This document provides an overview of key aspects related to business communication and report writing. It discusses the importance of business correspondence, essential elements of effective business letters, and various communication channels like meetings, telephone calls, and technology. The document also explains the meaning and significance of report writing, outlines the structure of different types of reports, and provides guidance on writing style, tone, readability and conventions. Specific topics covered include business writing skills, formats for business letters and reports, guidelines for phone and in-person communication, and tips for structuring, drafting and proofreading business documents.
2. Business writing skills
Significance of business correspondence
Essentials of effective business correspondence
Business letter and forms
Meeting
Telephone communication
Use of technology in business communication
Report writing-meaning and significance
Structure of reports
Negative, persuasive reports
special reporting-informal reports, proposals, formal
reports.
3. Business writing is always carefully crafted, but the truth it’s
often ridden with Misspellings, Misused Words and
Inaccuracies.
The following steps to be taken care while drafting a business
letter.
Know Your Audience
Focus on Content and Style
Use Formatting Wisely
Proofread Thoroughly, Revise Ruthlessly
Be Aware of Attitude and Perspective
4. • Knowing the purpose a piece of writing serves gives
you a sense of direction.
• writing a business report should follow a specific
format.
Example:
an in-office email could be short and informal, but a
customer email or a PowerPoint presentation should
follow guidelines of courtesy, clarity and conciseness.
5. Simple Language
Conciseness and Brevity
Stick to your subject matter
Focus on facts
Aim for clarity and avoid ambiguity
Choose short words
Avoid unnecessary décor (adjectives and adverbs)
Distinguishing Opinion From Facts
Serving a Purpose
6. Putting so much work in creating a professional piece of writing should
wrap up with thorough proofreading. Ensure you check for syntactical,
grammatical and typographical errors. If you cannot proofread your own
work, have it proofread by someone else to make sure it has flow and
readability and it’s free of embarrassing errors.
You can also run it through an online spellchecker to catch common
grammatical errors and misspellings, but remember that spellcheckers
cannot detect contextual spelling errors (e.g. if the misspelled word is a
properly spelled different word, like their/they’re, accept/except,
right/write, here/hear). Spelling errors can best be avoided by improving
your spelling skills using software like Ultimate Spelling.
Being aware of commonly misspelled words or grammatical
weaknesses you have will help you anticipate and prevent them from
spoiling your writing.
7. • It’s not enough to know your audience and what they want from you.
• It’s crucial that you also know the different layers of meaning your
writing conveys.
• Word choice, sentence structure, viewpoints and expressions all
reveal more than you think about your attitude and perspective on
what you’re writing about.
• The "You"-attitude is an aspect of business writing worth
considering. It suggests that your writing should adopt the point of
view of the reader, rather than yours.
• The You-attitude more often than not motivates the reader to act
towards your desired direction, makes you appear more trustworthy,
and promotes a feel-good atmosphere.
8. Understanding the principles of business
correspondence is one of the most fundamental tasks for
any business professional.
using business correspondence is a great way to follow-
up after an interview and build a network of referrals.
Businesses use business correspondence to develop a
professional relationship with their customers.
Alternatively known as customer correspondence, this
form of communication is an effective way of building a
loyal customer base.
9. • Business correspondence gives companies the ability
to communicate continuously with their customers and
eventually develop an understanding of their needs
and wants to gain an advantage over competitors.
• Business correspondence comes in the form of letters,
emails or text messages.
• The method of correspondence depends on the issue
being addressed, as well as on the party receiving the
message. Business correspondence is also used to
gather a paper trail of events between particular dates.
10. Structure
Clarity
Consistency
Medium
Relevancy
Primacy/Recency
Psychological Rule of 7±2
11. • How you structure your communication is fundamental
to how easily it is absorbed and understood by your
audience.
• Every good communication should have these three
structural elements:
• an opening,
• a body,
• a close.
• This structural rule holds true no matter what your
communication is -- a memo, a phone call, a voice
mail message, a personal presentation, a speech, an
email, a webpage, or a multi-media presentation.
12. • Be clear about the message you want to deliver, as
giving a confused message to your audience only
ends up with them being confused and your message
being ignored.
