In-company correspondence. Memorandums.

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4.1. What is memo?

Memorandums are written internal communications which advise or inform employees of policies and procedures that their company has decided to adopt. The memo may be put on a notice board for everyone to see, or circulated in internal mail to the departments it concerns. In the latter case, the employee usually signs the memorandum to acknowledge that he/she has read it. There are numerous subjects that memos deal with, from informing staff of a retirement, to announcing important administrative or structural changes in the company.

4.2. What differs a memo from a business letter?

Memos can be as formal as a business letter. However, the heading and overall tone make a memo different from a business letter. Because you generally send memos to co-workers and colleagues, you do not have to include a formal salutation or closing remark.

4.3. Is a memo always a right solution to communicate a matter?

While memos are a convenient channel to communicate, it is always necessary to determine if a meeting is more appropriate. For example, pretend your team needs to make a very important financial decision. A memo can ask for that information from team members and request a response by a specific date. By meeting with everyone, however, you not only get to hear final decisions but the rationale behind them. In fact, new ideas may stem from face-to-face discussions. By writing a memo in this scenario, you may never invent alternative ways of solving the problem.

Before writing a memo, outline what your purpose is for doing so, and decide if the memo is the best communication channel.

4.4. What are the purposes of memos?

Usually you write memos to inform readers of specific information. You might also write a memo to persuade others to take action, give feedback on an issue, or react to a situation. However, most memos communicate basic information, such as meeting times or due dates.

4.5. What can audience for memos be?

The typical audience for a memo is your co-workers and colleagues. However, in the age of downsizing, outsourcing, and teleconferencing, you might also write memos to employees from other companies working on the project, or other departments within your company.

This is why knowing your audience is very important when writing a memo. For example, if your audience is generally familiar with you professionally and/or your role in the project, it is not necessary to provide a detailed background about your purpose. If they are new to the project, provide detailed background information so that they understand the situation and can provide constructive feedback if desired.

4.6. What information does a memo heading provide?

A memo's heading provides information about who will receive the memo, who is sending the memo, the date, and the memo's subject. This information may be bolded or highlighted in some way. For example:

To:

From:

Date:

Subject:

4.7. What tone is used for memos?

Since you typically send memos to those working within your company, you can use a more informal tone than you would if you were writing a business letter. For example, you might refer to your colleagues by their first names or use humor. However, always keep in mind that you still need to be professional. Ask yourself how the company's president would react to your memo. If you would be embarrassed to have the president read your memo, consider changing or eliminating information.

4.8. How long could a memo be?

Memos are generally short, concise documents. However, you may have to write longer memos, depending on your topic. For example, a memo might present the new guidelines for a specific office task. Obviously, if you have over forty guidelines, the memo will be more than a page. Some memos might even introduce a short report. In this case, you might include the report in the memo, or the memo might be a separate document, introducing the report.

4.9. What are the format guidelines?

Regardless of the style, memos generally have similar format characteristics, unless otherwise specified by your company. Listed below are some basic guidelines that can help you create a memo:

· Memos have one-inch margins around the page and are on plain paper

· All lines of the memo begin at the left margin

· The text begins two spaces after the subject line

· The body of the memo is single-spaced, with two spaces between paragraphs

· Second-page headings are used, as in business letters (it includes who the Memo is to, the page number, and the date)

· The sender usually signs the Memo using initials, first name, or complete name.

4.10. What are the types of memos? Can you characterise them?

Each memo is written for a specific purpose to a specific audience. The purpose and audience for your memo will help guide what type of memo you will write. Even though no two memos are identical, four common broad categories exist. They are:

· directive memos

· response memos

· trip report memos

· field report memos

Directive Memo

 A directive memo states a policy or procedure you want the reader or co-worker to follow. The body of the memo should begin with a clear, concise sentence that states the purpose of the memo. You then provide statements that explain the rationale for such a decision or procedure.

Response Memo

The purpose of this memo is to provide the audience with desired information. It usually has four parts:

· purpose statement

· summary

· discussion

· action

Begin this memo with a short paragraph stating the purpose, which is always to respond to a request for information. Next, summarize the information requested.

Third, in a discussion section, point out to the reader any important information that you feel should be highlighted or stressed.

Finally, in the action section, state any additional action you are going to take or feel should be taken to properly address the original request for information.

Trip Report Memo

A trip report memo is usually sent to a supervisor after an employee returns from a business venture. The structure is the same as that of response memo.

Begin this memo with a short paragraph stating the purpose, which is always to provide information on your trip. Next, summarize the trip. Remember, the reader is usually not interested in a detailed minute by minute account of what happened. Instead, take the time to write a clear and concise outline of your trip. Third, in a discussion section, point out to the reader any important information that you feel should be highlighted or stressed. Finally, in the action section, state any additional relevant information you have come across since returning from the trip or any recommendations you might have for the reader.

Field Report Memo

Memos are often used to report on inspection and procedures. These memos, known as field or lab reports, include the problem, methods, results, and conclusions, but spend less time on the methods section.

A field or lab report memo has the following structure:

· purpose of memo

· summary

· problem leading to the decision to perform the procedure

· methods

· results

· conclusions

· recommendations

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