Business reports are one of the best ways to communicate.Business reports can be used to help make important decisions.To write an effective business report, you need to understand what it is and how it can be used.
Step 1: Give an idea.
A justification/recommendation report is a report that presents an idea.You can use the reports to make suggestions.The report usually has a summary and body.Your request is highlighted in the summary.The benefits, costs, and risks associated with your request are the subject of the report.You want a 3D printer for your division.To ask the management team for the printer, you would have to write a justification/recommendation report.
Step 2: There are risks involved in a specific opportunity.
The risks involved with a specific course of action are determined by an investigative report.This type of report can help a company anticipate consequences.There will be an introduction, body and conclusion in the report.The problem is highlighted in the introduction.The results of the investigation are discussed in the body.The conclusion is summarized.A pharmaceutical company wants to partner with another company but has some concerns.Company X does not want to partner with a company that has had financial problems in the past.Company X uses an investigative report to discuss in-depth financial information of company Y and its directors.
Step 3: Provide compliance information to a governing body.
A compliance report helps companies show accountability.A compliance report will be used to show proof to a governing body.It is following all applicable laws and spending money in a proper way.The report has an introduction, body and conclusion.An overview of the report's major sections is included in the introduction.The regulatory entity needs to know specific data in the body.The conclusion is summarized.The board of administration of the California Public Employees Retirement System needed to see that it followed all applicable laws and rules in 2010.The annual compliance report shows their activities for the year.
Step 4: The feasibility of a project should be presented.
A feasibility report is an exploratory report about an idea.The summary and body should be in the report.The idea is presented in the summary.The proposed idea is covered by the body.Can this project be completed within the budget of the company?Will the project be profitable?Can this project be completed in the allotted time?
Step 5: There was present research in the study.
There is a research study report that presents research on an issue.It is an in-depth look at an issue.An abstract, introduction, methods, results, conclusion and recommendation should be in the report.The study or studies should be cited.A business might conduct a study on whether to ban smoking in the employee lounge.A research studies report is produced by the person who writes the study.
Step 6: Use consistent monitoring to help a company improve its policies.
A periodic report is a report that is written at fixed intervals.It can look at efficiency, profit and loss over the chosen interval.A pharmaceutical sales representative might give a monthly summary of his or her sales calls.
Step 7: It is a good idea to report on a specific situation.
A situational report is called for in a specific situation.The situation can be as simple as the information provided at a conference or as complex as a report on the response to a natural disaster.The reports have an introduction, body and conclusion.You can use the introduction to identify the event and preview what you will cover in the body of the report.The conclusion talks about the actions that need to be taken in the situation.A state's governing body would like a report after a storm.
Step 8: There are several solutions to a problem.
A report looks at several possibilities for a situation.The writer would recommend a course of action based on the results.An introduction, body and conclusion are required for a yardstick report.The report's purpose is stated in the introduction.The body presents a situation or problem.The best solution or alternative is revealed by the conclusion.ABC Auto Manufacturing, Inc. wants to open a plant in Asia.Depending on the company's needs, the report might narrow down three country options.The best location for the new plant would be determined by the report.
Step 9: Determine your format and objective.
What do you want the report to accomplish?Pick a type of report based on the desired objective.Regardless of the answer, you have to make a concise objective.The report's credibility is at risk if it is confused.You might want to get a bigger advertising budget for your department.The current advertising budget should be the focus of your report.
Step 10: Do you know your audience?
An outside party or someone within your firm may be included in your audience.The audience already knows the topic.Think about how the audience will use the information in the report.No bottom line is louder than money to a company or client.Say you want to implement a job-share program for your division.The company's HR director, CEO and COO are the target audience.Consider how much they know about job-share programs.The tone for the report will be set by the answer.The report will be both informational and strategic if your company has never considered a job-share program.The report will be less informative if the company has considered a job-share program.
Step 11: Do you know what you need to learn?
The hardest part of writing a business report is not in writing.It is gathering the data needed to support the conclusion.Data collection and market analysis are some of the skills involved.What do you need to know to make an informed decision?
Step 12: You need to collect the data for your report.
You risk losing credibility if your data is not well-researched.It depends on the type of report that you write.The data parameters you choose should be relevant to the point of the report.You'll be able to collect it quickly if the data comes internally.You can receive your data and plug it into your report quickly if sales figures are available from the sales department on a phone call.External data may also be available.If a department already collects customer analysis data, it's a good idea to borrow it.You don't need to do the research on your own.This will be different for every type of business, but the writer of a business report often doesn't need to do much research.If you are writing a justification/recommendation report, you have to research all the benefits of your idea and incorporate the research into your report.
Step 13: Write the report.
Depending on your objective, how you organize your report is up to you.You would organize a compliance report differently than a feasibility report.You can write your content if you have an idea of how to organize your report.The data should be broken into separate sections.A business report can't contain a lot of information.The success of a well-written business report depends on the way the data is organized.Keep sales and customer analysis data separate.To support the basic objective of the report, organize it into appropriate section headings, which can be read quickly as research.While waiting for the analysis to be completed, you can often work on sections separately, since some of the sections may depend on analysis or input from others.
Step 14: Specific recommendations can be drawn conclusions.
Clear conclusions can be drawn from the data examined in the report.If appropriate, recommend the best course of action based on the conclusions.Specific actions should be included in any goals.Changes to job descriptions, schedules, and expenses are necessary to implement the new plan.Each statement should show how the new method will help to meet the goal.
Step 15: The executive summary should be written.
The first page of the report should be the executive summary.If someone chooses to continue reading the entire report, the executive summary should give a brief overview of what they would read.It's similar to a trailer for a movie or an abstract in an academic paper.The executive summary is likely the only thing a busy executive would read.In no more than 200 words, tell your boss everything you need to know.If the boss is more interested, the rest of the report can be used.
Step 16: If necessary, use infographics for data.
It's helpful to include graphs or charts that show quantitative data.As it draws more attention to and differentiates the information, use color within the display.Bullet points, numbers, and boxed data can be used whenever possible.It helps to indicate the significance of your data by setting it apart from the rest of the report.Writing and the data itself can be a little dry, so visual figures are a great idea for business reports.Don't go too far.Infographics should be relevant.There are boxes on the pages with a lot of text.A page full of text can be tiring for a reader.It is possible to summarize important points on the page.
Step 17: If necessary, cite your sources.
Depending on the type of research you've done, you might need to explain where you got your information.The sources page in a business report is used to provide a resource for other people to look into the data.The citations in your report should be based on your industry.
Step 18: You need to proofread your report twice.
The impression that you didn't put enough effort into the report may be given by typographical errors.The credibility of your findings can be called into question by these errors.Make sure you present your information in a concise way.Don't use fancy words or make your sentences too wordy.Slang shouldn't be used.It's a good idea to use jargon or technical terms if your report and audience are tied to a specific industry.Don't use jargon and technical terms.Business writing is usually written in the passive voice, and this is one of the few instances where it is better than active writing.You can miss errors if you don't know what you're doing with your work.Ask someone else in your department to read the report for you.You should be open to the feedback.It's better to hear from a co-worker than from their boss.Take comments into consideration as you rewrite the report.
Step 19: You can create a table of contents.
To make it easy to reference and flip through your report, format the business report as formally as possible.The executive summary and conclusions are relevant sections.
Step 20: You should package your report.
A well-researched report is complemented by polished packaging.This may include binders or folders.The bottom line is that your report needs to grab the attention of your audience.This applies to all graphs and charts included in the report.