Task 5

[HD]

Discussions for task 5 of the CDEF scenario.

[Jared]

Is no one on task 5 yet? I'm working on it... I didn't personally feel the need for much discussion, but if you guys wanted a couple pointers of where to start:

1) This is a formal memo. CHANGE YOUR TONE TO SUIT YOUR AUDIENCE.

2) Don't go into unnecessary details in your executive summary. You want it to be skimmable.

3) EOM 1 Module Solution contains a great format for task 5.

4) Don't copy stuff from tasks 1-4 unless they are tables. Even then, tables are best suited in an appendix.

5) Include stuff not found in tasks 1-4, such as data sources, model setup, methods, model limitations, etc...

After task 2, task 5 is the most likely to be listed for "Tasks X and Y need improvement" when people fail the FA. I'm not pulling this statistic out of thin air, I sat down and went through the most recent trends according to the FA grading spreadsheet.

As soon as I had figured out the main goals, writing task 5 became much simpler and less of a teeth-grinding process.

[Jason]

I just started on task 5 as well but I am repeating some content from the previous tasks since those memos were to my project lead and this memo is to the CDEF board. I don't think it is realistic to assume that the CDEF board would have knowledge what I wrote my project lead. Do you think my approach is reasonable? 

Also, I'm not sure where to reference for the data sources. The only data provided in the assignment are the assumptions. Am I not seeing something? 

[Jared]

You can repeat the content fine. I think the grader wants to see you re-word it with a little less jargon to make it friendly to the eyes of the CDEF Board.

In regards to the data source, see ASOP 23. Read it carefully and you should find a reference telling you where to look and what to do.

[Jared]

Another hint: Module 4 slides 180-186 are GOLD.

[Tim Hall]

Are you guys including disclosures from the ASOPs? I am planning to but I am unsure where in the format of the report I should place it. It seems best to put it in the appendix but that seems like its being hidden from the client.

[3rdtimesacharm]

I included ASOP #23 in task 6, but i don't think it's practical to put it in task 5. What other ASOPs do you think are worth mentioning in client communication?

[Jared]

Module 4 slides 180-186 mention a particular ASOP in regards to the disclosure of relying on data/assumptions supplied by others. I might've slipped this in in Task 5

[Tim Hall]

That's what I'm trying to include, I am just not sure where to include it unfortunately

[Jared]

The model solution for EOM exercise one has a pretty good memo template. There's definitely a memo section in there best suited for talking about data and assumptions drawn from data.

[Zoo Keeper]

I basically condensed each of the sub-tasks into one sentence and compiled them for  executive summary. My executive summary includes: purpose of this project, brief description of the analysis methods, results of my analysis, recommendation based on result, last but not the least a couple sentences addressing ASOP 41. 

My Task 5 including the opening greeting is only about 1.25 pages, Arial 11 font. After the main body of task 5 there's an appendix. 

[Katherine Garner]

I'm structuring this so that my Executive Summary is first and then I have a section for each of my Tasks 1-4. In these sections, I've heavily relied on bullets because it looks organized and gets to the point. Is this too informal?? I plan on going back to write my executive summary once I have my body written. Also, how strongly is the appendix recommended? 

[Andrew Taggart]

Going by the structure of EOM 1 I'm wondering what people really included in the data section.  I don't really think there is that much data that was necessarily provided if all assumptions are supposed to be in the methods & assumptions section.  (I'm taking everything listed as assumptions on page 2 into 3 of the pdf as assumptions and not data provided.  Is this correct?)

[HD]

I titled that section "Data and Assumptions" and talked about them together so I didn't have to define them separately. Hopefully the graders are ok with that.

[HD]

Did you guys talk about your risk/return metric in your memo or is that too technical for the board? If not, how are you talking about the justification for picking your optimal asset mix?

[Andrew Taggart]

I am wondering about this too.  I'm thinking my memo was too technical the first time probably.

[3rdtimesacharm]

I'm mentioning my risk/return metric, but not getting into details about it. Just quickly explaining high-level what it means

[Anika]

We set the cost per employed person in Task 2, and ran sensitivity tests in Task 4. I'm wondering if we can/should adjust the cost based on the results of the sensitivity tests, and come up with a new cost...

[Anika]

Did you include SOMETHING about EVERYTHING from tasks 1-4 in the formal memo? I'm thinking stuff like interrelated assumptions may not be important to include, but excluded assumptions probably are, since it's part of model limitations. But then again it may not hurt to include a little piece of everything. What do you guys think?