Organizations need accurate, timely, objective and concise information to make effective decisions. One way they can obtain such information is from a business report. This document can be defined as “an organizedpresentation of information to a specific audience for the purpose of helping an organization achieve an objective”
While business reports share similar characteristics, they also need to be customized for their particular purpose. An informal report may be a brief summary while longer reports follow a more complex and formal structure.
Why do we need to write a business report?
A report that details the last type could highlight a problem and suggest a solution which might involve analyzing a business’s history, operations, problems, competition and goals, followed by a number of possible solutions (including their advantages and Disadvantages). Following this investigation, a specific solution might be recommended to aid future growth.
Purpose
Often recommend action to solve a specific problem
Format &Structure
Use shorter, more concise paragraphs and dot-points where applicable
Abstract
Always have an abstract (or executive summary) as readers are typically ‘time poor’ and skim and scan through the text quickly
Graphics
Feature graphics (such as tables and graphs) for Supporting main points
Writer
Are often the results of group work.
Reader
Are addressed to a specific audience (i.e. client or manager) established by the topic
Business Communication
While some smaller companies may not find themselves writing a great deal of business reports, larger companies use business reports throughout the year. A business report can be the best way a company has to communicate vital financial and background information to others. Many larger companies that write business reports throughout the year to employees and for board members hire a staff who do nothing but keep abreast of company changes