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What are the Elements that should be Included in a Business Report?

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Depending on the purpose of the report, good reporting dictates that certain elements always be included in order for the report to be valid. Some of these elements include:

• The objective of the report.

o The purpose of the report is to provide actionable information to decision-makers. Stating the purpose at the beginning provides the audience with a frame of reference from the first paragraph that will assist them in digesting each bit of information and subsequent conclusions drawn.

• A thorough knowledge of who the audience for the report will be.

o Knowing who will read and act upon the report will have a direct bearing on what is contained within the report, how technical it can be, and what level of sensitive information can be discussed within the report.

• Accurate, objective accounting of all content and raw data.

o Sloppy record keeping and flawed research can lead to false conclusions. It is therefore imperative that the information in the reports upon which decisions will be made be accurate and supported by well-documented research.

• Organization of the content that can be easily understood.

o Lengthy descriptions of chemical processes, as well as other technical jargon should be avoided. Instead, use language and terms appropriate to the audience of the report.

• Information that is concise, neat and presented in a professional manner.

o Notes scribbled on a piece of paper you found on a seat in the train station are not permissible.

Reports should follow a consistent format, relying on headings, subheadings, summaries, and when requested, conclusions and possible solutions.

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