Justification Report – Part 3 help
In Assignments 2.1 (Part 1) and 2.2 (Part 2) of the Justification
Report, you built up the major parts of your formal, researched
justification report (Problem Statement, Overview of Alternatives,
Criteria, Methods, Evaluation of Alternatives, Findings and Analysis,
and References). For Part 3 you will begin by inserting your revisions
of Parts 1 and 2 based on your instructor’s suggestions. Then, you will
include a few new sections. Note: Some sections
presented below are out of order so pay attention to where the section
should go (for instance, the Transmittal should be the second page of
your report based on the provided template). It is essential that you
present the final report in the correct section order.
Use the basic outline below to draft your paper. Organize your responses to each question under the following section headings:
- Preliminary Parts (for Question 1)
- Introduction (for Question 2)
-
- Problem Statement (for Question 2b)
- Terminology (for Question 2c)
- Major Sections of the Report (for Question 2d)
- Scope and Limitations of the Research (for Question 2e)
- Recommendation (for Question 3)
- References (for Question 4)
Using the provided template from Week 7, write Part 3 to complete a single-spaced report in which you:
- Create
the preliminary parts of the report that precede the Introduction
(after reading Chapter 11 in the textbook). Each element (1a to 1d)
appears on a separate page (1a should be page 1, 1b should be page 2,
etc.). The preliminary part includes:- Title Page
- Transmittal (stand-alone business letter)
- Table of Contents
- Executive Summary
- Create an introduction that tells what your report is about. The introduction includes:
- Begin with a general introduction paragraph that gives the reader any needed background information on the company or problem.
- Include the Problem Statement that you already created and revised in Part 1.
- Include terms that readers will need to know in order to understand the report.
- Briefly summarize the major sections and findings of the report developed in Parts 1 and 2. Note:
This is in addition to including the revised sections not instead of
including the revised previous sections from Parts 1 and 2. - Discuss
what your report will cover and what it will not (including limitations
such as research, time, information, or any other factors the reader
should consider when reading the report).
- Create the Recommendation section of the Report.
- Provide
a one to two (1-2) sentence recommendation based on what your
Evaluation of Alternatives and Findings and Analysis sections have
determined is the most feasible alternative (i.e., solution) to the
problem in the Problem Statement.
- Provide
- Create the References section, which goes at the end of the Report by pasting in your revised References page.
Note:
Remember to organize the report by the section headings. The report
should reflect a style and format appropriate for business; single
spacing and bullet points are acceptable for formal business reports.
Your assignment must:
- Be
typed, single 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, your 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.
The specific course learning outcomes associated with this assignment are:
- Support ideas or claims in body paragraphs with clear details, examples, and explanations.
- Organize ideas logically by using transitional words, phrases, and sentences.
- Use sentence variety and effective word choice in written communication.
- Apply writing process strategies to develop formal business reports and / or proposals.
- Use technology and information resources to research issues related to selected topics.
- Write clearly and concisely using proper writing mechanics.
SAMPLE DIAGRAM OF REPORT
Class Pizza Party Justification
Report
(Student Name)
ENG 315 – Professional
Communications
(Professor Name)
(Correct Date) August 11,
2014
Dr. Annabelle Karnes
Professor of English
Global University
2222 Academic Lane
Riverton, VA 98625
August 11, 2014
Sophia Bailey
3456 Student Drive
Riverton, VA 98625
Dear Dr. Karnes:
I am pleased to present the report you authorized on June 10, 2014,
regarding the feasibility of potential pizza options for the upcoming class
party.
An analysis of both Pop’s Pizza Planet and Scooby’s Pizza Mansion found
that, although both alternatives offered delicious options, Scooby’s Pizza
Mansion better met our chosen criteria in cost, choices, and delivery time. It
is therefore the recommendation that we utilize Scooby’s Pizza Mansion for our
upcoming class pizza party.
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity to research potential party
choices. I appreciate your consideration of my recommendation. Should you have
any questions regarding this report, please do not hesitate to contact me at
(909) 555-5555.
