Before beginning this assignment, read Markel Chapter 18, focusing on the Feasibility Report, and the section of Chapter 17 on formatting informal reports.
Select a narrow topic related to solving a problem on the Mercer campus or in your community. Your final report will analyze at least 3 potential solutions and recommend one for implementation.
For example, you might be interested in minimizing or avoiding run-off of rain water in campus parking lots or replacing the light bulbs in the dorm with longer-life alternatives.
Use the library or the Internet to discover at least three ways of solving the sustainability problem.
Write a feasibility report proposal memo in which you propose your topic for my approval.
With your three solutions, formulate 3-4 criteria against which the solutions can be evaluated. Examples are cost, time to install, longevity, availability of materials, etc.
Using the criteria, evaluate the potential solutions and make a recommendation to the person who can make the decision to implement your recommendation.
In the example, above, for example, you could evaluate permeable paving alternatives and make a recommendation to Russell Vullo, the Associate Vice President for Facilities.
Determine the audiences for your report -- not only the person who can make the decision to implement the solution you are suggesting to whom you are addressing the report, but the others on whom that person might call, as well as your classmates who will be the audience for your oral report.
Write a 3-5 page feasibility report using the informal (memo) format, addressed to the decision maker and responding to his or her information needs, but also anticipating the needs of other members of the audience. See the example reports in the weekly materials.
Generate a rough draft of the report for peer review.
Deliver a 3-5 minute oral report using PowerPoint or another presentation application to your classmates describing the problem, the alternatives, the criteria you used to evaluate them, and your recommended solution. You should use 7-10 slides.
See the sidebar for examples.
Feasibility Report PowerPoint Presentation