• If you are giving a message about, say, overtime
payments don't then add in messages about detailed
budget issues or the upcoming staff picnic -- UNLESS
they ABSOLUTELY fit in with your original message.
• It's far better and clearer for your audience if you
create a separate communication about these
ancillary issues.
13. • Nothing more upsets a regular reader of, say, your newsletter
than inconsistency of your message.
• Taking a position on an issue one week, only to overturn it the
next, then overturn THAT position the following week, only
breeds distrust in your message.
• And distrust in you!
• People who distrust you are exceedingly unlikely to take the
action you wish them to take. They are also highly unlikely to pay
any attention to your future messages.
• As well as consistency amongst multiple messages, be aware
that inconsistency within your message can be just as deadly to
audience comprehension.
14. paper-based memo
Letter
one-to-one face-to-face
Presentation
Seminar
one-to-one phone
Presentation
Meeting
one-to-many personal
presentation
plain text email
one-to-many phone
presentation
text + graphics email
voice email
webpage
webcast/web video
radio broadcast
television broadcast
press release
tv/film commercial
cd-rom/dvd
15. It never ceases to amaze me that business
managers still believe that everyone would be
interested in their message—and then proceed to
subject any and everyone they can find to a
horrendous PowerPoint slideshow put together by
a well-meaning but aesthetically-challenged
subordinate.
16. • It is essential to know that, one week later, a business
communication is remembered by one or both of two things:
• the power and memorability of its opening
• the power and memorability of its close
• Psychologists call the effect of remembering the first few items
presented as a 'Primacy Effect'. Similarly, they call the effect of
remembering the last few items presented to you as a 'Recency
Effect'.
• Since individuals differ in which Effect is the most dominant for
them, it is best to 'cover your bases' and make an effort to have
both a powerful and memorable opening and a powerful close.
17. • A powerful opening can be anything that captures the
audience's attention:
• a quote,
• a joke,
• a loud noise,
• a preposterous statement.
• The opening and closing of your business communication
are the two most easily remembered and therefore
essential elements. Make sure you give your audience
something to remember.
18. • Psychologists have long known that the human brain has a finite
capacity to hold information in short-term or 'working' memory.
• Equally, the brain is also structured to retain information in
'clusters' or groups of items.
• These clusters or groups average, across the whole of mankind,
at seven items, plus or minus two.
• Which means that your audience is only able to hold on to
between five and nine pieces of information at any one time.
• Similarly, your audience will group your business
communication's message with between four and eight other
messages in their long-term memory.
19. • Now do you see the importance of clarity of message and of having a distinctive and
memorable opening and close?
• If you want your key points to be remembered even five minutes later, it is essential that
you limit your business communication to between just five and nine key points.
• Equally, if you want your key action points to be remembered five weeks later, ensure that
your communication is amongst the five to nine most memorable messages your audience
has attended to in the last five weeks.
• The human brain 'chunks' information together, so if you have a long document or
communication that you want to deliver, especially on paper, then structure your document
so that you have:
• 7±2 'chapters' or sections
• 7±2 sub-sections in each section
• If you find that you end up with 10 or 11 sub-headings in a chapter, or sub-sections in a
section, see if you are able to either consolidate two or three sub-sections in to, or create
a new main section out of them.
20.
21.
22.
23. • Theatre
• Class room
• Board Room
• Hollow Square
• U –Shaped
• Banquet Style
24.
25. • Use your first name when answering the phone, along with a
standard professional greeting.
• Eliminate background noise if possible.
• Try not to keep a caller on hold for a long time. If you can't help
right away, say you'll call back - then do so. Be patient and
listen. Avoid providing an answer before the caller is finished
speaking.
• Be as direct and friendly as possible. The caller may be busy.
• Try to sound genuinely interested in what the caller has to say,
and use the caller’s name whenever you can.
• Smile when you talk to people on the phone - it will show up in
your voice.
26. When transferring a call to another extension:
• Tell the caller that the call will be transferred to "name/department and
extension."
• Ask the caller to make a note of the number for future reference or in
case the call gets disconnected during transferring.
• Announce that a call is being transferred, so that the person receiving
the call knows that a transferred call is on the way. This will ensure that
the caller is being transferred to the correct person/department and will
get the assistance necessary.
