Research in the workplace solves a problem.
Research in the workplace solves a problem. Tasked with a problem in the workplace, you may be asked gather the information necessary to fully understand the issue at hand, solve that problem (or offer potential solutions), prove that your solutions are viable, and/or test your solution(s). Doing this work requires different types of research that go beyond simply querying a library database or using Google. You often will need to speak directly to target populations and audiences, and directly contact resources and experts in different professions and in the community. You also may need information in addition to or instead of scholarly resources. Local and national journalism may add context and perspective. Professional experts, government agencies, state and local authorities all may be relevant sources, as are individuals in target populations. Essentially, research in the workplace requires you to think critically and creatively about
The type of information you need; and
The best way to get that information.
Your job as a researcher is to address, explain, and/or solve a problem using the most relevant and applicable methods and resources. If a resource can supply information you need, then it is the right resource for the job.
It’s also important when thinking about a problem your researching to keep in mind that you probably aren’t the first person or organization to deal with this issue. Look at other organizations, groups, or communities negotiating the same or similar issue. Research how those groups describe and deal with the problem. The perspective of experience is invaluable to your work.
ASSIGNMENT
This project asks you to do workplace research into a local problem impacting USF or the surrounding community. Your goal for this project is to describe the problem in detail using as much information as you can gather from as many different sources as are useful. That means you are looking at research gathered by others (e.g., government agencies, non-profit organizations, professional and academic experts), but also you will gather your own data by contacting experts and asking impacted population for their perspective. You will produce a memo that reports your findings, giving readers a robust understanding of the problem you have researched.
OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
Engage with a problem-based scenario similar to those found in the workplace
Develop research skills appropriate for addressing a specific problem
Integrate research into a project deliverable
Develop professional and technical writing and editing skills
Practice writing for a specific purpose and audience
Produce a specific genre of professional discourse (informational report)
To complete this project, you will choose a local problem occurring at USF or in the community. You can select a problem from the list below, or pick your own problem of a similar nature.
Once you have selected a problem, you will research the problem, to include the following topics:
Background information: Put the problem in context. What does the audience need to know to understand why the problem is a problem?
Explanation of the problem: Describe the problem in detail. What is happening?
Causes of the problem: Describe the factors contributing to the problem’s occurrence. Why is the problem happening?
Impacted Population: Describe the people most directly impacted by the problem. Who is the problem happening to?
To conduct your research you may wish to use any of the following methods and resources, or anything else that helps you explain the scope of your problem:
Newspapers (local, university, national)
Reports from government agencies, universities, and/or NGOs
Scholarly research
Facts and statistics compiled by government agencies and/or NGOs
Interviews with experts and/or impacted individuals
Surveys (social media makes doing surveys easy)
DELIVERABLES
Major Deliverable
A report in memo format that describes your problem in detail using all the research you have conducted. The memo should have the following section headings:
Background Information
Explanation of the Problem
Causes of the Problem
Impacted Population
Works Cited
Supplemental Deliverables
Research Plan: A memo that identifies the problem you have selected and your plans for researching it, including research methods and potential sources for each required topic listed above.
Research Progress Report: An update that describes a) the research you’ve done to date; b) which topics that research applies to; c) what you have left to do before completing a draft
THESE STEPS NOT FOR THIS ASSIGMENT
Report
● Understand and apply the conventions of a report
● Address a specific problem and develop realistic potential solutions to that problem
● Integrate evidence gathered from research to support an argument
● Use data visualizations to integrate data in support of an argument
● Apply the stylistic conventions of professional writing to craft an effective argument
● Apply principles of document design to create a visually appealing document designed for readability
Presentation
● Use visual design principles to develop appealing and appropriate slides
● Practice effective presentation skills
Collaboration
● Work as a team to collaboratively produce a successful formal report
In this project, you will work collaboratively to create a Recommendation Report. This report presents a detailed understanding of a problem, and then recommends a solution to this problem. The recommendation report hinges on research. You will thoroughly research the problem and then provide research that persuades your audience that the solution you recommend is the right one for the given situation. Research for the recommendation report works to prove to the audience that the recommended action is an achievable, workable, and appropriate for the problem given the practical constraints (i.e., resources, budget, time, personnel, etc.). Recommendation reports address the following questions:
● What problem are you going to solve?
● How are you going to solve it?
● Is it practical to pursue this solution?
● What are benefits of the solution?
● How much will the work cost?
● When and how will you complete the work?
Again, the answers to these must be based on research. Thorough research gives the audience the information they need to fully understand the problem and assess your solution.
Presentation
A persuasive presentation is key to making a successful recommendation that would result in action. Presentations can be given in the final week of the semester. Student teams should create and present a final presentation that outlines their report, including a description of the problem, description of the solution, and plans for implementation. The presentation format would follow the format of the written report with rhetorical choices to edit content and facilitate maximum audience impact.
