Write an introduction for a report.

T&C, a consumer products company, has long been known for its product development prowess. You were recently hired by the company’s public affairs department to manage the development of a new and unusual product: a book about the history of T&C’s product development. The company plans to use this book for new employee training. You believe that making the book available to a wider audience would enhance T&C’s reputation without giving away any of its secrets. You also know that you will need professional help to research the book—based on information in your archives and on interviews with current and former employees—and to write it.

Doing a bit of research, you learn that you can choose among four companies specializing in corporate histories: Winthrop Group in Cambridge, Massachusetts; History Associates in Rockville, Maryland; History Factory in Chantilly, Virginia; and Business History Group in Columbia, Maryland. Before your boss will approve this expensive project, you need to prepare a brief report showing the services offered by each company, some clients served by each, and your recommendations for which company seems the best fi t given T&C’s requirements.

How will you conduct more research? What do you need to know to make a recommendation? What is the purpose of your report? Describe your audience. What data will you include in the report? Using your knowledge of report writing, draft an introduction to this report.