• For example, you could say, "Hi Maria, I'm transferring Suzie because
she is having problems with her phone" instead of "transferring a call"
and then hanging up.
27. • Leave brief, clear messages on answering systems, giving your name,
reason for the call and contact information. Don't forget to leave your
phone number, even if the person has it, so there’s no need to look it
up.
• Ask if this is a good time for you to be calling when you reach someone.
If not, ask when you can reach her again.
• Put off making business calls when you're too distracted or tired to give
it your all. Make those calls when they fit in best with your schedule and
demeanor.
• Avoid acting rushed, even if you are. If you're so stressed that you can't
handle the call well, let voice mail pick it up until you've calmed down.
• Call often enough to follow up, but not so often that you appear
desperate for the business.
28. • End a call as quickly as possible with courtesy and etiquette : If the
caller drifts to another topic, say, “Oh yes, but about..." and mention the
main topic.
• Say that you "don't want to take up too much of his time." This is a
polite, way of keeping a phone call on track.
• Ask closed-ended questions. Rather than asking what a good time to
meet is, ask, "Will 10 a.m. be a good time to meet?“
• Say "So, does this solve your problem with the expense report?," or "Is
there anything else I can include in this package for you?" Thank the
caller for his time, or for calling (depending on who called).
• Say "I'll pull up that information and get a report to you by the end of the
day," to mean that everything is taken care of.
• Use a quick "Have a nice day" or "Thanks for calling" to end the call.
29.
30.
31. a written document describing the findings,
results, or conclusions of some individual or group
33. • Dash-boarding
Data-driven and derived
Report-generating
MS Excel
• Key-boarding
Narrative
Report-writing
MS Word
• Dash-boarding
Data-driven and derived
Report-generating
MS Excel
• Key-boarding
Narrative
Report-writing
MS Word
34. • STRUCTURE
• STYLE AND TONE
• READABILITY
• CONVENTION
• STRUCTURE
• STYLE AND TONE
• READABILITY
• CONVENTION
35.
36. • VARIES DEPENDENT ON WHETHER
INFORMATIVE (“TELLING”) OR
EVALUATIVE (“SELLING”) TYPE OF
BUSINESS REPORT
• EXTERNAL STRUCTURE – FRONT-END
AND BACK-END
• INTERNAL STRUCTURE
• VARIES DEPENDENT ON WHETHER
INFORMATIVE (“TELLING”) OR
EVALUATIVE (“SELLING”) TYPE OF
BUSINESS REPORT
• EXTERNAL STRUCTURE – FRONT-END
AND BACK-END
• INTERNAL STRUCTURE
37. • TITLE PAGE
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
• TITLE PAGE
• TABLE OF CONTENTS
• EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
38. • GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS AND
ACRONYMS
• LIST OF SOURCES/REFERENCES
• ATTACHMENTS – APPENDICES AND
ANNEXURES
• GLOSSARY OF TECHNICAL TERMS AND
ACRONYMS
• LIST OF SOURCES/REFERENCES
• ATTACHMENTS – APPENDICES AND
ANNEXURES
39. • INTRODUCTION
• BACKGROUND/CONTEXTUALIZATION
• RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCESS
• FINDINGS
• CONCLUSIONS
• RECOMMENDATIONS
• INTRODUCTION
• BACKGROUND/CONTEXTUALIZATION
• RESEARCH METHODS AND PROCESS
• FINDINGS
• CONCLUSIONS
• RECOMMENDATIONS
40. • STYLE IS REGARDED AS THE DEGREE OF
FORMALITY
• THE APPROPRIATE STYLE IS:
FORMAL (NOT INFORMAL)
FACTUAL (NOT OPINION-BASED)
RATIONAL (NOT EMOTIONAL) – “Connect intellectually with
your reader, disconnect your emotions and personal feelings.”
OBJECTIVE (NOT SUBJECTIVE)
• STYLE IS REGARDED AS THE DEGREE OF
FORMALITY
• THE APPROPRIATE STYLE IS:
FORMAL (NOT INFORMAL)
FACTUAL (NOT OPINION-BASED)
RATIONAL (NOT EMOTIONAL) – “Connect intellectually with
your reader, disconnect your emotions and personal feelings.”
