Business Reports
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Communicative Activity 3 What are the mostly used two styles of business reports? They are informal reports and short formal reports. Informal reports may be thought as a report letter as it is in the form of a memo or letter with the To line, From line, Subject line and Date line; short formal reports are more complete than informal reports not only in the format but also in the contents and language.
Business Reports
3. Structures of Formal Reports • I. Prefatory Parts (前言）
– Cover – Title Page – Letter of Authorization – Letter of Acceptance – Letter of Transmittal – Contents – Abstract
Procedures / Proceedings / Methods
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Business Reports
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Communicative Activity 2 What are the most common types of business reports? List some examples. Business reports’ types vary as they may be applied in a wide range of functions. Generally speaking, business reports can be of these types: Routine Report, Investigation Report and Feasibility Report.
– Secondary sources:
• libraries, online database, and online search engines.
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• III. Documentation information: within the text; footnote; endnote; bibliographic entry; • IV. Interpreting Data; • V. Drawing conclusion; • VI. Making recommendations.
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Communicative Activity Notes:
What is a business report? Could you explain it in your own words? What are the most common types of business reports? List some examples.
Business Reports
1. Types of Reports
• I. Long (more than 10 pages) / Short • II. Informal (presentation) / Formal (writing) • III. Informative (facts) / Analytical (analysis and recommendations) • IV. Routine (set, regular) / Task (specific)
Business Reports
• Purpose of Business Reports • A business report conveys information to assist in business decision-making. The business report is the medium in which to present this information. Some reports might present the actual solution to solve a business problem; other reports might record past business information that is used toward future business planning.
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Requirements
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Objectives
In this module, you are expected
to learn about the format and contents of business reports;
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5. Writing Guidelines
• I. • II. • III. • IV. • V. • VI. Identify statements of fact, inference based on fact, and value judgment; Use accurate, reliable and objective sources; Use analogies and comparison to explain and illustrate, but not to prove; Examine all cause-effect statements for completeness and accuracy; Provide adequate documentation; Be specific.
Title
Terms of Reference / Introduction
Business Reports
Sample Analysis Procedures 1. All staffs were interviewed on their needs for various time bands. Staff were then interviewed on their preferences for various time bands. 2. A questionnaire was issued to all staff asking them to state which time they wanted. 3. The work done by the staffs were observed to see if it was necessary for all staff to be present during “core time”, and to ascertain when precisely these core time are.
You are divided into several groups and discuss the following questions with the group members.
What are the mostly used two styles of business reports?
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2. Common Business Reports
• • • • • • • • i. Memo reports; ii. Letter reports; iii. Agenda, minutes, and itinerary (旅程安排）; iv. Expense reports; v. Personnel evaluations; vi. Progress reports; vii. Investigation reports; viii. Feasibility reports.
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• II. Body
– Introduction – Text – Findings – Conclusions – Recommendations
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• III. Supplemental Parts
– Appendix – Bibliography
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4. Writing Procedures
• I. Defining the problem • II. Gathering information
– Primary sources:
• experimentation, observation, survey, questionnaires, interview;
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A Sample
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Sample Analysis
Possibility of Practicing the Flextime Working System
Terms of Reference Mr. Jiang has requested a report on the research about the possibility of practicing the flextime working system. The report should be ready for the next Board of Director’s meeting.
Business Reports