Responsibility and Sustainability

BABC001 Business Report Assessment 03 Evelyne Middleton | 575757 [Insert topic here] COVER PAGE: include 1.Topic as main heading 2.Assessment type 3.Student name and number BABC001 – Business Report Guide 2 Table of contents Executive summary 3 1.0 Introduction 4 2.0 Role of visual communications 4 2.1 Corporate reporting 5 3.0 Information visualisation techniques 6 3.1 Graphs 6 3.2 Words in table 7 4.0 Evaluation of ABC Logistics 7 4.1 Use of graphs 7 4.2 Inclusion of words in table 8 5.0 Conclusion 9 6.0 Reference List 10 §Main report heading: 18 point §Sub-heading: 16 point, italics Page numbers must align The relationship between the report sections are signalled by: §Numbering §Font size OR §italics BABC001 – Business Report Guide 3 Executive summary The Executive summary should describe the report’s highlights, NOT what the reader will find in the report. Follow the structure taught in BABC001 (should be one page long; separate page): § Purpose statement § Method of research § Key findings § Conclusion and Recommendations 1.5 spacing between lines in paragraph SAMPLE TEXT The purpose of this report is to consider the role of visual communication in modern corporate reporting. It examines two information visualisation techniques alongside an evaluation of their application in ABC Logistics Annual Report (2019). Methods of research include academic journals, professional magazines … . Research findings indicate that visual communication is an increasingly important field in today’s digital landscape and continues to grow in importance in an ever-competitive business environment. It transforms raw data into engaging graphics, enhancing the understandability of complex financial and non-financial information by the intended audience of a corporate report. (…) This report focuses on two techniques: graphs effectively present a company’s qualitative data such as performance indicators and yearly highlights in financial reporting; and words in table which makes key information more visible and easier to understand than large blocks of text. Evaluation findings, as evidenced in the ABC Logistics 2013 Annual Report, suggest an ineffective use of information visualisation techniques can render a relevant and interesting data set irrelevant and unappealing. The company’s report had very few graphs and consistently overused the words in table, rendering the information incomprehensible to its stakeholders and potential investors. This report recommends that ABC Logistics consider issuing a survey to its stakeholders, internal and external, to determine what performance factors they would be interested to track and how this information can be better understood and presented. This is the PURPOSE of the business report This sentence lists the met hods of research used. This paragraph highlights your key findings (research and ev aluat ion) from the plan. This paragraph provides Recommendations – optional. §Main report heading: 18 point §No section number here BABC001 – Business Report Guide 5 1.0 Introduction Follow the structure taught in BABC001 as described below (should be 10% of total word count for report): § Background on the concept § Issues and/or problems that led to the development of the concept § Thesis statement outlining what the business report will cover 2.0 Role of visual communication The body of report is divided into sections. Each section has a heading and number. These sections correspond to the key words identified in Report Question. Paragraphs in the body of the report should be written using the TEEL structure: § Topic – introduces main idea of the paragraph § Explain – in your words the main idea § Evidence – paraphrased evidence from the compulsory readings, reading list and self-sourced text § Link – link back to main idea or link forward to next paragraph §Main report heading: 18 point §Section numbering starts here eg. 1.0 Double space between sections SAMPLE TEXT In today’s ever-evolving business landscape, new technologies play a fundamental role in the advancements made in corporate reporting. A company’s effective employment of visual communication is a key factor in maintaining relevance and prominence in an increasingly competitive corporate environment. Corporate analytics have typically been regarded as inaccessible to shareholders, and too dense to allow thorough examination by intended audiences. The rise of digital media has lead to an emergence of a new medium known as infographics designed to further understanding of numerical data. Infographics transform financial data into more appealing forms such as graphs, charts and words in table. Through the evaluation of ABC Logistics 2019 Annual Report, this report will examine the role of visual communications in corporate reporting and identify two information visualisation techniques that can be used to enhance