Reference no: EM132584374
Process Steps for Preparing Your Business Report
Step 1: Analyze the problem and purpose
• What is the problem being investigated at this time? Why now? What opportunities exist? What difficulties do you anticipate? What problem are you going to solve and why is it important?
• Outline the background information to discover what you need to understand and analyze.
• Review the information on analytical reports (Chapter 12 and 13, particularly the sections on Feasibility/Justification Reports. Also, focus on the sample report in Chapter 11.)
Step 2: Anticipate the audience and issues
• Who is your audience? Who are you submitting the report to? If your report is circulated more widely around the College, who might read it? How does this affect the language you use? Your tone?
Step 3: Prepare a work plan
• Consider how you will proceed with work on the project over the course of the semester. What deadlines will you set?
Step 5: Organize, analyze, interpret, illustrate the data
• Study the material you have gathered from external sources.
o Select information that you can summarize or paraphrase in your report.
o Select statements or phrases that you can quote directly in your report
o Create visuals to represent key findings.
Step 6: Compose the first draft
• Write the report parts. Format the report with title page, table of contents, and references
• Prepare a brief transmittal letter to accompany the report