Slides on Writing Effective Business Reports
WRITING EFFECTIVE
BUSINESS REPORTS
Learning Skills Workshop
Objectives
• Reviewing Learning Skills resources,
• Reviewing basic business report structure,
• Essays versus reports,
• The main sections of a business report,
• Presenting data: tables, figures & appendices.
2
LEARNING SKILLS RESOURCES
Help Desk (12pm – 2pm weekdays)
Workshops for Undergraduates
StudyWISE
Questions
• What is the difference between an essay and a report? • Why are they different?
Essays vs. reports
•
•
•
•
•
Essays:
Originated in academia
Purpose is to show full understanding of a topic and present an argument
Don’t usually have separate sections or use headings
Don’t contain tables, charts, figures and appendices
Don’t include recommendations
•
•
•
•
•
Reports:
Originated in the workplace
Purpose is to summarise the key details of a situation and analyse the implications
Have headings for separate sections that can be read individually May contain tables, charts, figures and appendices
Often contain recommendations
5
Basic business report structure
Section
Comments
Cover Page
Title page
Assessment details, your name & student number
Title of report
Executive Summary
A summary of the entire report – not just the introduction. Usually 10% of the word count.
Table of Contents
If required, should be an automatic Table of Contents listing each section along with page numbers.
1. Introduction
1.1 Background
1.2 Aims
1.3 Scope
An outline of the report’s structure, often in three parts. For short reports, the three sections can be combined into one paragraph with just Introduction as a heading (10% of the word count).
2. Discussion (& Analysis)
2.1
2.2
2.3
Using the heading Discussion and / or Analysis is optional – use heading sand subheadings that identifies the main topic / topics in each section.
3. Conclusion
4. Recommendations
Summarises main points
BUSINESS REPORTS
Learning Skills Workshop
Objectives
• Reviewing Learning Skills resources,
• Reviewing basic business report structure,
• Essays versus reports,
• The main sections of a business report,
• Presenting data: tables, figures & appendices.
2
LEARNING SKILLS RESOURCES
Help Desk (12pm – 2pm weekdays)
Workshops for Undergraduates
StudyWISE
Questions
• What is the difference between an essay and a report? • Why are they different?
Essays vs. reports
•
•
•
•
•
Essays:
Originated in academia
Purpose is to show full understanding of a topic and present an argument
Don’t usually have separate sections or use headings
Don’t contain tables, charts, figures and appendices
Don’t include recommendations
•
•
•
•
•
Reports:
Originated in the workplace
Purpose is to summarise the key details of a situation and analyse the implications
Have headings for separate sections that can be read individually May contain tables, charts, figures and appendices
Often contain recommendations
5
Basic business report structure
Section
Comments
Cover Page
Title page
Assessment details, your name & student number
Title of report
Executive Summary
A summary of the entire report – not just the introduction. Usually 10% of the word count.
Table of Contents
If required, should be an automatic Table of Contents listing each section along with page numbers.
1. Introduction
1.1 Background
1.2 Aims
1.3 Scope
An outline of the report’s structure, often in three parts. For short reports, the three sections can be combined into one paragraph with just Introduction as a heading (10% of the word count).
2. Discussion (& Analysis)
2.1
2.2
2.3
Using the heading Discussion and / or Analysis is optional – use heading sand subheadings that identifies the main topic / topics in each section.
3. Conclusion
4. Recommendations
Summarises main points
Bibliography: Qantas group (Time Magazine 2007). After the failed bid, Qantas reviewed its fiscal approach to create a ‘poison pill’ to deter any future buy out attempts (Knibb 2007)