reporting. Background or general statement on concept Issue or problem leading to concept Thesis statement BABC001 – Business Report Guide 6 Direct quote – In-text Only ONE direct quote is permitted in your Business Report. To indicate a direct quote: § Use single quotation marks – ‘text’ – where quote is short § Present in italics § Include citation in APA Referencing style Example #1 Data is a highly valuable asset to business stakeholders, Palmer likening it to crude oil, ‘it’s valuable, but if unrefined it cannot really be used… data must be broken down, analysed to have value’ (Palmer, as cited in Rotella 2006). SAMPLE TEXT 2.0 Role of visual communications Visual communication – or infographics - is a visual explanation of knowledge drawn from raw data to communicate findings to an audience. Described as ‘explanation graphics’ (Holmes, cited in Smiciklas 2012, p.4), infographics examine complex data and distil it into a design element to produce an effective visualisation that facilitates deeper stakeholder understanding. It uses more appealing forms such as graphs, charts and words in table to interpret both financial and non-financial information and data. This symbiosis of data and imagery generates a number of benefits for both the producers and consumers of infographics. The primary benefit of infographics is that the visual format allows for simultaneous processing as opposed to sequential processing of information (Smiciklas, 2012, p.10), heightening its appeal, comprehension and retention (Crooks, Lankow & Ritchie, 2012, p.39). Furthermore, by presenting information in a more accessible and appealing format, companies ensure their competitive edge. Information designer David McCandless (2012, p.28) observes that infographics provide relief from too much information a distinction that is increasingly important in today’s that can be used to enhance reporting. Topic sentence – main idea Evidence – paraphrased expert information from source + citation Explanation – your words Evidence – paraphrased expert information from source main BABC001 – Business Report Guide 7 Block quotations Quotations that are 40 words or more are considered block quotations and are formatted differently than regular quotations: § Block quotations start on their own line § Hanging indent 1.27cm from the margin § No quotation marks required § Citation at the end of the quotation in APA Referencing style Example #2 Today, digital cameras have practically taken over photography. As Johnson explained, Digital cameras now make up 90% of all camera sales at the leading electronic stores. This increase in sales can be partially attributed to the widespread use of email and social networking, which has encouraged the sharing of digital photos. (2010, p. 23) Johnson further noted that, even more than with the shift to digital cameras, the increasing use of phones and iPods that have built-in cameras has replaced the use of film cameras. BABC001 – Business Report Guide 8 3.0 Information visualisation techniques In the body of the report, to explain the business standard requires: § using the compulsory reading. This reading is a guideline outlining the standards - rules, guidelines, or characteristics – established by consensus to facilitate business activities. § developing a Mindmap showing the key features of the standard (refer example below) to support your written explanation Figure 1: Key Features of Visualisation Techniques (Source: Tableau, 2019, para. 14) § providing a written explanation of the standard, using TEEL paragraph structure and citation(s) – explain key features and refer to standard numbers, if provided § incorporating evidence – paraphrased evidence from the compulsory reading, reading list and/or self-sourced text § see the example below Your mind map does not replace written explanation of standard Ensure you label your mind map SAMPLE TEXT 3.1 Graphs Graphs and charts are a conventional yet highly effective way of illustrating a company’s key performance indicators and yearly highlights in financial reporting. Standard 1.1 describes it as a clear representation of quantitative data through the use of column graphs, line graphs and pie charts (Craig et al., 2013, p.59), techniques that are recognisable and easy to comprehend for both internal and external stakeholders. While graphs and charts are not a new concept in the field of corporate reporting, Standard 1.2 further explains that their familiarity allows them to provide a solid support for strategic decision-making (Craig et al., 2013, p.59). BABC001 – Business Report Guide 9 4.0 Evaluation of ABC Logistics In the body of the report, to explain the evaluation of your company, you need to: § start by briefly describing your company and what it does – this should be in the introductory paragraph of this section § provide an overall evaluation of your company § see example below § evaluate each standard in the relevant sub-sections § give a brief description of the standard – to remind your reader what it involves § it is important that any evaluation contains features, evidence and judgements. § use TEEEL when assessing your company § see example below SAMPLE TEXT 4.0 Evaluation of ABC Logistics ABC Logistics Ltd is a multinational supply-chain logistics group specialising in resuable pallets, crates and containers. Annual reports generally demonstrate a variety of techniques such as charts, images and graphs in order to impart a clear and simple snapshot of the company’s yearly performance (McCormack, 2014, p.97). In their 2013 Annual Report (ABC Logistics, 2013), ABC Logistics has not demonstrated an effective use of infographics and has employed information visualisation techniques of graphs and words in table to minimal effect. The most crucial profit and loss figures are buried within the financial statements, and no summary of the year’s performance is provided. While ABC Logistics has attempted to utilise two information visualisation techniques to enhance its corporate reporting, its inefficiency results in a very unclear picture of the company’s performance. Briefly state what your company does Provide an overall evaluation of your company BABC001 – Business Report Guide 10 SAMPLE TEXT 4.2 Inclusion of words in table TOPIC: The technique of Words in table is another visually appealing approach to providing complex information in a more readable and effective way. EXPLAIN: It makes visible key information that otherwise would be lost in endless blocks of text. Words in table are heavily utilised in ABC Logistics Annual Report (2013) with many examples evident throughout the report. EVIDENCE: The company has employed words in table to illustrate broad, complicated concepts such as Corporate Governance Compliance and Vesting Schedules (ABC Logistics, 2013, p. 62). Injury Frequency Rates, Progress against Sustainability Targets and Performance against KPIs are all explored in words in table format (ABC Logistics, 2013, p. 51). EVALUATION: Key points and figures extracted from the text do allow for greater visibility, however without lifting out key terms and figures, putting all the available information into a table format renders this visual technique ineffective in communicating vital information. Additionally, the the by ABC Logistics Use TEEEL when writing the evaluation section Remember, your evaluation must include your judgement BABC001 – Business Report Guide 11 5.0 Conclusion Follow the structure taught in BABC001 as described below: § restate purpose of report § briefly summarise research/evaluation findings § recommendation OR broad concluding statement To conclude, the prevalence of visual communication in today’s business sphere and the enhancement of corporate reporting through information visualisation techniques has been discussed in this report. The visual explanations offered by infographics such as graphs and words in table offer a higher level of accessibility and comprehension, both internally and externally in corporate reporting. Through the evaluation of ABC Logistics 2013 Annual Report, it can be concluded that ineffective use of information visualisation techniques has a negative impact on corporate reporting and results in an unclear picture of performance to stakeholders. It is recommended that ABC Logistics conduct a survey of its stakeholders to determine what performance factors should be monitored, how the mundane numerical data can be transformed into engaging and appealing infographics. Restate purpose of report Summarise key research/ evaluation findings Recommendation – what happens next BABC001 – Business Report Guide 12 6.0 Reference list Your Reference list must follow the APA Referencing conventions: § Organised in alphabetical order by surname of author or organisation § Follows APA referencing rules as taught in BABC001 (these rules are available on CANVAS under Student HELP) § Each citation in the study should have a reference in this list § Ensure that each second and subsequent line of a reference is indented ABC Logistics Ltd. (2013). Annual Report 2013. http://abclogistics.com/PDF/AnnualReports-2013. Craig, R., Davison, J., & Jack, L. (2013). The Routledge Companion to Accounting Communication, Routledge. Crooks, R., Lankow, J., & Ritchie, J. (2012). Infographics: The Power of Visual Storytelling, Wiley. Elsass, A., & Zekany, K. (2004). Great graphics: How to illustrate financial information the right way. Strategic Finance, 85(9), 52-55. Few, S. (2006). Information Dashboard Design: The effective visual communication of data. O’Reilly. McCandless, D. (2014, October 18) The beauty of data visualisation. TED. https://www.ted.com/talks/david_mccandless_the_beauty_ of_data_visualization Moon, J. (2008, November). Report writing. Financial Management, 49-50.