Recommended Headings for Business Reports and What Report Readers Want to Know

Someone typing a business report with a laptop

Recommended Headings for Business Reports and What Report Readers Want to Know

Contributed by Deane Gradous, Twin Cities consultant

Recommended Headings for Business Reports


Meeting reports

Group/date/place
Chart of follow-up actions and persons responsible by
date
Those present (those absent*)
Agenda items
Discussion of each agenda item
· Background
· Discussion
· Action plan
Next meeting and proposed agenda

What is the meta-message? “We make well-considered and important decisions.” “This group accomplishes a lot.”

Progress reports

Projects completed
· Final against plan (data)
· Learning to be shared
Projects in process
· Status against plan (data)
· Issues/concerns
Recommendations/implications

What is the meta-message? “I add value to the organization and am a learner/achiever.”

Research reports

Executive summary
Purpose/problem
Background
Research methods: design/activities/ costs, etc.
Research findings/results
Implications of these results
Conclusions/recommendations
Appendices (data, graphs, tables, charts, etc.)

What is the meta-message? “I follow good scientific methods.
You can trust my work, which is reliable and valid and the foundation for sound decisions.”

Trip reports

Date of trip/destination
Purpose of the trip
Background
Details
· Who
· What
· Findings/results
· Implications
Conclusions/recommendations
Follow up
Attachments

What is the meta-message? “I am a good investigator/ambassador.”


What Report Readers Want to Know From Research/Activity Reports

  1. Do I need to read your report? Does the title indicate a subject that is relevant to my responsibilities? Is the title
    accurate and descriptive? Does your report look interesting and readable?
  2. Give me a quick overview? Does your report have an executive summary so I can decide whether or not I need to read the whole thing?
  3. Why did you undertake this research/activity? Fill me in on the context and the background. Explain the relevance of your research/activity to our larger organizational goals.
  4. What purposes or accomplishments did you aim for? What were the major objectives and sub-objectives of your research/activity? What questions did you ask?
  5. What methods, processes, and procedures did you use? Because I and other may need to make decisions on the basis of information in your report, I expect to see a detailed description of what you did to obtain your results/findings. What obstacles and surprises did you encounter in the process?
  6. What are your results/findings? I don’t want to know everything you know about your research/activity. I do want to know what you discovered/accomplished. I hope you have included negative as well as positive results, so I and many others can learn from your research/activity.
  7. How do you interpret your results/findings? Your facts are interesting and important, but they also require some heavy thinking to interpret. Don’t leave all of the difficult, interpretive work to me. Give me tables, lists, charts, and/or graphs and point out the patterns in the data. Turn the data info information.
  8. What are the implications of your results/findings? What do your results/findings mean in terms of others’ activities? Turn your information into knowledge. Go beyond your interpretation to explain the significance of these results/findings. Do also express the limitations of these results/findings.
  9. What follow-up research/activities do you recommend? Because you have studied and explored the context, the background, and the results/findings in some detail, I look to you to offer recommendations on related decisions and future research/activities.

In short,

  • What are the facts?
  • What do they mean?
  • What do we do now?

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Cues and Transitions for the Reader (of Your Correspondence)

A business correspondence on a work desk

Cues and Transitions for the Reader

Contributed by Deane Gradous, Twin Cities consultant


To show addition
· and
· in addition
· besides
· furthermore
· moreover
· what’s more
· too
· not only … but also
· both … and
· not so obvious
· as well as
· another

To show time
· now
· since
· after this
· at length
· thereafter
· already
· at length
· after a few hours
· in the end
· afterwards
· then
· later
· previously
· formerly
· at an earlier time
· at the same time
· simultaneously
· meanwhile
· in the meantime
· and then


To show sequence
· first, second, etc.
· next
· former
· latter
· final
· last

To emphasize
· obviously
· in fact
· as a matter of fact
· indeed
· what’s more
· even without this
· especially
· truly
· really
· certainly
· moreover
· in truth
· above all

To compare
· similarly
· likewise
· in like manner
· parallel with
· in the same category
· comparable to
· equally important


To contrast
· on the other hand
· on the contrary
· conversely
· by contrast
· from another point of view
· more important
· but
· yet
· and yet
· however
· still
· after all
· for all that
· although this is true
· while this is true
· in spite of
· though
· even though
· nonetheless
· nevertheless
· notwithstanding
· in spite of this

To include
· namely
· especially
· specifically
· in detail
· including
· in particular
· to list
· to enumerate

