Report Writing

Being able to write an effective and well presented business report is one skill that needs to be developed by all Business and Management students. In this task you are being asked to produce a report using an appropriate writing style and presentation. You should receive guidance on both from your module tutor.

Instructions:

In order to prepare for your group oral presentation you have already researched a particular company. In addition for task 6 you have focused on a particular functional area (e.g. HRM, Marketing, Finance, Operation etc.).  You are now being asked to write a short formal report on the present status and future development of that particular functional area in your chosen company. Remember to include a title for your report.

Company: Apple Inc.

Word Limit – 1000 words

Standard Report Structure

Contents List

This should show the full list of sections within the report (including any appendices, reference lists or bibliographic lists) and the page number on which each section begins

1 A Summary

     1.1 A one-page summary which outlines, in no more than three short

            paragraphs (and preferably just one) what the report says

     1.2 You should write this last

     1.3 It should be in the third person and present tense. e.g. 'The report

           considers the arguments in favour of Quality Circles and makes

           recommendations about their adoption. .

2 An Introduction

    2.1 This should give a brief explanation of the aims/context of the report,

            and should include details of any information necessary for the reader

            to understand it. e.g. company size; structure; main activities; your

             role/position; etc.

3 The Main Body of the Report      3.1 This is where you present your main account of the problem or issue you are               writing about.          3.1.1 It should be based on analysis, not intuition, e.g. avoid writing 'I                    feel...          3.1.2 You must backup what you write with evidence and/or argument.                    This means you must substantiate each assertion you make with                    evidence, e.g. extracts from the company annual report, staff survey,                    recent appraisal, interviews, etc.           31.3 You must support opinions with specific examples/evidence (e.g. from       a consultant’s report) or by building a logical argument based on       previously cited examples/evidence          3.1.4 You should make a clear distinction between objective facts and                    personal opinions.       3.2 Ideally this section should be divided into numbered paragraphs             like this briefing sheet, showing which section the paragraph belongs to.

      3.3 Headings for each sub-section should be underlined or in bold.

      3.4 Consider presenting material in the form of diagrams, charts, etc.

            wherever appropriate. These are not only easier to grasp, but also

            reduce the word count.

4 Conclusions

     4.1 This is where you sum up the general conclusions you have

            reached, such as 'The very low staff morale is a result of an autocratic

            management style'.

    4.2 Don't confuse conclusions (where you draw together the threads of the

          preceding discussion to make some overall points) with

          recommendations (where you say what should be done about the

          conclusions you have reached).

   4.3 It is sometimes a good idea to present your conclusions in the form of a

         bullet list, like this:

·         Conclusion 1

·         Conclusion 2

·         Etc.

5 Recommendations

     5.1 This is where you list the actions which your conclusions lead you to

            believe are necessary, e.g. 'The team leader should attend a course in

           modern approaches to management'..           .

     5.2 The recommendations must be based on the analysis and conclusions.

     5.3 Wherever possible, you should include a clear indication of:

o   The priorities

o   The timescale / deadlines for completion

o   Who is to be responsible for taking and/or monitoring the recommended action

o   To whom any action should be reported

o   From who authorisation must be sought

o   The financial budget or source of funds

o   Other costs/resource implications

o   Etc.

6 The List of References

     6.1 This is the list of sources referred to directly in your report. If you

          have mentioned a writer or a book (even a course book) you must give

          full details here of:

o   The writer(s) or editors

o   The date of publication

o   The title

• The publisher

6 The Bibliography (if any)

6.1 The bibliography is where you list details of any books or other sources you

       have consulted in preparing your report which you think it would be useful for

       your reader to know about or be able to consult. You should give the details

       outlined in the section on references above.

7 The Appendices (if any)