Sincerely,
Sophia Bailey
Enclosure: Justification Report
Table
of Contents
Executive Summary
This report examines the feasibility of two potential pizzeria choices
for the upcoming class party. Methods of analysis include calls to each
pizzeria as well as Internet research to evaluate menus, delivery
times, review customer satisfaction ratings,
and investigate dietary restrictions. The results of the data show that both
examined pizzerias are quality alternatives with a range of toppings, delivery
options, and acceptable customer satisfaction ratings.
However the report finds that, while both analyzed alternatives provide
similar products and services, Scooby’s Pizza Mansion most closely meets the
criteria presented in terms of overall cost effectiveness, topping choices, dietary
restrictions, and delivery options. It is therefore recommended that
Alternative B, Scooby’s Pizza Mansion, be chosen as the vendor for the class
pizza party.
Class Pizza Party
Dr. Karnes’ ENG 315 class is gearing up for a celebratory party. After
a long semester of challenging assignments, Dr. Karnes feels her students
deserve kudos for their hard work. She has decided that a pizza party would
best suit the preferences of her diverse class.
The Justification Report presents the need to determine a suitable
pizzeria to serve as a vendor for the upcoming class party. It presents the
scope of the problem, presents two potential vendor choices, and evaluates them
utilizing five criteria to best decide which vendor meets the unique needs of
Dr. Karnes’ class. The report does not consider alternate cuisines but instead
focuses on two local pizzeria alternatives that have been recommended by
members of the faculty. Internet research was conducted as well as personal
interviews, and a final recommendation is provided.
ENG 315 has a (wonderful) problem: A pizza party is in order (after
all, ENG 315 students are the BEST students in the WORLD, and they all LOVE
pizza). Unfortunately, the instructor
cannot decide which local vendor to order pizza from. All of the vendors attempt to tantalize her
with the promise of coupons, unique ingredients, speedy delivery times, “extra”
deals, and more. How is she to
choose? Her twenty three students all
have gourmet taste buds, some have unique dietary needs, and to complicate
matters, she has…well, a teacher’s budget of $45.
Terminology
“Pizza-Pizza!” or “BOGO [Buy One Get One]” – a sales promotion wherein the consumer
gets two pizzas for the price of one.
“Gluten-Free” – a
product that does not contain gluten, a protein composite found in certain
foods that spurs an allergic reaction in some consumers.
Report Overview
This report was created to help the indecisive Dr. Karnes choose the
best pizza for a party in her ENG 315 class.
Dr. Karnes tasked this group to investigate two alternatives to
determine the best food recommendation for the party. The two vendors researched were Alternative A
(Pop’s Pizza Planet) and Alternative B (Scooby’s Pizza Mansion). Dr. Karnes’
criteria by which to judge the alternatives were as follows: cost, sales
promotions, topping desirability, gluten-free options (since two class members
are allergic to gluten), and delivery time.
Research methods included calls, Internet research (for coupons and
online menus), student surveys (to determine preferences), and in-person visits
to both places of business. An
evaluation of the two alternatives revealed that Alternative B, Scooby’s Pizza
Mansion, should be recommended, since it offered three advantages that Pop’s
Pizza Planet could not: pizzas with a gluten-free crust, one unique gourmet topping
that the class preferred (ghost peppers), and a “Zoinks! Pizza-Pizza!”
weeknight pizza deal.
Overview of Alternatives
The following two alternatives considered in this report meet Dr.
Karens’ criteria:
Alternative A – Pop’s Pizza
Planet: Located on the
corner of Saturn Drive and Mars Avenue, Pop’s Pizza Planet is a new
establishment gaining a reputation for gourmet pizzas with clever names like
“Pop’s Plutonian Pepperoni” and “Meatball Meteor Shower.” Pop’s Pizza Planet features brick-oven pizzas
that can be delivered in 45 minutes or less.
Gourmet pizza toppings include Venus’s Vidalia Onions and Supermassive
Black Hole Olives.