More on next page



To repeat
· to repeat
· in brief
· in short
· as I have said
· as I have noted
· in other words
· once more
· again
· yet again
· that is

To give examples
· for instance
· for example
· to demonstrate
· to illustrate
· as an illustration
· a case in point
· another case

To show purpose
· to
· in order to
· so that
· for the purpose of
· with this in mind
· with this in view

To conclude
· to conclude
· in conclusion
· thus
· finally
· last
· to end


To infer
· hence
· so
· therefore
· consequently
· as a result
· for this reason
· this being the case
· it follows that …

To summarize
· in brief
· in summary
· on the whole
· to sum up
· in other words
· briefly
· in short
· in conclusion

To exclude
· with this exception
· all except
· all but
· except for this
· not that
· but not
· neither … nor

To show condition
· if
· whether

To show alternatives
· or
· either … or
· whether …or not


To concede
· no doubt
· admitting
· to be sure
· certainly
· indeed
· granted
· true
· in any case
· in any event

To refute
· no
· hardly
· on the contrary
· never

To mark
· with respect to
· as for …
· concerning
· in point of reference

To link
· in general
· to resume
· in particular
· to continue
· to return
· along with

To paint a picture
· imagine this scene
· to illustrate my point
· let’s examine this idea closely

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For the Category of Communications (Business Writing):

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Two Formats for Sharing “Bad News” Correspondence

Businessman lost in thoughts after reading a bad news correspondence

Formats for “Bad News” Correspondence

Contributed by Deane Gradous, Twin Cities consultant

Two Formats, Two Results

“Bad news” memos and letters are easier to write when you remember the two formulas for organizing the content of such correspondence. Although the formulas appear to be only slightly different, the reader is likely to respond to each format in a different way.

Indirect format, or “You are a valued person.”

1. Thanks …
2. Because …
3. Sorry …
4. Thanks …

By using the indirect formula you prepare the reader for the bad news while you develop in his or her mind the rationale for your “no” decision. The indirect format is designed to preserve relationships under difficult circumstances for both writer and reader. It is gracious and definite and can be empathetic.

Direct format, or “Go away and don’t bother us again.”

1. Thanks …
2. Because …
3. Sorry …
4. Thanks …

By using the direct formula you quickly inform the reader of your decision. If you choose to add a reason for your decision, keep it simple. The direct format is not designed to preserve the relationship between writer and reader. Nevertheless, it is courteous and definite.

Choose the bad news format that fits your purpose.

Additional Resources

Also consider
– Asserting Yourself
– Conflict Management
– Emotional Intelligence
– Empathy
– Writing Skills

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For the Category of Communications (Business Writing):

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Using a Variety of Appeals to Sell Your Idea, Service, or Product

Sales concept

Using a Variety of Appeals to Sell Your Idea, Service, or Product

Contributed by Deane Gradous, Twin Cities consultant

Readers are rational, emotional, and spiritual beings. If you write to change readers’ opinions or to get them to accept your point of view, you could decide to appeal to their minds, their hearts, and their souls:

· Minds through reason (logos)
· Hearts through emotion (pathos)
· Souls through ethics (ethos)

Logos.
Logical appeals rely on evidence, such as research data or examples. Use reason to convince a skeptical reader of the truth or validity of your argument. Use reason to ask someone to take a new view of a situation.

Pathos. Emotional appeals attempt to arouse the feelings of the reader. Daniel Goleman, Author of Emotional Intelligence, says that such appeals rely on tapping the energy associated with basic feelings of fear, enjoyment, anger, surprise, or disgust. Two other basic feelings seem generally less applicable in writing to persuade in a business setting: sadness and shame. Emotional appeals are most effective when the reader can be expected to agree with your argument and you want the reader to act.

Ethos. Ethical appeals rely on the reader’s sense of right and wrong. Such appeals depend on the writer’s credibility as
a respected expert, reliable contributor, or well-informed observer whose opinions are believable because they are ethically sound. Ethical appeals are most effective when the reader can be moved by what is said and by who is saying it.

Examples:

A writer seeks to increase the budget for new computers in her department. She could use:

Logic–“A new computer would increase our productivity by 5 percent. Since our combined salaries are $300,000, that’s a productivity increase worth $15,000. Subtract the cost of $7500 for the computers, and you have a net gain of
$7500.”

Pathos–“Our old computers are so inadequate that we are feeling super cautious (fear) about tackling the biggest barcoding job.”