Collaboration
Successful collaborative writing is a major objective of the project. You will be asked to consider your work habits and the implications of those habits when working collaboratively. In teamwork, leverage team member strengths in the workflow and in assigning duties–i.e., math skills, attention to detail, writing skills, visual design skills, strong organizational skills. Also build into your workflow ways to negotiate work habits like procrastination or perfectionism to ensure that all team members complete work on time and up to the teams specifications. The initial memo deliverable includes a Team Charter that asks you to be both critically reflexive and honest with the team about your work habits, and to think through how the team will work together. Collaborative skills are further developed through regular Team Progress Reports. The efficacy of the team’s collaborative efforts is reflected in the Individual Team Evaluations submitted at the end of the semester.
Deliverables
You will have several components to the team project:
● Memo to the Instructor
○ explains the team’s planned course of action for the project
○ Includes Work Plan and Team Charter (if teams were changed)
● Formal Recommendation Report
● Presentation
● Progress Reports
● Self and Team Evaluations
Sample Format for Recommendation Report
● Letter of Transmittal
● Title Page
● Table of Contents
● Informative Abstract
● Introduction
○ Context/Background Information
○ Purpose statement and top-down strategy
● Problem/Need
○ Explanation of problem or need
○ Causes of problem or need
● Solution
○ Details of the solution
○ Benefits of the solution
○ Ways in which the solution satisfies decision criteria
● Implementation
○ Schedule for implementing the solution (Consider including a Gantt chart)
○ Budget
○ Personnel and assigned duties of each member of the team
● Call to Action
○ Underscore benefits of recommendation and ask reader to act
● References
Did you understand?
I ment for this assignment you have to use these steps
Research in the workplace solves a problem. Tasked with a problem in the workplace, you may be asked gather the information necessary to fully understand the issue at hand, solve that problem (or offer potential solutions), prove that your solutions are viable, and/or test your solution(s). Doing this work requires different types of research that go beyond simply querying a library database or using Google. You often will need to speak directly to target populations and audiences, and directly contact resources and experts in different professions and in the community. You also may need information in addition to or instead of scholarly resources. Local and national journalism may add context and perspective. Professional experts, government agencies, state and local authorities all may be relevant sources, as are individuals in target populations. Essentially, research in the workplace requires you to think critically and creatively about
The type of information you need; and
The best way to get that information.
Your job as a researcher is to address, explain, and/or solve a problem using the most relevant and applicable methods and resources. If a resource can supply information you need, then it is the right resource for the job.
It’s also important when thinking about a problem your researching to keep in mind that you probably aren’t the first person or organization to deal with this issue. Look at other organizations, groups, or communities negotiating the same or similar issue. Research how those groups describe and deal with the problem. The perspective of experience is invaluable to your work.
ASSIGNMENT
This project asks you to do workplace research into a local problem impacting USF or the surrounding community. Your goal for this project is to describe the problem in detail using as much information as you can gather from as many different sources as are useful. That means you are looking at research gathered by others (e.g., government agencies, non-profit organizations, professional and academic experts), but also you will gather your own data by contacting experts and asking impacted population for their perspective. You will produce a memo that reports your findings, giving readers a robust understanding of the problem you have researched.
OUTCOMES
Upon successful completion of this module, you will be able to:
Engage with a problem-based scenario similar to those found in the workplace
Develop research skills appropriate for addressing a specific problem
Integrate research into a project deliverable
Develop professional and technical writing and editing skills
Practice writing for a specific purpose and audience
Produce a specific genre of professional discourse (informational report)
To complete this project, you will choose a local problem occurring at USF or in the community. You can select a problem from the list below, or pick your own problem of a similar nature.
Once you have selected a problem, you will research the problem, to include the following topics:
Background information: Put the problem in context. What does the audience need to know to understand why the problem is a problem?
Explanation of the problem: Describe the problem in detail. What is happening?
Causes of the problem: Describe the factors contributing to the problem’s occurrence. Why is the problem happening?
Impacted Population: Describe the people most directly impacted by the problem. Who is the problem happening to?
To conduct your research you may wish to use any of the following methods and resources, or anything else that helps you explain the scope of your problem:
Newspapers (local, university, national)
Reports from government agencies, universities, and/or NGOs
Scholarly research
Facts and statistics compiled by government agencies and/or NGOs
Interviews with experts and/or impacted individuals
Surveys (social media makes doing surveys easy)
DELIVERABLES
Major Deliverable
A report in memo format that describes your problem in detail using all the research you have conducted. The memo should have the following section headings:
Background Information
Explanation of the Problem
Causes of the Problem
Impacted Population
Works Cited
Supplemental Deliverables
Research Plan: A memo that identifies the problem you have selected and your plans for researching it, including research methods and potential sources for each required topic listed above.
Research Progress Report: An update that describes a) the research you’ve done to date; b) which topics that research applies to; c) what you have left to do before completing a draft
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