Direct Approach vs Indirect Approach (2024)

Direct Approach vs. Indirect Approach

[Sample Intro in Direct Approach] [SampleIntro in Indirect Approach]

Direct Approach

When you use the direct approach, the main idea (such as a recommendation,conclusion, or request) comes in the "top" of the document, followedby the evidence. This is a deductive argument. This approach is used whenyour audience will be neutral or positive about your message. In the formalreport, the direct approach usually mandates that you lead off with a summary ofyour key findings, conclusions, and recommendations. This "up-front"arrangement is by far the most popular and convenient for business reports. Itsaves time and makes the rest of the report easier to follow. For those who havequestions or want more information, later parts of the report provide completefindings and supporting details. The direct approach also produces a moreforceful report. You sound sure of yourself when you state your conclusionsconfidently at the outset.

Indirect Approach

In the indirect approach, the evidence is presented first, leading thereforeto the main idea. This is an inductive argument. This approach is best ifyour audience may be displeased about or may resist what you have to say.

At times, especially if you are a junior member of an organization or if youare an outsider, writing with an extremely confident stance may be regarded asarrogant. In such cases, or if your audience will be skeptical or hostile, youmay want to use the indirect approach: Introduce your complete findings anddiscuss all supporting details before presenting your conclusions andrecommendations. The indirect approach gives you a chance to prove your pointsand gradually overcome your audience’s reservations. By deferring theconclusions and recommendations, you imply that you’ve weighed the evidenceobjectively without prejudging the facts. You also imply that you’resubordinating your judgment to the audience, whose members are capable ofdrawing their own conclusions when they have access to all the facts.

Although the indirect approach has its advantages, some readers will alwaysbe in a hurry to get to "the answer" and will flip to therecommendations immediately, thus defeating your purpose. Therefore, considerlength before choosing the direct or indirect approach. In general, the longerthe message, the less effective an indirect approach is likely to be.Furthermore, an indirect argument is harder to follow than a direct one.

Because both direct and indirect approaches have merit, businesspeople oftencombine them. They reveal their conclusions and recommendations as they goalong, rather than putting them first or last. As a result, the approachstrategy of business reports can sometimes be hard to classify.

Two Sample Introductions for Formal Reports

Direct Approach (assumes audience will favor or be neutral to your recommendations)

Since the company’s founding 25 years ago, we have provided regular repairservice for all our electric appliances. This service has been an importantselling point as well as a source of pride for our employees. However, we arepaying a high price for our image. Last year, we lost $500,000 on our repairbusiness.

Because of your concern over these losses, you asked me to study the pros andcons of discontinuing our repair service. With the help of John Hudson and SusanLefkowitz, I have studied the issue for the last two weeks and have come to theconclusion that we have been embracing an expensive, impractical tradition.

By withdrawing from the electric appliance repair business, we cansubstantially improve our financial performance without damaging our reputationwith customers. This conclusion is based on three main points that are coveredin the following pages:

·

It is highly unlikely that we will ever be able to make a profit in the repair business.

·

Service is no longer an important selling point with customers.

·

Closing down the service operation will create few internal problems.

Indirect Approach (assumes audience will be hostile to or resistant to your recommendations, or that you are much lower in the organizational power structure than the primary reader)

Since the company’s founding 25 years ago, we have provided regular repairservice for all our electric appliances. This service has been an importantselling point as well as a source of pride for our employees. However, therepair business itself has consistently lost money.

Because of your concern over these losses, you asked me to study the pros andcons of discontinuing our repair service. With the help of John Hudson and SusanLefkowitz, I have studied the issue for the last two weeks. The following pagespresent my findings for your review. Three basic questions are addressed:

·

What is the extent of our losses, and what can we do to turn the business around?

·

Would withdrawal of this service hurt our sales of electric appliances?

·

What would be the internal repercussions of closing down the repair business?

Source: Bovée, Thill, and Schatzman, Business Communication Today 7thed., pp. 115-16 and 408-09.

Direct Approach vs Indirect Approach (2024)
Top Articles
Latest Posts
Article information

Author: Ms. Lucile Johns

Last Updated:

Views: 6171

Rating: 4 / 5 (41 voted)

Reviews: 88% of readers found this page helpful

Author information

Name: Ms. Lucile Johns

Birthday: 1999-11-16

Address: Suite 237 56046 Walsh Coves, West Enid, VT 46557

Phone: +59115435987187

Job: Education Supervisor

Hobby: Genealogy, Stone skipping, Skydiving, Nordic skating, Couponing, Coloring, Gardening

Introduction: My name is Ms. Lucile Johns, I am a successful, friendly, friendly, homely, adventurous, handsome, delightful person who loves writing and wants to share my knowledge and understanding with you.