Formatting A Business Report

Only a few readers want all the details of a business in a report. It is quite similar to reading a news bulletin. Readers scan headlines on front page, editorial column in somewhere middle of pages and the sports news at the back.

 

If people do not get what they want in its standard place, but obviously have to hunt for it, so they get irritated. The same is with a business report. There are some strategies like which piece of information need to be placed where. Hence, follow the conventions and please the readers.

 

Conventions Of A Business Report:

 

Conventions are nothing but a standard format of business report. It is as follows:

 

• Title section: In shorter type of business report, title section is short and placed at front cover, whereas in longer report, it further includes referential terms, table of content and other details.

 

• Summary: A summary gives clear and concise details about the business. It includes main points, strong conclusions and chief recommendations. Try to keep it short but at the same time, it has to be informative. Many readers, especially senior managers do not read the entire document. So, write the report as if it is a stand alone (all details) report. Avoid using jargon words and make it simple, so that every reader understands it. If at all, build up a report after formatting the entire business description.

 

• Introduction: This is the foremost part of the proper report. Use it to depict the background of a particular problem. In this part, show the readers as why the report is important to them. Explain in plain English, how the information that follows is vital by including reference terms.

 

• Main body: This is the heart of any business report. It can have many sections and sub-sections. Each section needs to have a separate subtitle. It contains elaboration of problem. Writers need to write the information in it very logically. Experts read this section of the report. Therefore, writers can make use of little jargon here, but only after introducing it properly. In main body, writer may include a discussion part, wherein they can explain their view on the particular problem.

 

Conclusion and Recommendations:

 

The conclusion part of any business report presents the logical analysis of the problem. Many people read this part, so write it in simple language. If discussion part is included in main body, make this section shorter. Otherwise, writer can include discussion part in conclusion section.

 

Recommendation implies suggestion. Include few suggestions that can solve the problems. Make it specific but reasonable. The last part is Appendices. Include heavy information here because experts only read this part. Thus, follow the format described above and always keep reader’s perspective while writing a business report.