Ethos–“It’s only fair that our department gets new computers at this time. Our present computers are five years old. The neighboring department got new computers two years ago.”

Know your reader and choose logic, pathos, ethos, or all three–whatever works.


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Organizing Information in Written Reports

Woman reading a report file at work

Organizing Information in Written Reports

Contributed by Deane Gradous, Twin Cities consultant

By using appropriate headings in their reports, writers are more likely to address their readers’ needs for information. Organizing information under headings (Table 1) makes writing tasks easier and reports more complete.

Table 1. Headings for four types of reports

Work plan

Final report*

Title–Be descriptive (consistent with a previous proposal, if any).

Purpose–State the purpose of the work in one or two clear sentences.

Background–Take the rational from the original proposal and add background as the reader needs.

Objectives–List the questions to be answered, the avenues to be explored, the work to be completed,
or the results to be achieved.

Methods–Describe how the objectives will be achieved.

Materials–Estimate material to be used or consumed for the work.

Timeline–Include milestones and, where appropriate, future plans.

Appendix–Attach copies of correspondence and other documents important to the reader of the work plan.

Title–Be descriptive (consistent with the proposal and plan).

Purpose–State the purpose of the work in one or two clear sentences (consistent with the plan, or note changes).

Background–Tell the story behind the work. (The writer may
choose to place this section after conclusions and recommendations.)

Objectives–List the questions answered, the avenues explored, the work completed, or the results achieved. Objectives must
be consistent with the plan (any differences are explained).
Objectives may be included in a Purpose and objectives
section.

Conclusions and recommendations–Include new learning and
advice to decision makers.

Summary–Write this section last. It functions as an
executive summary of all the information in the report.

Methods–Describe how the work was achieved. If different
from plan, include rationale for changes.

Results and discussion–Include important results data and
graphic illustrations. Point out the information you want the
reader to note. Discuss the implications. In this section, demonstrate your thinking.

References–Identify relevant documents, including background information.

Appendix–Include long tables of data and other documentation to support the achievement.

* Contains all the information needed to back up the results
or to make decisions

Meeting
report

Trip report

Group name, date, and time of meeting

Distribution list–Include team members’ names typed in bold. Add asterisks by the names of attendees.
Add the names of FYI recipients in plain type.

Follow up and action plans–Create a 3-column table listing action items. The first item is a reminder
to all to attend the next meeting. Later items in column one describe action items completed since the last meeting, then the action items that were assigned during the meeting. Column two lists the persons responsible for the action items. Column
three lists dates of completion or expected completion.

Agenda–List topics discussed during the meeting.

Discussions, decisions and assignments–List projects or topics in the same order as on the agenda and include the following:

1. Project status to date (background)
2. Decisions and rationale
3. Recommendations
4. Significant barriers

Next meeting–List tentative agenda items for the next meeting.

Who went where, project #, and date of trip

People contacted–Include names, titles, and phone numbers.
This documentation is important for later reference and easily
done when all the information is at hand.

Purpose–State the purpose in one or two sentences. If two
projects and two purposes, the writer may want to file two separate trip reports.

Outcomes/benefits–Describe the expected and unexpected outcomes.

Objectives–List questions answered or avenues explored. Objectives may be included in the Purpose section.

Conclusions and recommendations –Include major findings and
advice to decision makers.

Background–Tell the story behind the trip. This section functions
as the rationale for the trip.

Results and discussion–Report the important events and activities of the trip and your thinking about what transpired.

Summary–This section must be written last but may be inserted
early in the report
. It functions as an executive summary
of all the information in the report.

Attachments–Include any materials or documents the hosts
and visitors presented to one another.

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Guidelines for Formatting Articles, Reports, and Papers

Checklist for formatting articles

Guidelines for Formatting Articles, Reports, and Papers

Contributed by Deane Gradous, Twin Cities consultant



This is a title:
The subtitle qualifies it

The title is large type, centered, and may be all caps or sentence style as above. The introduction to the paper requires no heading because it comes first. The statement of purpose comes early in the introduction and is often followed by a list of the specific objectives the writer expects to achieve in dealing with the topic. In the following sentences or paragraphs, the writer provides background information to help the reader understand the context, definitions, assumptions, history, and so on.

The writer may close the introduction with his or her plan for organizing the main points of the paper that follows. Papers that are ten or more pages long require a title page, a table of contents, and an executive summary.

