentations?
To find out more about creating professional emails, progress reports, and PowerPoint presentations, please review these sites:

progress reports
Progress Reports
by Kevin Karplus
http://www.cse.ucsc.edu/~karplus/185/s96/node14.html

Progress Reports
from Guidelines for Engineering and Science Students
http://fbox.vt.edu/eng/mech/writing/workbooks/prog.html

A Progress Report on Information Literacy (Use as an example of report.)
by Association of College & Research Libraries
http://www.ala.org/acrl/nili/nili.html


PowerPoint presentations
Using Microsoft PowerPoint
by Maharishi University of Management
http://www.mum.edu/helpdesk/tutorials/powerpoint-tut.html

Deliver your Presentation, a site with links to PowerPoint tutorials
by Allyn & Bacon
http://www.abacon.com/pubspeak/deliver/ppoint.html

Other Course Links:
syllabus | calendar | memo | overview of units 1-4 | unit 1 | unit 2 | unit 4 | job materials portfolio | formatting reference