PROBLEM DEFINITION REPORT GUIDELINES

The report is essentially a proposal to the sponsor for the work that yo plan to !o" The
prpose of the report is to s##ari$e rele%ant infor#ation learne! a&ot the pro&le# an! the
en%iron#ent in whi'h it resi!es" It shol! in'l!e a 'on'ise state#ent of the pro&le#( an! it
shol! present a plan for pro'ee!in) towar! a s''essfl resoltion of the pro&le#"
The report shol! ha%e a title pa)e an! a &o!y" The s))este! 'ontent for the &o!y
in'l!es the followin) se'tions an! infor#ation*
Introduction ++ The prpose of the report an! a &rief s##ary of its 'ontents"
Background
a. Ba'k)ron! infor#ation a&ot the 'o#pany + its pro!'ts an! ser%i'es( other interestin)
infor#ation #i)ht &e sales )rowth in last , + - years( ftre fore'asts of &siness( pri#ary
'sto#ers( #a.or 'o#petitors( etc.
b. Ba'k)ron! infor#ation re)ar!in) the pro&le# / #i)ht in'l!e s'h thin)s as sponsor0s
per'eption of the pro&le#1 infor#ation pro%i!e! &y the 'o#pany1 efforts #a!e to !efine
the pro&le#1 !es'ription of the syste# in 2estion1 why the pro&le# is i#portant + what
are the effe'ts an!3or sy#pto#s" 4 )oo! %ehi'le for relayin) the pro&le# &a'k)ron! is a
#o!el of the 'rrent syste# or pro&le# / yo #i)ht se a !ia)ra# with so#e e5planation
relate! to the state#ent in part a"
Problem statement
a. 4 'on'ise state#ent of the pro&le# sin) se%eral short senten'es in a well+written(
'oherent para)raph 6or two7"
b. Mst in'l!e the three ele#ents of any pro&le# state#ent"
8" 4 !es'ription of the !e'isions that #st &e #a!e or the ele#ents of the syste# that are
to &e a!.ste!"
9" The 'riteria that #easre how )oo! yo soltions are I. e., perfor#an'e #easre#ents
to e%alate the syste#( the 'rrent le%el of perfor#an'e( an! the tar)et le%els to &e
a'hie%e!" To the e5tent possi&le these #easres shol! #e 2antitati%e"
," :onstraints that li#it the !e'isions or 'ontrol a'tions that 'an &e taken"
Description of the final work product ++ 4 !es'ription of what yo en%ision as final reslts of
this pro.e't / for e5a#ples( a plant layot( software or a 'o#pter pro)ra#" Is trainin)
in'l!e!; <ill installation an! i#ple#entation &e in'l!e!;
Methods and/or approach
a. Des'ri&e the !ata that #i)ht &e 'olle'te!"
b. Des'ri&e the IE #etho!s an! te'hni2es that #i)ht &e se!;
Schedule ++ 4 Gantt 'hart or Pert 'hart showin) the esti#ate! startin) an! 'o#pletion !ates of
the si)nifi'ant tasks for the pro.e't" In'l!e !ates for s'he!le! presentations( reports( an!
#entor #eetin)s" Try to )et the 'hart on one pa)e"
Project Costs ++ The prpose of this se'tion is to present an esti#ate of the 'osts for yo as a
'onsltant of perfor#in) the pro.e't" This is not to &e 'onfse! with the 'ost asso'iate! with
i#ple#entation of yor re'o##en!ations" The followin) state#ent #st &e in'l!e! in this
se'tion i##e!iately &elow the se'tion title* NOTE* T=IS SE:TION IS FOR 4:4DEMI:
PURPOSES ONL>?
The se'tion shol! )i%e a &reak!own an! s##ary of the 'osts we wol! 'har)e the
sponsor for !oin) the pro.e't" >o #i)ht in'l!e s'h 'osts as yor ti#e 6&ille! at @-A per
hor7( tra%el e5penses( #aterials( spplies( 'o#pter ti#e( etc. In'l!e o%erhea! at a rate of
8AAB of all other !ire't 'osts"
4 letter of trans#ittal 6not a #e#o7 a!!resse! to the sponsor shol! a''o#pany the
report" >o shol! refer to the re2ire! te5t an! the 'orse style #anal for any a!!itional
infor#ation re)ar!in) reports( &siness letters( an! te'hni'al writin)" If there is a 'onfli't in
infor#ation( this !o'#ent takes pre'e!en'e o%er the te5t" The letter of trans#ittal is an
opportnity to say so#ethin) that will )ra& the rea!er0s interest an! #ake hi# or her an5ios to
rea! the report"
Ceep in #in! that the sponsor of the pro.e't is the pri#ary a!ien'e for &oth the report
an! the oral presentation" =owe%er( there is a se'on!ary a!ien'e ++ the other st!ents in the
'lass" They are learnin) fro# yor pro.e't" For the &enefit of &oth the sponsor an! the st!ent
a!ien'e( it is ne'essary to in'l!e so#e &a'k)ron! infor#ation on the sponsorin) 'o#pany"
For the st!ents this infor#s the# a&ot the 'o#pany an! the pro&le# area an! for the sponsor
this is a )oo! way to let the sponsor know that yo know an! n!erstan! his or her 'o#pany an!
the pro&le# &a'k)ron!"