WRITING A BUSINESS REPORT

All professionals need to be effective communicators. You may be called on to

provide advice and information designed to aid the decision making process to
senior management of an organisation for whom you work or to whom you are
providing advice. So the preparation and presentation of a written report is an
extremely useful skill.
The ability to write a comprehensive and effective Business Report is an essential
part of your education at MQC.
It is essential that the purpose of the report is clear. Remember who you are writing
for, keep your reader in mind.

1.1 WHAT IS A GOOD REPORT?

Displays a good understanding of the problem

Displays creative and original thoughts in dealing with the problem
Clearly presents information, ideas, and recommendations
Is concise, with no irrelevant material
Is as precise and consistent as possible
Is logically presented
Explains the method of investigation and/or analysis which has been used
Addresses all the questions/problems posed in the instructions
Properly references all sources of information used in compiling the report
Has all tables and figures clearly numbered and labelled
Is grammatically correct, free from errors of spelling or punctuation

1.2 WRITING THE REPORT

A report should include the following

1.2.1 ASSIGNMENT COVER SHEET

Use a completed Assignment Cover Sheet approved and provided by the

college.

1.2.2 COVER/TITLE PAGE

The title page should provide the following

The title of the report

A restatement of the question
The name of the person for whom the report was prepared

The date of submission of the report

1.2.3 SYNOPSIS or EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

This is a brief summary of the report giving the reader an overview of what the report
is about. It should include:

Purpose (objectives) scope, and direction

Main arguments or findings
Methodology, how you went about the process, where the information came
from
Limitations or scope of the findings
Conclusions and/or recommendations reached

1.2.4 TABLE OF CONTENTS

Should follow the Title Page

Includes numbered section headings
Corresponding page numbers are used
Supplementary materials such as Appendices and References are included

1.2.5 BODY
This is the main body of writing divided into various sections
i.

INTRODUCTION

ii.

This provides background information

Explains the main tasks of the report and includes a clear statement
of purpose
It can also explain the limitations of the report

PROCEDURE
This is the main discussion and analysis of the findings of the report

iii.

Is organised into paragraphs under numbered section headings

Each paragraph deals with one idea or piece of information only
and includes everything which supports the idea; quotes, diagrams,
tables etc.
A new idea or piece of information requires a new paragraph

CONCLUSION

This follows clearly and logically from the body of the report. It should

iv.

Show the end of the report

Summarise the main points
Give your final thoughts or findings

RECOMMENDATIONS
This should suggest a course of action, based on the information you have
collected and researched. It should

Offer solutions
Provide answers to the questions raised in the findings

1.2.6 REFERENCES
You should use the system of referencing approved by the university
1.2.7 APPPENDICES
If you have any additional information or details such as tables, and/or diagrams
which are helpful and /or interesting but not essential to the requirements of the
report, you should attach this at the back of the report.

TS
23/7/12