TypesofFormalReports.ppt

Types of Formal Reports Chapter 14 Definition Report is the term used for a group of documents that inform, analyze or recommend. We will categorize formal reports into: Informational reports Analytical reports Recommendation reports Informational Reports Informational reports present results so readers can understand a particular problem or situation. Example: Manager of a city’s website might prepare an informational report for the city council; the report would provide statistics on the number of people who pay their city water and sewage bills online etc. Informational reports might: Present information on the status of current research or of a project. Present an update of the operation in your division. Explain how your organization or division does something. Present the results of a questionnaire or research. Analytical Reports This type goes a step beyond presenting results. Analytical reports present results, analyze those results, and draw conclusions based on those results. These reports attempt to describe why or how something happened and then to explain what it means. Like informational reports, analytical reports can be formal or informal. Explain what cause a problem or situation – Present the results of a traffic study showing accidents at an intersection – the report explains what it means. Explain the potential results of a particular course of action. Suggest which option, action, or procedure is best. Recommendation Reports This type advocate a particular course of action. This usually present the results and conclusions that support the recommendations. This type is identical to analytical report. For example, your analytical report suggests using treatment X to be more efficient than treatments Y and Z. However, that does not mean that you will use treatment X as cost and other considerations might recommend treatment Y. What should we do about a problem? Should we or can we do something? Should we change the method or tech