Writing a Business Report
- Purpose: To inform the reader about something. Investigation & solution to a problem.
- Audience: Writing as a consultant to a manager of a company with proposed solutions.
- Structure of a report: To the point & use of subheadings throughout.
Executive Summary: A summary of the whole report and should be the last thing you write.
Table of Contents: Detailing what section appears on which page number.
Introduction: Some background context to the subject matter.
Main Content: Some or all: literature or context, methods, results, discussion, recommendations.
Conclusion: The most important points of the report & recommendations, solutions or findings.
References: A list of analytical models, and other sources.
Writing a Business Report
Executive Summary: A summary of the whole report, the last thing you write. (10%)
✓ Provides a concise overview of the main themes.
✓ Should be able to be read as a stand-alone section.
✓ Should reflect the topic or question, the methodology, key findings and conclusions.
✓ Is not a detailed discussion – includes the bare bones.
✓ References should NOT be included.
✓ Is written in the past tense (e.g. data showed, research found etc.) in the third person.
✓ Goes at the start of the report but is written after the report has been finished.
Introduction:
Some background context to the subject matter. (8 – 10%)
✓ Should explain what the report is about – this shows understanding of the brief.
✓ Should explain why the report is being written – What is known already?
✓ Should clearly articulate the scope of the report.
✓ Is written in the present and future tense (e.g. shall, will etc.) in the third person.
✓ Is numbered 1.0 and comes after the Summary
Main Body: 70% – Conclusions: 5-10% – BE CONCISE AND TO THE POINT! –
Description
Produce a business report of 2,000 words analysing the organisational context and providing strategic HR recommendations
Your report should include:
Ø An executive summary
Ø An introduction to the report
Ø An external and internal analysis with particular attention to HRM issues
Ø A conclusion
Ø A recommended HR strategy /approach that will respond to the issues identified. Your recommendations should be based on your conclusions, justified and have consideration for cost, resource and practicality
Ø A reference list