As sources only Use Secondary Sources like academic articles, online resources, news media, etc.
WRITING YOUR ADVISORY REPORT (Maximum length: 4000-5000 words. Note: page guidelines for each
component are provided as a reference, but feel free to adjust as appropriate for your report.)
COMM 306 Winter 2023
• Title Page: Choose an accurate title. A good title should be enticing and clearly indicate what the
reader will learn from the Advisory Report. Identify who the report is prepared for, who it has
been prepared by, and the date of submission.
• Table of Contents
• Executive Summary (1/2 page): Provide a concise summary of the problem, analysis findings,
alternatives, and recommendations. This is like a snapshot of the key points of your entire report.
• Introduction & Description of Issue (1 page): This section includes information on the problem
and clearly describes the purpose of the report. Specifically, what is the issue/problem your
report is hoping to address? The issue must be clearly explained and placed in context to ensure
its importance is understood by the reader. Briefly highlight any historical events/factors that
have led up to this situation. Provide enough background information to help your client
understand the complexities of the issue and better understand the key points of controversy.
Explain the contents of the report and how this report will help your client address this issue.
• Situational Analysis (1-2 pages): Use the PESTEL framework to discuss the current and emergent
factors or trends in the external environment that are impacting the situation. What is the
current political, economic, sociocultural, technological, environmental, and legal context in
which this issue is occurring? As you identify relevant factors clearly explain why these factors are
important to consider when it comes to this issue.
• Stakeholder Analysis (2 pages): Complete a detailed analysis of stakeholders using the
power/interest matrix mapping tool and narrative summaries as appropriate to structure your
analysis and communicate your findings. You may find the following guiding questions helpful as
you conduct your analysis:
• Identification: Who has a vested interest in this situation and in future decisions
made related to this issue? Note: when identifying stakeholders, consider who is
going to be impacted by decisions made, as well as who might have the ability to
influence strategic/operational decisions and positively/negatively impact this
situation in the future or contribute to the escalation or resolution of the issue.
• Perspective: What are the views of these stakeholders on the issue? What is
important to them? What is their level of interest in this situation?
• Power: How much power do these stakeholders have to influence the situation
and/or decisions made related to this issue? What are some of the tactics these
stakeholders may use to exert and/or gain power in this situation?
• Analysis Findings (1 page): Synthesize the key insights arising from your situational and
stakeholder analysis. Based on your analysis, describe what stage of the issue life cycle the issue
appears to be in and why an effective response/resolution to this issue is important to your client
and relevant stakeholders. What are the most important factors that surfaced through your
literature review and analysis that should be considered moving forward? What are the critical
challenges or threats? What are some potential opportunities? What is the role of the client in
this situation and what is the scope of their power and authority (i.e. what level of influence do
they hold when it comes to addressing this issue)? Explain what a successful solution to this issue
must address or accomplish by identifying 3-5 clear goals/objectives.
• Alternatives (1-2 pages): Outline three valid alternatives for resolving the issue. These
alternatives should present three different courses of action that could be pursued going
forward. By exploring different options, you help minimize bias and strengthen the credibility of
your recommendation. Provide a clear description of each alternative explaining how it connects
to the findings from your research and analysis. Complete a detailed pros/cons analysis of each
option.
• Recommendation (1 page): Develop 3-5 decision criteria to evaluate your alternatives. Use a
decision criteria matrix to conduct your analysis. Based on the findings of your pros/cons analysis
and your criteria analysis, make a recommendation as to the optimal “go-forward” strategy,
clearly explaining your rationale for choosing this option. Discuss how this recommendation best
addresses the issue, takes into account the conflicting interests of key stakeholders, achieves
organizational goals, and promotes the common good ethically and strategically. Your solution
should be desirable (make sense to/for people), viable (able to be accomplished), sustainable
(able to become part of a long-term strategy), and ethical (minimize harm/maximize benefits).
• Risk Analysis (1 page): Conduct a detailed risk analysis of your recommendation. Highlight 4 or 5
foreseeable risks, conflicts, or challenges that your client may face if they choose to implement
this recommendation. Assess the likelihood and impact of each risk and suggest some tangible
ways to navigate each risk as this strengthens the credibility of your recommendation.
• Conclusion (1/4 page): Finish with a brief summary or concluding remarks.
• References: Use in-text citations and reference all sources used to develop the Advisory Report.
Follow APA documentation rules.
• Appendices: Include supporting materials that are relevant to some readers but not all or may be
too bulky to include in the body of the report (e.g. supplementary information, data tables, or
large graphics). Title them Appendix A, Appendix B, Appendix C if there are more than one and
refer to them in the body of the report.