OBJECTIVE (NOT SUBJECTIVE)
41. • TONE IS REGARDED AS THE WRITER’S
ATTITUDE – DIRECTED AT READER AND
SUBJECT MATTER
• TONE SHOULD BE:
RESPECTFUL (NOT PATRONIZING)
PROFESSIONAL
ASSERTIVE (NOT PASSIVE OR AGGRESSIVE)
• TONE IS REGARDED AS THE WRITER’S
ATTITUDE – DIRECTED AT READER AND
SUBJECT MATTER
• TONE SHOULD BE:
RESPECTFUL (NOT PATRONIZING)
PROFESSIONAL
ASSERTIVE (NOT PASSIVE OR AGGRESSIVE)
42.
43. • REFERS TO ALL THE ASPECTS THAT MAKE A BUSINESS REPORT MORE
NOTICEABLE AND EASY TO READ - “SOFT ON THE EYE AND
SOFT ON THE MIND”
• MUTUAL DEPENDENCE - THE WRITER RELIES ON THE READERS'
ABILITY TO READ EFFICIENTLY AND TO UNDERSTAND THE
(INTENDED) MESSAGE.
• WRITER NEEDS TO DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO ENABLE AND
FACILITATE A COMMON UNDERSTANDING
• TECHNIQUES TO ENHANCE THE READABILITY:
LAY-OUT
USE OF WHITE SPACE
HEADINGS/SUB-HEADINGS
NUMBERING
• REFERS TO ALL THE ASPECTS THAT MAKE A BUSINESS REPORT MORE
NOTICEABLE AND EASY TO READ - “SOFT ON THE EYE AND
SOFT ON THE MIND”
• MUTUAL DEPENDENCE - THE WRITER RELIES ON THE READERS'
ABILITY TO READ EFFICIENTLY AND TO UNDERSTAND THE
(INTENDED) MESSAGE.
• WRITER NEEDS TO DO EVERYTHING IN THEIR POWER TO ENABLE AND
FACILITATE A COMMON UNDERSTANDING
• TECHNIQUES TO ENHANCE THE READABILITY:
LAY-OUT
USE OF WHITE SPACE
HEADINGS/SUB-HEADINGS
NUMBERING
44. • USE OF TABLES AND FIGURES – LABELLING, NUMBERING
AND REFERENCING
• APPENDICES AND ANNEXURES - LABELLING, NUMBERING
AND REFERENCING
• CITATION AND REFERENCING – HARVARD METHOD –
ALWAYS ACKNOWLEDGE SOURCE AND AVOID PLAGRIASM AT
ALL COSTS
• FORMAT, DESIGN AND LAY-OUT – INDUSTRY AND
ORGANIZATION-SPECIFIC GUIDELINES AND TECHNIQUES
• USE ACTIVE VOICE (AS OPPOSED TO PASSIVE) – WRITTEN IN
THIRD PERSON
• USE OF TABLES AND FIGURES – LABELLING, NUMBERING
AND REFERENCING
• APPENDICES AND ANNEXURES - LABELLING, NUMBERING
AND REFERENCING
• CITATION AND REFERENCING – HARVARD METHOD –
ALWAYS ACKNOWLEDGE SOURCE AND AVOID PLAGRIASM AT
ALL COSTS
• FORMAT, DESIGN AND LAY-OUT – INDUSTRY AND
ORGANIZATION-SPECIFIC GUIDELINES AND TECHNIQUES
• USE ACTIVE VOICE (AS OPPOSED TO PASSIVE) – WRITTEN IN
THIRD PERSON
45.
46. • GRAMMATICAL AND LANGUAGE RULES
• USE OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
• AVOID JARGON AND UNFAMILIAR
TECHNICAL TERMINOLOGY
• SENTENCE AND PARAGRAPH
STRUCTURING
• GRAMMATICAL AND LANGUAGE RULES
• USE OF ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS
• AVOID JARGON AND UNFAMILIAR
TECHNICAL TERMINOLOGY
• SENTENCE AND PARAGRAPH
STRUCTURING
47. • VARY THE LENGTH OF SENTENCES
• EASY TO UNDERSTAND CONCEPTS – SHORTER SENTENCES.
