21-05-2014, 04:54 PM
PROBLEM DEFINITION REPORT GUIDELINES
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The report is essentially a proposal to the sponsor for the work that you plan to do. The purpose of the report is to summarize relevant information learned about the problem and the environment in which it resides. It should include a concise statement of the problem, and it should present a plan for proceeding toward a successful resolution of the problem.
The report should have a title page and a body. The suggested content for the body includes the following sections and information:
Introduction -- The purpose of the report and a brief summary of its contents
Background
a. Background information about the company - its products and services, other interesting information might be sales growth in last 3 - 5 years, future forecasts of business, primary customers, major competitors, etc.
b. Background information regarding the problem – might include such things as sponsor’s perception of the problem; information provided by the company; efforts made to define the problem; description of the system in question; why the problem is important - what are the effects and/or symptoms. A good vehicle for relaying the problem background is a model of the current system or problem – you might use a diagram with some explanation related to the statement in part a.
Problem statement
a. A concise statement of the problem using several short sentences in a well-written, coherent paragraph (or two).
b. Must include the three elements of any problem statement.
1. A description of the decisions that must be made or the elements of the system that are to be adjusted.
2. The criteria that measure how good you solutions are I. e., performance measurements to evaluate the system, the current level of performance, and the target levels to be achieved. To the extent possible these measures should me quantitative.
3. Constraints that limit the decisions or control actions that can be taken.
Description of the final work product -- A description of what you envision as final results of this project – for examples, a plant layout, software or a computer program. Is training included? Will installation and implementation be included
Methods and/or approach
a. Describe the data that might be collected.
b. Describe the IE methods and techniques that might be used?
Schedule -- A Gantt chart or Pert chart showing the estimated starting and completion dates of the significant tasks for the project. Include dates for scheduled presentations, reports, and mentor meetings. Try to get the chart on one page.
Project Costs -- The purpose of this section is to present an estimate of the costs for you as a consultant of performing the project. This is not to be confused with the cost associated with implementation of your recommendations. The following statement must be included in this section immediately below the section title: NOTE: THIS SECTION IS FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES ONLY!
The section should give a breakdown and summary of the costs we would charge the sponsor for doing the project. You might include such costs as your time (billed at $50 per hour), travel expenses, materials, supplies, computer time, etc. Include overhead at a rate of 100% of all other direct costs.
A letter of transmittal (not a memo) addressed to the sponsor should accompany the report. You should refer to the required text and the course style manual for any additional information regarding reports, business letters, and technical writing. If there is a conflict in information, this document takes precedence over the text. The letter of transmittal is an opportunity to say something that will grab the reader’s interest and make him or her anxious to read the report.
Keep in mind that the sponsor of the project is the primary audience for both the report and the oral presentation. However, there is a secondary audience -- the other students in the class. They are learning from your project. For the benefit of both the sponsor and the student audience, it is necessary to include some background information on the sponsoring company. For the students this informs them about the company and the problem area and for the sponsor this is a good way to let the sponsor know that you know and understand his or her company and the problem background.