Most routine tasks—such as composing emails, memos, letters, informational reports, and oral presentations—require data that you can be collectcollected informally. Here are some techniques for collecting informal data and for generating ideas. Look in the files. If you are responding to an inquiry, you often cancan often find the answer to the inquiry by investigating the company files or by consulting colleagues. Talk with your boss. Get information from the individual making the assignment. What does that person know about the topic? What slant should be taken? What other sources would she or he suggest? Interview the target audience. Consider talking with individuals at whom the Messagemessage is aimed. They can provide clarifying information that tells you what they want to know and how you should shape your remarks. Conduct an informal survey. Gather unscientific, but helpful, information by using questionnaires or telephone surveys. In preparing a memo report predicting the success of a proposed fitness centre, for example, circulate a questionnaire asking for employee reactions. Brainstorm for ideas. Alone, or with others, discuss ideas for the writing task at hand, and record at least a dozen ideas without judging them. Small groups are especially fruitful in brainstorming because people spin ideas off one another.