Chapter 9

Analytical reports

Reports that analyze data, draw conclusions, and typically try to persuade the reader to accept the conclusions and act on the recommendations.

Business reports

Varying greatly in length, content, form, and formality level, they all have one or more of the following purposes: to convey information, answer questions, and solve problems.

Conference reports

Also referred to as trip reports, they often inform management about business trends, new procedures, innovative equipment, legal requirements, or other information that would affect their products, operations, and service.

Executive summary

A condensed version of a long report, proposal, or business plan, concentrating on what management needs to know from a longer report.

Feasibility reports

Examines the practicality and advisability of following a course of action.

Formal writing style

Characterized by objectivity, authority, and impartiality, it is appropriate for proposals and long research reports.

Functional headings

One- or two-word labels that show the outline of a report but provide little insight about the contents.

Infographics

Visual representations of data or information.

Informal writing style

Characterized by a friendly tone, first-person pronouns, and shorter sentences, it is often used to send short internal business reports to familiar audiences on noncontroversial topics.

Informational reports

Present data without analysis or recommendations.

Internal proposals

Reports distributed within a company that justify or recommend something, such as buying equipment, changing a procedure, hiring an employee, consolidating departments, or investing funds; also called justification/recommendation reports.

Interim reports

Also known as project reports, they describe the status of continuing projects.

Justification reports

Reports that justify or recommend actions, such as buying equipment, changing a procedure, filling a position, consolidating departments, or investing funds; also called recommendation reports or internal proposals.

Letter format

Contains a date, inside address, salutation, and complimentary close and usually longer and more carefully organized than typical letters.

Manuscript format

Usually printed on plain paper without letterhead or memo header, they begin with a title followed by systematically displayed headings and subheadings.

Meeting minutes

Summarize the proceedings of meetings.

Memo format

Reports that begin with essential background information, using standard headings: Date, To, From, and Subject and differing from regular memos in length, use of headings, and deliberate organization.

Portable document format (PDF)

A file type, invented by Adobe, that condenses documents while preserving the formatting and graphics.

Primary data

Results from firsthand experience and observation.

Problem statement

Helps clarify the task and defines the report's purpose and scope.

Progress reports

Also known as interim reports, they describe the status of continuing projects.

Purpose statement

Defines the focus of a report and provides a standard that keeps the project on target.

Recommendation reports

Reports that justify or recommend actions, such as buying equipment, changing a procedure, filling a position, consolidating departments, or investing funds; also called justification reports or internal proposals.

Secondary data

Comes from reading what others have experienced or observed and recorded.

Slide deck

A digital slideshow.

Summary

Compresses the main points from a book, report, article, website, meeting, or convention.

Talking headings

Designed to provide information and spark interest.

Templates

Digital forms usually made available on the company intranet or the Internet and suitable for repetitive data, such as monthly sales reports, performance appraisals, merchandise inventories, and personnel and financial reports.

Trip reports

Also referred to as conference reports, they often inform management about business trends, new procedures, innovative equipment, legal requirements, or other information that would affect their products, operations, and service.

Yardstick reports

Examines problems with two or more solutions to determine the best solution.