Recommendation Report
Recommendation Report
OVERVIEW
A recommendation report proposes a solution to a problem or evaluates possible solutions and recommends one. Before proposing or recommending a solution, the report needs to identify the problem.Think about the various problems you encounter everyday or read about in the paper.
EXAMPLE: A HEALTH CARE/ECONOMIC PROBLEM
For instance, Congress is trying to figure out how to control the ever-increasing cost of Medicare/Medicaid. The problem seems to be that if we don't reform the system, part of Medicare (health insurance for seniors) may go broke in ten years (though such predictions have existed ever since Medicare was created). But reforming the system may require some seemingly unpleasant lifestyle changes: seniors may have to enroll in managed care plans (HMOs); in the case of a terminal illness, no extreme measures would be taken to effect an (unlikely) cure or to extend life. This would mean that certain conditions--like liver failure late in life due to alcoholism--would be treated with measures less expensive than a liver transplant, while other conditions, such as hypertension would get more, and faster, treatment. Are HMOs the solution? A feasibility study would evaluate this solution *among others* as a way to respond to the problem of rising Medicare costs.
EXAMPLE: TECHNOLOGY UPGRADE
In technology, problems are often resolved with a technical upgrade. For instance, you put dual airbags in cars because people too often don't use seat belts, and airbags prevent further injury even when seat belts are used. The problem here, which motivates people to improve a process, is that people continue to sustain severe injuries despite the availability of seat belts and dual airbags. Taking this one step further, some car companies (like Volvo) are not installing side airbags, in addition to the two in front, to protect people against side impacts, which often do not activate the two front airbags.
EXAMPLE: SOCIAL
OVERVIEW
A recommendation report proposes a solution to a problem or evaluates possible solutions and recommends one. Before proposing or recommending a solution, the report needs to identify the problem.Think about the various problems you encounter everyday or read about in the paper.
EXAMPLE: A HEALTH CARE/ECONOMIC PROBLEM
For instance, Congress is trying to figure out how to control the ever-increasing cost of Medicare/Medicaid. The problem seems to be that if we don't reform the system, part of Medicare (health insurance for seniors) may go broke in ten years (though such predictions have existed ever since Medicare was created). But reforming the system may require some seemingly unpleasant lifestyle changes: seniors may have to enroll in managed care plans (HMOs); in the case of a terminal illness, no extreme measures would be taken to effect an (unlikely) cure or to extend life. This would mean that certain conditions--like liver failure late in life due to alcoholism--would be treated with measures less expensive than a liver transplant, while other conditions, such as hypertension would get more, and faster, treatment. Are HMOs the solution? A feasibility study would evaluate this solution *among others* as a way to respond to the problem of rising Medicare costs.
EXAMPLE: TECHNOLOGY UPGRADE
In technology, problems are often resolved with a technical upgrade. For instance, you put dual airbags in cars because people too often don't use seat belts, and airbags prevent further injury even when seat belts are used. The problem here, which motivates people to improve a process, is that people continue to sustain severe injuries despite the availability of seat belts and dual airbags. Taking this one step further, some car companies (like Volvo) are not installing side airbags, in addition to the two in front, to protect people against side impacts, which often do not activate the two front airbags.
EXAMPLE: SOCIAL