YARDSTICK REPORT
A yardstick report is one that looks at multiple solutions to a problem. By defining the
criteria with which a solution is chosen, each possible solution is then explained and a
recommendation is made. Basically, the yardstick is the way to measure several solutions to see
which is best for a particular problem when there is more than one option. In the end, one
solution is recommended based upon the facts and how it best fits into the criteria.
How to write A Yardstick Report?
Step 1:
Identify the problem at the beginning of the report, by clearly stating the problem at
hand.
Step 2:
List all possible solutions to the problem. For example, the company trying to choose
appropriate
Advertising for a new product can choose to advertise with television ads, print ads in
the newspaper,
Internet advertisements, radio advertisements or billboard advertisements.
Step 3:
Define criteria by which to choose a solution. This may mean including or excluding
aspects of a Solution. The criteria must be specific enough to narrow down the
solutions. For example, the criteria
For choosing an advertising method might include limited funds, broad appeal, and a
desire to direct People to a website where they are able to purchase the specified
product.
Step 4:
Compare each solution to the criteria. It is important that the analysis of each option be
thorough and clearly explained. For example, television advertising would be expensive,
but targets a wide range of people. Newspaper ads would target only a specific region of
people, but would cost less. Internet ads would target a wide range of people and the
budget can be adjusted as needed. Internet ads can also send people directly to
website. Radio ads can reach a wide variety of people, but only in a specific geographic
area and can cost a good deal of money. Billboard adscan be made cheaply with small
roadside signs, but the size is limited and people driving by may not remember the web
address.
Step 5:
Decide on a solution and make a recommendation. At this point, the facts should make
the recommendation clear. If the recommendation is not easy to make add to the
criteria in order to narrow down the solution further.
Characteristics of Yardstick Report
1. Have different set of solution for the problem in hand
2. Compare those solutions with different criteria
3. Recommends the best solution that fits the criteria
4. It must be clear and specific when evaluating each solution
5. It should not force the reader to make a leap of understanding by not explaining why a solution is
included or excluded
Forms and Formality of Yardstick Report
Yardstick Report has its own form and formality. And it follows the following trend.
1) Introduction
- Purpose and overview
2) Problem statement
- Background
3) Solution and alternatives
4) Established criteria’s
5) Compare alternatives
–Tables and grids can be used
6) Conclusions and recommendations
Example of yardsti ck report
TO: AASTU civil engineering department
FROM: 3rd year civil engineering students
DATE: mar26, 2018
SUBJECT: the problem of building settlement
For centuries civil engineering played big role in easing lives of human beings By using
the concept of construction technology. Civil engineering made big efforts in constructing
buildings for different kinds of purposes. It made homes for living, working buildings, buildings
for educational purpose etc.... civil engineering also allowed us to build bridges across rivers,
also dams over rivers and other water bodies. In general civil engineering is playing a key role in
shaping the geography of our planet into a form which is functional to human beings.
Although civil engineering is successful in building these incredible structures, many
defects are observed if we look closely to each structures, one problem that we observe is that
many buildings seem to be prone to settlement problems, buildings may undergo a downward
movement after a duration of time which may be short as months or long as years. This
settlement might affect the function of the building slightly partially or fully, and also might
even bring harm to the users of the building. Therefore solution should be given for this
problem,
In order to solve this problem the main attention should be paid for the soil bearing the
structure. An expansive black cotton soil will contract if a load is applied on it due to the void
spaces which are found with in the soil particles. Therefore we can’t construct our structure on
a black cotton soil, so to avoid this problem one solution is to dig until a strong and bearing soil
strata is met, above which our structure is constructed. This method may be hard to apply if the
location of the hard strata if far from the surface which will result to more cost during the
digging process and also during the construction of the foundation, so in cases like this another
alternative is to substitute the soil up to a specific depth with a more strong stratum an
example is a rock filled stratum above which the structure will be built.
So in general after the necessary soil investigation is undergone, based on the
geotechnical characteristics of the soil and also taking into consideration of the economic
expenses the proper alternative of solving the problem is chosen.
