Specific instructions from the Professor: Business Report
MNGT/ENGL 239
Spring 25
The business report that you write only needs to be 4-5 double spaced pages in length for the body of the report. This does not include the visual you will include, which is discussed later in the text. You do not have to impress me with quantity but rather with quality. The following components are required:
• Cover
• Title Page
• Table of Contents
• Report Body
• Visual
• Conclusion
• Recommendations
• Works Cited
• Appendixes (If needed)
Cover: Put the report in the most inexpensive cover that is neat and strong enough to hold everything securely.
Title Page: Use my name in the prepared for section. Make up a title and company under my name that would be appropriate for your reports. Also, make up a title under your name that would fit your position.
Table of Contents: A table of contents is usually completed after the report is done so you can apply your page numbering and headings used in the report.
Report Body: The length of the report should be 4-5 double spaced typed pages. It can be longer, but don’t go overboard
Works Cited: Identify your secondary and primary sources on a work cited page. Once you have cited your work in your report, you do not need to repeat the information. You can use either APA or MLA format, just be consistent.
Visual: You may use tables, diagrams, and other forms of graphics if any may be useful in presenting your report. One visual is required in the report.
Use formal business English. You are responsible for the quality, accuracy, and appearance of the typing. Make a copy of the report as a backup.
There are five basic steps in writing a report:
• Define the problem
• Gather the necessary data and information
• Analyze the data and information
• Organize the information
• Write the report
A good report problem meets the following criteria:
The problem is:
• Real
• Important enough to be worth solving
• Narrow but challenging
The audience for the report is:
• Real
• Able to implement the recommended action
The data, evidence and facts are:
• Sufficient to document the severity of the problem
• Sufficient to prove that the recommendation will solve the problem
• Available to you
• Comprehensible to you
Business Report:
Our first step will be to identify a problem situation that needs to be solved. For example, you might need to purchase several computers for your office to increase office efficiency. You might need to purchase a couple of cars to escort your clients around if you own a real estate business. If you own a clothing store, you might need to solve the problem of shoplifting.
Think about a problem situation that you would like to solve. Although, we are going to apply this to a business setting, you should pick a situation that will be interesting for you to solve to purchase a car? Do you need to purchase a computer? Would you like to join a fitness club? Once you have identified the problem situation, you will need to be creative and figure out how this problem could apply to a business setting.
The next step will be identify the products or services that you would like to compare. It is best to choose three items to compare. They should all be of similar categories. For example, you could not compare three cars like a Mercedes, a Corvette, and a Ford Escort because they are not of equal status. You will do a comparison analysis of three products or services that are similar. You do not want to compare apples with oranges because the report will be irrelevant.
Finally, you will need to identify three or four factors to compare these products or services. For example, if purchasing a car, you can compare cost, quality, service, and warranty. When writing your report you should be concise and factual. Do not use your opinions to support your data. At the end of the report, you will make a recommendation for one of the products or services based on the facts you presented. A good business report will not show any biases or opinions. As the reader, I will not know which recommendation you will make until I reach the conclusion and recommendation.
