Posted: April 15th, 2015

SWOT report final draft

SWOT report final draft

CHOOSING A TOPIC

1) Scope and Limitations

Decide under ONE of these three areas:

• A start up business (7yrs or less)
• A potential business opportunity
• An existing family-run business

Once you’ve decided on the business context above choose ONE specific objective or problem (or success) area; the following are examples:

• How to respond to new market trends
• How to implement new technology
• How to respond to competitor gains
• How to grow sales distribution channels
• How to maintain competitiveness
• The best way to penetrate a new market
• Whether to form a partnership
• Whether to make an acquisition
• Whether to outsource a service, operation or resource
• Whether to diversify product range
• Whether to undergo organisational restructuring
• The strength of a business proposition, etc.

NOTE: giving your report such focus will enable you to be much more analytical in your approach; thus when it comes to formulating a title you will avoid the trap many students fall into

Example:
Title 1: Glasgow Rangers Football Club – dull and descriptive X
OR
Title 2: ‘What does Glasgow Rangers have to do to return to profitability?’ – dynamic and analytical ?

POINT The second title is a much more interesting question, which allows you to analyse their situation and make recommendations.

NOTE
• Your tutor will help you with formulating a title and will approve it before you begin writing report.
• Ensure it is a company etc. which you can get information about.
• Ensure it is a title you can manage within the time frame
• If the topic is about a family run business or potential business idea establish from all parties involved which information is accessible for analysis
• You may report on a non UK start up company provided all the source material is available in English

REPORT WRITING

(B) The Formula – structure, style and language

Business reports follow a basic standard formula. There are, however, variations, both in style and structure, depending on subject area or an institution’s ‘house style’: always check what the requirements are for each module.

• Business reports require formal language: you must avoid slang, also colloquialisms and contractions such as ‘won’t’ in place of ‘will not.’

• A report does not use a more lively style of writing, found for example, in a journal like The Economist.

• Also avoid the personal; avoid the first person singular (‘I’ and ‘we’). You are aiming for objectivity, not subjectivity!

• A short, standard report is organized as follows (section word counts are approximate and only intended as a guide):

STRUCTURE:

• Title page draft
• Table of Contents including the numbering and title of any diagrams/charts/ tables.
• Terms of Reference (50-100 words) draft
• Procedure (20-50) draft
• Introduction (optional; 50-100)
• Findings (1000-1150) (with at least 5 references) draft (bulleted SWOT findings with in-text citations)
• Conclusion (100-150)
• Recommendations (100-150)
• Bibliography (length variable) draft
• Appendix (Must include your Work Plan)

Approximate length should be 1500 words +/- 10% excluding cover sheet, bibliog, and appendix

THE SWOT ANALYSIS IN YOUR FINDINGS MUST BE RELEVANT TO THE REPORT TITLE

PENALTIES

• Word count exceeding limit -5%
• Incomplete Work Plan -5%
• Omission of Work Plan (final draft) -10%