COMPLEX CONCEPTS – LONGER SENTENCES TO ENABLE EFFICIENT
ASSIMILATION OF INFORMATION
• DON’T SUBSTITUTE A FULL-STOP FOR A COMMA – “IF YOU CAN
USE A FULL-STOP USE IT!”
• ONE CONCEPT/KEY POINT, ONE PARAGRAPH. DIFFERENT
CONCEPT, DIFFERENT PARAGRAPH. “DON’T MIX ‘N MATCH – AVOID
LIQUORICE ALL-SORTS WRITING STYLE”
• CREATE A MEANDERING AND MESMERIZING WRITING STYLE AS
YOU TRANSITION FROM ONE PARAGRAPH TO THE NEXT. AS YOU
EXIT ONE PARAGRAPH START INTRODUCING THE NEXT ONE.
• VARY THE LENGTH OF SENTENCES
• EASY TO UNDERSTAND CONCEPTS – SHORTER SENTENCES.
COMPLEX CONCEPTS – LONGER SENTENCES TO ENABLE EFFICIENT
ASSIMILATION OF INFORMATION
• DON’T SUBSTITUTE A FULL-STOP FOR A COMMA – “IF YOU CAN
USE A FULL-STOP USE IT!”
• ONE CONCEPT/KEY POINT, ONE PARAGRAPH. DIFFERENT
CONCEPT, DIFFERENT PARAGRAPH. “DON’T MIX ‘N MATCH – AVOID
LIQUORICE ALL-SORTS WRITING STYLE”
• CREATE A MEANDERING AND MESMERIZING WRITING STYLE AS
YOU TRANSITION FROM ONE PARAGRAPH TO THE NEXT. AS YOU
EXIT ONE PARAGRAPH START INTRODUCING THE NEXT ONE.
48. • STEP 1: PLANNING
• STEP 2: RESEARCHING THINKING (80%)
• STEP 3: ORGANIZING
• STEP 4: WRITING THE FIRST DRAFT
• STEP 5: QUALITY ASSURANCE INKING
(20%)
• STEP 6: SUBMIT FINAL DRAFT FOR APPROVAL AND
ADOPTION
• STEP 1: PLANNING
• STEP 2: RESEARCHING THINKING (80%)
• STEP 3: ORGANIZING
• STEP 4: WRITING THE FIRST DRAFT
• STEP 5: QUALITY ASSURANCE INKING
(20%)
• STEP 6: SUBMIT FINAL DRAFT FOR APPROVAL AND
ADOPTION
49. • DEFINE THE PURPOSE (WHY?)
• FORMULATE THE OBJECTIVES (WHAT?)
• SUBMISSION TARGET DATE (WHEN?)
• SUBMISSION AND APPROVAL PLATFORM/COMMITTEE
(WHERE?)
• SCOPE OF THE REPORT (WIDTH?)
• ESTIMATED LENGTH/VOLUME OF REPORT (WEIGHT?)
• CONDUCT A READERSHIP ANALYSIS (WHO?)
• DEFINE THE PURPOSE (WHY?)
• FORMULATE THE OBJECTIVES (WHAT?)
• SUBMISSION TARGET DATE (WHEN?)
• SUBMISSION AND APPROVAL PLATFORM/COMMITTEE
(WHERE?)
• SCOPE OF THE REPORT (WIDTH?)
• ESTIMATED LENGTH/VOLUME OF REPORT (WEIGHT?)
• CONDUCT A READERSHIP ANALYSIS (WHO?)
