Conestoga College: COMM 1234 Writing Effectively Textbook Report

This case study report addresses an issue concerning the textbook "Writing Effectively" for the COMM 1234 course at Conestoga College. The problem arose due to the publisher releasing a new edition and shortening the return deadline for the older edition. The report details the investigation, including interviews with the bookstore manager, instructor, and administrative assistant, along with an analysis of sales and enrollment data. Calculations are performed to estimate the number of new and used textbooks needed for the upcoming semester, projecting a demand for approximately 66 new and 33 used copies. The report concludes with a recommendation to purchase 70 new and 40 used copies to accommodate potential demand fluctuations, suggesting that any surplus copies be donated to the departmental library. This ensures the department avoids further losses and provides resources for students. Desklib offers more solved assignments and past papers for students.

University
Professional writing skills for business
Name

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Table of Contents
Introduction 3
Calculating Number of Books Required 3
Conclusion 4
Next Steps 4

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Introduction
The dean of the department Ms. Kelly Book of communications notified that there was a certain
issue with the textbook of a course and on instruction from her, the matter had been investigated
further. After conducting the interviews of the concerned individuals, the issue relating to the
textbook of the course of COMM 1234 was finally revealed. The main problem seemed to arise
from the fact that the publisher of the prescribed textbook Oxblood has issued a new edition in
the market and the deadline for the return of the older editions that are still in the inventory of
Mr. Black’s store has been shortened. Therefore, the department of communications has to notify
Mr. Black how many books it shall require immediately because he would otherwise return his
inventory of the old edition textbooks. If he does not, the department of communications has to
pay for the unsold copies. The following report shall attempt at devising a proper solution to the
above issue by proposing a course of action.
Calculating Number of Books Required
Mr. Black provided the sales and inventory report of the sales of the textbook Writing Effectively
3rd Ed. from the current semester. It will help in finding out how many students from the course
actually bought the book. Besides, there were many who also bought used versions of the book
of the same edition. In order to determine the department’s next course of action, certain
calculations need to done that shall aid in estimating the probable number of students who shall
be interested in buying the book both used and new in the upcoming semester. The department
shall have to undertake a calculated risk based on the estimated figures.
Mr. Hoan, the professor of the course, had already intimated that all of the students are not
interested in buying the book. Some of them prefer sharing it with their classmates. Even the
numbers show that that is the case. In the current semester there were 448 students out of whom
only 120 students bought new books and 60 bought old ones which is about roughly 26 percent
and 13 percent respectively of the entire number of students.
In order to make an estimate of the number of students who might possibly buy the books in the
upcoming semester the number of enrolled students in the course needs to be looked at.
However, Mr. Mead mentioned that the current registration numbers were not final as more
students would be joining in the subsequent weeks. But since, a quick action needs to be taken in
the earliest it would be best to rely upon Mr. Mead’s prediction of the total number of students
who might be registering for the course. The projected number is 252. Therefore, if the
percentage from the current semester is used to carry out the calculation, it can be anticipated
that approximately 66 students shall buy new books and 33 of them shall buy old ones.

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Conclusion
It can be understood that the department is in a critical situation and a quick decision has to be
taken immediately. However, it also has to be considered that department should of be wasteful
about its precious money which shall have to be expended frugally. This is an emergency
situation and calls for the discretion of the dean. The calculations presented above can be helpful
in determining the number of copies of the 3rd edition of the textbook shall have to be ordered
by the department so that it does not have to incur further losses.
Next Steps
Mr. Blacks inventory report shows that there are 150 new copies of the 3rd edition of Writing
Effectively and 40 old copies of the same available in his store. In context of the emergency
situation that has arisen, it can clearly be seen that it would be much better for the department to
buy the number of old and new copies of the book according to the calculations that have been
done in the previous sections. In order to round off the figure and to avoid any inconvenience in
the future it can be suggested that the department buy 70 new books rather than 66 and 40 old
ones rather than 33. Therefore, if a situation arises where more students think of buying the book
than the projected estimate, spare copies shall be available in the hands of the department.
However, if the number of students who wish to have the book falls short of the expectations, the
few copies that shall be remaining can be donated to the departmental library which can keep the
spare copies so that the students without books can borrow.