Business and Technical Reports

 

Business and Technical Reports

A report is a major form of professional communication. It is used extensively by the government, business and industry as well as in profession, such as  science, engineering, medicine etc  It facilitates decision making and act as an instrument  for nurturing the health of organization and promoting its growth.

Key Differences and Types

a) Business Reports : Focused on management, strategy, and operations, including sales reports, progress updates, and financial summaries to guide company actions.

b) Technical Reports : Focused on detailed, specialized information such as engineering, scientific data, or technical specifications, and are generally created by experts for technical or business audiences. 

Common Components of Reports

i) Title Page: Title, author, date, and audience.

ii) Executive Summary: A concise summary of the entire report, including findings and recommendations.

iii) Introduction: Context, problem definition, and objectives.

iv) Methodology/Procedure: Methods used to collect data or perform research.

v) Results/Findings: Clear presentation of data, often using graphs or tables.

vi) Conclusions and Recommendations: Interpretation of findings and actionable, data-driven advice.

vii) References/Bibliography: Cited sources to ensure credibility. 

Purpose and Structure

i) Objective: To provide information, analyze issues, and suggest solutions.

ii) Structure: Formal, to-the-point, and easy to navigate, often containing high-level summaries for executives.

iii) Types of Reports: Progress, laboratory, inspection, feasibility, and, annual reports