51. • METHODS – TO ACHIEVE THE SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH PRINCIPLE OF VALIDITY
• PROCESS – TO ACHIEVE THE SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH PRINCIPLE OF RELIABILITY
• COLLECTIVELY: VALIDITY + RELIABILITY =
CREDIBILITY
• METHODS – TO ACHIEVE THE SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH PRINCIPLE OF VALIDITY
• PROCESS – TO ACHIEVE THE SCIENTIFIC
RESEARCH PRINCIPLE OF RELIABILITY
• COLLECTIVELY: VALIDITY + RELIABILITY =
CREDIBILITY
52. • QUANTITATIVE – NUMERIC E.G. STATISTICS
• QUALITATIVE – SUBJECTIVE E.G. SURVEYS AND
FOCUS GROUPS
• SOURCES OF DATA:
ELECTRONIC
DOCUMENTARY
EXPERIMENTAL
HUMAN
• QUANTITATIVE – NUMERIC E.G. STATISTICS
• QUALITATIVE – SUBJECTIVE E.G. SURVEYS AND
FOCUS GROUPS
• SOURCES OF DATA:
ELECTRONIC
DOCUMENTARY
EXPERIMENTAL
HUMAN
53. • STEP 1: DEVELOP A DATA COLLECTION PLAN/STRATEGY
• STEP 2: DATA COLLECTION
• STEP 3: DATA COLLATION
• STEP 4: DATA ANALYSIS LEADS TO FINDINGS
• STEP 5: DATA INTERPRETATION
LEADS TO CONCLUSIONS
• STEP 6: VERIFICATION
• STEP 7: PUBLICATION LEADS TO
RECOMMENDATIONS
• STEP 1: DEVELOP A DATA COLLECTION PLAN/STRATEGY
• STEP 2: DATA COLLECTION
• STEP 3: DATA COLLATION
• STEP 4: DATA ANALYSIS LEADS TO FINDINGS
• STEP 5: DATA INTERPRETATION
LEADS TO CONCLUSIONS
• STEP 6: VERIFICATION
• STEP 7: PUBLICATION LEADS TO
RECOMMENDATIONS
54. • STRUCTURE (OF REPORT)
• SEQUENCE (OF REPORT)
• SPACING (POSITIONING OF TABLES, FIGURES,
ATTACHMENTS TO THE REPORT)
• RECOMMENDED ORGANIZING TOOL: MIND-MAPPING
• OBJECTIVE: TO ENSURE FLUENCY AND
EFFICIENCY IN WRITING WHEN TRANSITIONING
FROM THINKING (STEPS 1-3) TO INKING (STEPS 4-6)
• STRUCTURE (OF REPORT)
• SEQUENCE (OF REPORT)
• SPACING (POSITIONING OF TABLES, FIGURES,
ATTACHMENTS TO THE REPORT)
• RECOMMENDED ORGANIZING TOOL: MIND-MAPPING
• OBJECTIVE: TO ENSURE FLUENCY AND
EFFICIENCY IN WRITING WHEN TRANSITIONING
FROM THINKING (STEPS 1-3) TO INKING (STEPS 4-6)
55. • APPLY THE BEST PRACTICE WRITING
PRINCIPLES
• USE THE APPROPRIATE TECHNICAL REPORT
STRUCTURE AND FORMAT
• APPLY THE BEST PRACTICE WRITING
PRINCIPLES
• USE THE APPROPRIATE TECHNICAL REPORT
STRUCTURE AND FORMAT
56. • PROOF-READ AND EDIT THE REPORT
• PERFORM A SPELLING AND PUNCTUATION
CHECK
• CONSULT WITH LANGUAGE AND SUBJECT MATTER
EXPERTS AND RECEIVE FEEDBACK
• MAKE THE NECESSARY REVISIONS
• REFER TO THE EVALUATION CHECKLIST (PAGES
49-51 IN THE LEARNER MANUAL)
• PROOF-READ AND EDIT THE REPORT
• PERFORM A SPELLING AND PUNCTUATION
CHECK
• CONSULT WITH LANGUAGE AND SUBJECT MATTER
EXPERTS AND RECEIVE FEEDBACK
• MAKE THE NECESSARY REVISIONS
• REFER TO THE EVALUATION CHECKLIST (PAGES
49-51 IN THE LEARNER MANUAL)
57. • MAKE THE NECESSARY AMENDMENTS AND
WRITE THE FINAL DRAFT
• SUBMIT TO HIGHER MANAGEMENT TO
AUTHORIZE, APPROVE AND ADOPT THE
REPORT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
• MAKE THE NECESSARY AMENDMENTS AND
WRITE THE FINAL DRAFT
• SUBMIT TO HIGHER MANAGEMENT TO
AUTHORIZE, APPROVE AND ADOPT THE
REPORT FINDINGS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
58. • Effective business letter writing
• Effective Memorandum writing
• Effective e-mail communication
• Effective minute-taking
• Effective business letter writing
• Effective Memorandum writing
• Effective e-mail communication
• Effective minute-taking