Team Reports

Expectations: All teams are expected to submit a report on their business. Below is an outline and description of what sections should be included as well as an approximate page length suggestions and guidelines (your reports can be longer if that what it takes your team to communicate). Overall, the report should be about 20-30 pages (again, more is okay). Important, this is a quality exercise. Therefore, each section should be thoughtful, well written, and include the appropriate information. If a discussion is required or necessary to explain information, make sure to include that. Here, a “discussion” is a written section that explains in more detail what is occurring. Much or your discussion in different sections will include assumptions and assessments you make in terms of your analysis. If you only include tables with numbers, the reader will have no idea what this means leaving too much for interpretation. So, make sure you, the report writer, are the ones doing the interpretations and making the assumptions.

Other important details:
1. Include page numbers
2. Make sure all font is the same type thought out and size are consistent (use 12-point font).
3. Make sure font type is reasonable, like Times New Roman, Calibri, or Arial. If it is hard to read, do not pick that font type.
4. Check carefully for spelling mistakes and grammar issues—the report needs to be readable and understandable.
5. When you include tables or figures, make sure to:
a. Name the table or figure (e.g., Table 1. Business SPELL Ratios, 2021)
b. Include a table number of figure number (in the example above, this is the “Table 1.” Part)
c. Include a source for the tables at the bottom (e.g., source: Spartan Dairy 2021 CFS)
6. Make some type of clear delineation of your sections, such as including a header in bold. You can use the outline below to determine your different section headers. For example:

INTRODUCTION

Spartan dairy is…

Team Report Outline

Cover page (first page of report)
• One page
• Include a title of the report
• Include the business name, all team member first and last names, and the date report was submitted or completed
• Use and include an image that represents your business

Each section below should appear in the order in which it is shown below, including the Executive Summary.

Executive Summary
• This should be about a quarter page in length
• It can be in bullet point form
• It should pick the highlights from each section, I. Introduction – VI. Financial Goals: “How Much” Analysis, providing an overview of the report. For example, each bullet point could be 1-4 sentences on each section. Note that some section highlights may need to be longer than others, AND, it should include your overall assessment of results.
• A reader should be able to look at the Executive Summary and get a big picture view of the report and findings.
• Write this section last, after all other are completed.

I. Introduction
• In 7-10 sentences, briefly lay out what it is you are doing in this report.
• You can describe each section and what they will contain.

II. Business background
• This can be a separate section or part of the introduction.
• This will be about 7-10 sentences
• Describe the operations.
o What is produces (e.g., dairy, crops, etc.)
o Number of livestock
o Number of acres of land
o How long it has been in business (make up a time)
o Where it is located
o Legal structure
o How is compares in terms of size to other operations
o Some of this will be “creatively constructed” details

III. Data and Basic Financial Information
• Explain your raw data sources (i.e., P&L statement and balance sheet)
• Discuss any errors, omission/missing items or other issues with the data
• Briefly discuss (3-5 sentences) the process for constructing the CFS
• Give an overall view of each statement.
o Income statement:
 How much they made
 Their expenses
 Taxes
 NAIT and addition to Retained earnings
o Balance Sheet:
 Total assets, total liabilities and total equity
 Briefly identify and discuss anything that stood out to you (note: at least one thing needs to stand out to you)
o Cash flow:
 Net Cash Flow from Operations
 Net Cash Flow from Investment
 Net Cash Flow from Financing
 Briefly identify and discuss anything that stood out to you (note: at least one thing needs to stand out to you)

IV. Financial Condition: “What Is” Analysis
• In 2-3 sentences set up this section by briefly explaining what the rations will tell us.
• Include a table of your ratios, industry comparison, and your rankings
• For each category of ratio, include a subsection with a brief discussion:
o Solvency – what did you pick, discuss logic behind ratios selected (2-4 from each group) – why you picked them, how did they compare, how did you rank it, and what is your general assessment (this is your interpretation) of how the firm is doing given this set of ratios.
o Profitability – what did you pick, discuss logic behind ratios selected (2-4 from each group) – why you picked them, how did they compare, how did you rank it, and what is your general assessment (this is your interpretation) of how the firm is doing given this set of ratios.
o Efficiency – what did you pick, discuss logic behind ratios selected (2-4 from each group) – why you picked them, how did they compare, how did you rank it, and what is your general assessment (this is your interpretation) of how the firm is doing given this set of ratios.
o Liquidity – what did you pick, discuss logic behind ratios selected (2-4 from each group) – why you picked them, how did they compare, how did you rank it, and what is your general assessment (this is your interpretation) of how the firm is doing given this set of ratios.
o Leverage – what did you pick, discuss logic behind ratios selected (2-4 from each group) – why you picked them, how did they compare, how did you rank it, and what is your general assessment (this is your interpretation) of how the firm is doing given this set of ratios.
• Summarize the business strengths and weaknesses based on your discussion above.

V. Opportunities and Threats: “What If” Analysis
• In 2-3 sentences set up this section by briefly explaining what you are doing.
• Identify the scenarios you selected—you should have 3 total scenarios, that is, 2 + depreciation change – see week 11 video for more)
• Explain why you selected each scenario.
• Describe the specific change you implemented in the CFS.
• Show the results of all scenarios on the ratios in a table with each clearly identified—make sure to include the baseline (original ratios both for the firm and industry) for comparison.
• For each scenario, give an overview (brief discussion) of what changed, what did not change.
• Make an assessment (interpretation) of the outcome.
• Briefly summarize the business opportunities and threats based on your discussion above.

VI. Financial Goals: “How Much” Analysis
• In 2-3 sentences set up this section by briefly explaining what you are doing.
• Identify the financial goal you selected—you should have 2.
• Explain why you selected each financial goal.
• Describe the specific change you implemented in the CFS for each goal.
• Show the results of financial goals in a table or figure or series of figures. Make sure to include the baseline (original ratios/values both for the firm and industry) for comparison.
• For each financial goal, give an overview (brief discussion) of what changed, what did not change.
• Make an assessment (interpretation) of the outcome.
• Briefly summarize the pros and cons of the financial goals you selected.