Alternative B – Scooby’s Pizza
Mansion: Located on the
corner of Mystery Avenue and Meddling Kid Blvd, Scooby’s Pizza Mansion is a
14-year old restaurant that boasts fiendishly delightful unusual gourmet
toppings, a local favorite being the cheese-fried ghost peppers. Pizza is delivered in a “Mystery Machine” in
25 minutes or less. Kids get a complimentary gluten- and nut-free “Scooby
Snack” with meals. Finally, a “Zoinks! Pizza-Pizza” BOGO deal is offered Monday
through Thursday (no coupon needed).
Dr. Karnes stressed that following five criteria would be used to judge
the feasibility of each alternative:
1.
Cost – How much will the pizzas
cost? Dr. Karnes said she did not wish to spend
more than $45 for two large, two-topping pizzas for the class (consisting of 23
students).
2.
Sales promotions – What good ones
(if any) are running? Dr. Karnes mentioned that she would privilege
an alternative with a coupon or promotion running.
3. Topping
desirability – What types of gourmet toppings are offered? Dr.
Karnes noted that her students all loved unique gourmet toppings.
4.
Gluten-free options – Are there any
gluten-free offerings? Since two class members are allergic to
gluten, Dr. Karnes mentioned that she would prefer an alternative with a
gluten-free crust option.
5.
Delivery time – How long will it
take to deliver the pizzas to the classroom? Dr. Karnes
mentioned that she would prefer options with shorter delivery time so that the
class could eat early and enjoy the food prior to the lesson.
Research Methods
Research methods included calls to each alternative to determine the
promotions running and approximate delivery time quoted for pizzas to Dr.
Karnes’ location. The Internet websites of both alternatives were consulted in
an effort to view the PDF menus (see Appendices A and B) and locate any
possible electronic promotions or coupons advertised. Other websites featuring customer reviews of
the two alternatives were also consulted to find secondary references. The students in the class were surveyed, as
well, to determine their favorite gourmet toppings, and in-person visits to
both places of business were conducted to test pizza samples and inquire about
any “hidden” promotions that might be running.
Evaluation of Alternatives
Cost
- Alternative
A – charged $45 for two, extralarge
two-topping pizzas with gourmet ingredients (cut into 24 squares). Coupons
were offered that offered a negligible difference in price ($2 off). - Alternative
B – normally charged $22 for an individual, extralarge
pizza (cut into 24 squares) with two-toppings and $44 for two, party-sized
pizzas with “everything but the Mansion kitchen sink.” Monday through Thursday, Alternative B
offers greater cost savings through a BOGO deal ($22 for two, gourmet
two-topper pizzas). Dr. Karnes’
class could take advantage of this deal.
Sales
Promotions
- Alternative
A – offered $2 off per order placed prior to 7:00 pm. Manager said he would throw in a 2-Liter
of a beverage if we ordered three pizzas.
However, Dr. Karnes clarified that a third pizza was not needed. - Alternative
B – offered a “Zoinks!
Pizza-Pizza!” BOGO deal between 6:00 pm and 7:00 pm Monday through
Thursday. It was verified that this
alternative would include the addition of ghost peppers.
Topping
Desirability
- Alternative
A – offered gourmet toppings that only 10% of Dr. Karnes’ class ranked
#1. Pop’s Pizza Planet did offer
two choices ranked #3 and #4, however: Venus Vidalia Onions and Saturn
Starfruit. - Alternative
B – offered one gourmet topping that 85% of classmates ranked as their #1
preference (see Appendix C): ghost peppers. This alternative also offered a second
gourmet topping that students consistently preferred: Freddy’s Fontina
Cheese.
Gluten-free
Options
- Alternative
A – provided no gluten-free options. - Alternative
B – provided a gluten-free, rice-flour crust option for extra-large pizzas
at no additional cost. Internet
reviews indicated that this crust was sensational (“Customer Reviews: Scooby’s
Pizza Mansion,” 2014).