This is a major heading

Major headings are typed flush left, sans-serif if possible (that is, use of characters that have no curled or enlarged “tails”; the font of characters in this document has these “tails” and so is serif in nature), boldface, and four points larger than the paragraph type that follows. They signal the start of large sections of content. Long papers require three levels of headings. Short papers require only two levels of headings.

This is a minor heading

Minor headings are typed flush left, sans serif, boldface, italic, and two points larger than the paragraph type that follows. Headings function as signposts for the reader, who should be able to see the shape of the paper simply by skimming the title and the headings. All headings at a single level must be grammatically parallel. Breaking out long
lists of items that are buried in paragraph text also helps the reader. Lists are indented on the first tab and aligned 0.15″ behind bullets or numbers. Note the following formatting details for the paper:

· One and one-half inch margins all around the page
· Ragged right margins
· Single spacing
· 12-point Times ( This short sample was written in 12-point Times and may show up as such to the reader, depending on settings in their Web browser.)
· No end punctuation for items in a list (unless they are complete sentences)

This is a paragraph heading
.
Paragraph headings use normal paragraph type and boldface. They end in periods, which are not boldfaced. Paragraph
headings are clearly and logically related to the minor heading that precedes them. The paragraphs in this model are block style and have 6 points of added space above, which eliminates the need to double-space between them.

This paragraph is indented behind the first tab. Indent either a long quotation or a long example. Long quotations are referenced (author, year, page number).

Number pages at center or right.

Adapted from: Flower, L. (1981). Problem-solving strategies for writing. San Diego: Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.

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Guidelines for Creating Overhead transparencies – NOTE: This page has been removed.

Guidelines for creating overhead

Guidelines for Creating Overhead transparencies

Contributed by Deane Gradous, Twin Cities consultant

Unless one is a gifted orator, the belief that spoken words are the meat-and-potatoes of a presentation is mistaken. The presenter who wants the audience to grasp the meaning of her message, must strive to create readable, interesting, informative transparencies (slides). In times past, words were the primary means for transmitting abstract concepts. Today’s audiences, however, are visual learners. They live and work with eyes focused on television, computer monitors, videos, photos, films, advertising graphics, and so on.

Visual images tend to dominate over words: The presenter who seeks to influence others’ actions or decisions will plan to accommodate the human preference for visual information. According to research, learners should be telling us: “I hear it, I forget it.” “I see it, I take it in.” “I see it, hear it, and do it; it’s mine.” In summary, will you tell people? Sure.
Will you show them? Certainly. Will you ask them to interact with you, one another, and the content of your presentation? Absolutely. Using all three methods – auditory, visual, and kinesthetic — enhances your ability to influence audiences.

Design hints

Type face = Times or Arial
Point size = 20+
Case = Sentence type
Location = Top 2/3 of slide
Page set up = Landscape
Ideas = One per slide
Lines = Six per slide
Words = Six per line
Color? = Yes, if available
Contrast = More important than color
Graphics? = Absolutely
Clip art? = If appropriate and additive

Production hints

  • Let PowerPoint ease your way to designing effective slides. If you already know Microsoft Word, learning PowerPoint will be a snap. Focus your efforts on formatting, organizing, and managing information and on gaining proficiency with the superb drawing tools in PowerPoint.
  • Produce a paper copy of each slide; stand up; throw the copy on the floor; and critically review it from the audience’s perspective.
  • Print slides on laser transparency film. Use a color printer if one is available.
  • Insert the slides in special sleeves that frame the slide (3M makes them).
  • Produce black and white or color handouts to facilitate note taking and review–two slides per page.
  • Create presenter notes pages in PowerPoint. To enable you to easily read your notes from their position on a lectern or a table top, use 16- to 18-point type.

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For the Category of Communications (Business Writing):

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Designing the Page for Readability: Macropunctuation for Memos and Reports

Young business professional reading a page on his laptop

Designing the Page for Readability:
Macropunctuation for Memos and Reports

Contributed by Deane Gradous, Twin Cities Consultant

Make your writing visually appealing, well organized, and simple to take in and remember. Even though you write for a captive reader, do not assume that he or she will be fascinated with what you have to say.

Use headings and subheadings

Help speed recognition of what the page contains. Use headings to communicate a sense of order and conciseness. Make your communication look planned, coherent, and forthright. Order is important. Start with a statement of your purpose for writing. Add the when, who, how, and where details that you have organized into some rational order. Say what you think about the above, and end with a summary. Put endless tables of data in an appendix.

Don’t tax your reader’s power to take in information

Straight text looks formidable.

