Short Reports: Introductory Information

1
Short Reports Introductory Information

• Communicate new information
• Guide decisions
• Present material too complex for letter or memo
• Short Report Format Memo, Letter, or Booklet

2
Memo and Letter Format

• Usually two pages or more
• Divided into separate, labeled sections
• Memo reportinternal
• Letter reportexternal

3
Short Report Types

• Incident explains the circumstances surrounding
  a troublesome occurrence
• Progress Outlines the status of an ongoing
  project or undertaking
• Travel Identifies the purpose and results of
  business-related travel
• Recommendation Urges that certain actions be
  taken in response to a problem

4
Overview

• Each type may be internal or external and use
  letter, memo, or booklet format.
• All four types typically a combination of
  informative and persuasive They present
  information, but with the goal of affecting
  decision-making, policy, etc.
• All four types typically front-loaded with
  additional information specific to each type of
  report.

5
Recommendation Reports

• A recommendation report 1) assesses a
  troublesome or unsatisfactory situation, 2)
  identifies a solution to the problem, and 3)
  persuades decision-makers to pursue a particular
  course of action that will improve matters.

6
Recommendation Report Components

• Introduction overview of problem and proposed
  solution
• Problem include causes and effects
• Solution include how and why
• Discussion summarize impact of solutions, urge
  adoption
• See pp. 110-11 for sample report.