Delivery
Time
- Alternative
A – delivery time promised was 45 minutes or less. Reviews on the Internet indicated that
delivery time was often slower than that, resulting in “a pizza that was
Pluto cold rather than Mars hot” (“Customer Reviews: Pop’s Pizza Planet,” 2014,
para. 5). - Alternative
B – delivery time promised was 25 minutes.
Internet reviews confirmed that time: “How the Mystery Machine
makes that time is the true mystery” (“Customer Reviews: Scooby’s Pizza
Mansion,” 2014, para. 3).
Findings and Analysis
While both Alternatives A and B offered desirable gourmet toppings and
discounts that appealed to Dr. Karnes and her class, Alternative B offered much
deeper discounts (1/2 off after the BOGO deal) (Deals, n.d.).
Additionally, Alternative B charmed with the #1 ranked ingredient, ghost peppers (Pizza, n.d.) that students indicated a preference for on
the surveys they completed. The preference for hot, spicy foods is a
growing trend in North America, and it might be considered that “eating hot
peppers is now more a sign of culinary enlightenment than masochism” (Gulli,
2014, para. 9). The students’ tastes
would appear to reflect that preference.
Another issue that had
to be considered is the presence of gluten in the pizza. Alternative A did not offer gluten-free
choices, a potential health issue for two of Dr. Karnes’ twenty-three students.
Although studies by Lee, Ng, Dave, Ciaccio, and Green (2009) indicate that diets free from
gluten can contain dietary deficiencies, the gluten-free diet is still the
acceptable method of relieving symptoms of celiac disease. Therefore, the gluten-free pizza is
necessary for those students suffering from the disease.
Delivery time is another criterion to be considered. Alternative B’s
delivery time was practically half that of Alternative A (personal
communications, Aug. 10, 2014).
Consequently, Alternative B seemed a wiser choice when it came to pizzas arriving hot to
class.
Although it is still
not understood “how people differ from one another in terms of taste, and how
these differences shape what we like to eat” (Eisenstein, 2010, S18), it
appears that Alternative B will satisfy most students’ tastes.
For a graphic depiction of the findings and analysis, see Figure 1
below:
|
Criterion |
Alternative |
Alternative |
|
Cost |
More |
Cheaper |
|
Promotions |
Negligible |
Good |
|
Topping |
Moderate |
High |
|
Gluten-Free |
None |
Good |
|
Delivery |
Slow |
Speedy |
|
Total |
Low-Moderate |
High |
Figure 1: Graphic Analysis of Findings
Recommendation
It is recommended
that Dr. Karnes’ class order two extra-large, two-topping pizzas with ghost
peppers, gluten-free crust, and Freddy’s Fontina Cheese from Scooby’s Pizza
Mansion between the hours of 6:00 and 7:00 pm during their Thursday evening
class. The pizzas should cost no more
than $22 before tax, as the “Zoinks! Pizza-Pizza!” BOGO deal will be going on
during this time (no coupon is needed).
References
Customer Reviews: Pop’s Pizza Planet. (2014).
Retrieved from http://www.pizzareview.com
Customer Reviews: Scooby’s Pizza Mansion. (2014).
Retrieved from http://www.pizzareview.com
Deals. (n.d.). Retrieved August11, 2014, from https://order.pizzahut.com/site/menu/deals
Eisenstein, M. (2010). Taste: More than meets the
mouth. Nature, 468(7327), S18-S19. doi:10.1038/468S18a
Gulli, C. (2014). A burning sensation. Maclean’s, 127(1),
44-45. Retrieved from Academic Search Complete.
Lee,
A. R., Ng, D. L., Dave, E. E., Ciaccio, E. J., & Green, P. R. (2009). The
effect of substituting alternative grains in the diet on the nutritional
profile of the gluten-free diet. Journal of Human Nutrition &
Dietetics, 22(4), 359-363. doi:10.1111/j.1365-277X.2009.00970.x
Pizza. (n.d.). Retrieved August11, 2014, from
https://order.pizzahut.com/site/menu/pizza