The reader braces himself or herself for an ordeal–for heavy going. Because we humans have relatively limited capacities for information processing, you should present your information in bite-sized chunks, which your reader may then quickly note and take in. Keep paragraphs short–seven lines of type at the most.

The shorter, the more irresistible your paragraphs are.

Put key ideas in indented paragraphs where they will be noticed. Just as you noticed this paragraph.

Look for opportunities to use numbered or bulleted lists. Numbers designate order or hierarchy. If your word-processing program does not create bullets, you can create them by filling in lower-case o’s with a felt pen. Remember to make all the items in your lists grammatically parallel and to add no punctuation because the list is its own punctuation.

Use white space as a foil

White space is not random nothingness. It is a tool; use it! White space is functional when it works to lift your ideas off the page and into your reader’s mind. Be concerned with the use of margins and the consistency of spacing between lines and paragraphs. A 60-character line or less will help your reader track correctly through your text. And keep white space white (clean). Eliminate visual nuisances such as fancy borders or prominent logos.

Use a style sheet

For consistency, design template files with your preferred page layouts for letters, reports, and memos. Save these settings in separate files and lock them. Some word processors have a styles feature to facilitate paragraph formatting. Style sheets save you time because you make the small but important decisions involved in formatting your written communications just once. Style sheets also help you create a consistent, professional image.

Add visual appeal

Add personality and drama to your correspondence by incorporating hand-written notations, graphic illustrations, and charts. Graphics attract. Use graphics to break up the page and to lead the reader’s eye right to where you want it — perhaps to the second and third pages of a long memo.

Checklists, sidebars, summaries, tables, graphs, hand-written notations, and cartoons will add to the visual appeal of the page. (Exception: Place series of tables and graphs in an appendix.)

Use restraint

Sparingly employ italics, boldface, underlining, upper-case type, asterisks, and changes of font or type size. Too much variety creates an impression of complexity or messiness. Eliminate noise, such as unnecessary periods at the end of items in a list and parentheses after the numbers in a list.

Highlight important text

To draw attention to important material, place a border around a short passage. See your word-processing
manual for how to add 5-points of space around the type.

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Techniques for Getting Started Writing

Sheet of paper and pens on a desk

Techniques for Getting Started Writing

Contributed by Deane Gradous, Twin Cities consultant

· Set a timer for 510 minutes, and write for the entire time. Aim to write anything that is even slightly related to your topic. It’s OK to set down your thoughts and feelings about approaching this writing task.

· Ask a colleague to listen while you talk about your writing project and the ideas you plan to convey to your reader. Then go to your computer and start writing.

· Take a handful of 3″ x 5″ index cards and write your ideas on them, one per card. Arrange and rearrange your cards in an order that makes sense. Add ideas as they occur to you. Then tape the cards to a large sheet of paper and fill in the details around each idea. Very often, the ideas on the cards become headings or topic sentences for paragraphs.

· Begin to write anywhere in the middle of the piece. Start with the most interesting [to you!] part. Your enthusiasm may carry you into completing your writing project. Write the beginning of the piece last or whenever you are ready to do so.

· Put your reader in an empty chair and talk to your reader as if he or she were sitting across the desk from you. What is your reader most interested in learning from what you are writing? After your conversation, start writing.

· Listen to baroque music. Mentally explore your topic. Reread your notes. Relax, and let your subconscious take over for a few minutes. Expect an A Ha! Write quickly.

· Go for a walk and consider what you want to say to the reader. Return to your computer, and start writing.

· Create a Mind Map. Write your way around it.

· ?

Also consider
Related Library Topics

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Email Writing, Management and Policies

Laptop screen displaying the email interface

Email Writing and Reading

Email Writing
Email Netiquette
Email Management
Email Policies

Also consider
Related Library Topics

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Library’s Supervision Blog


Email Writing

Email Netiquette

Professionalism, Ethics And Courtesy On The Net
How Can I Block Offensive Email?
Netiquette
Netiquette Home Page — A Service of Albion.com
Using and Understanding the Internet: Netiquette
Netiquette Home Page — A Service of Albion.com
Netiquette (Part1)
Netiquette (Part 2)

Email Management

Basic Email Management
What is Email Management?
A List of Realistic Email Strategies
7 Ways to Detoxify Your Inbox

Also consider
Stress Management
Time Management

Email Policies

Internet Email Usage Policy
Email Policy — Sample
Email Policy sample
You Have to Have an Email Policy

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Library’s Communications Blog


For the Category of Communications (Business Writing):

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