Las Pinas College MBA Program
Victorio D. Berrey
Methodology of Research
(MOR): Techniques and
Strategies of Research in
Writing Business Report
OUTLINE
I. Introduction
Based on a report, “writing today is not a
frill for the few, but an essential skill for
the many. Good writing is taken as a given
in today’s professional work.
Writing is a “threshold skill” for salaried
employment and promotion. It is
particularly important in services and in
finance, insurance, and real estate,
growing employment sectors that are
likely to generate the most new jobs in the
coming decade. In a nutshell, individual
opportunity depends critically on the
ability to present one’s thoughts
coherently, cogently, and persuasively on
paper.” (National Commission on Writing:
Writing, a ticket to work or a ticket to out:
A Survey of Business Leaders; September
2004).
Writing a business report requires a different
methodology and approach in comparison with
preparing other types of written communications.
This is not like any form of preparing a standard
correspondence which merely requires the
continuous and uninterrupted flow of ideas and
information. Writing business report requires
great skill, by organizing vast amounts of
information and ideas into one concrete
framework. This is followed by the subsequent
presentation of the business report in a
simplified manner to the target audience. The
purpose of which is to hit a target objective
through the means of rendering business
judgments dependent solely on the output of the
business report.
Furthermore, according to Allan Thompson
(2005) 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
Methodology of Research (MOR): Techniques and Strategies of Research in Writing Business Reports
problem; other reports might record past
business information that is used toward future
business planning. More traditional reports, such
as Business Plans, serve to communicate the
Business Concept, business management
model, commercial objectives, operational
procedures and the perceived viability of the
enterprise.
II. Central Problem
The first problem that business report writers
often encounter in preparing business reports is
their failure to utilize a research methodology. In
utilizing a research methodology, the activity of
research must concretely be determined. The
purpose and objectives must be defined and
properly outlined and the progress of the report
must evidently be seen.
Secondly is due to the fact of inability to
comprehend the necessary and available tools
to support business report conclusions. And
finally, there are instances wherein when
research materials are available, the accuracy of
the data or reference cannot properly be
dependent upon.
III. Objectives of the Study
This study is aimed at emphasizing on the need
to provide for a simple yet concrete mechanism
in doing research as an initial step in the
preparation and presentation of an effective
business writing report.
A. Must
1. To help business report writers to determine
the main objective and purpose behind the
preparation and presentation of any business
report.
2. To help business report writers in the proper
usage and analysis of research materials and
information taken from various sources such as
books, journals and most especially the internet.
3. To assist any business report writers in the
actual process of writing their reports by properly
establishing a research methodology.
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B. Want
1. To provide for a mechanism to make an
accurate and up to date information gathering
that will guide any future writer of business
reports.
2. To help business report writers in
substantiating their reports by providing for a
mechanism to determine accurate and credible
research materials, especially those taken from
the internet.
3. To be able to assist business report writers in
properly presenting well written business writing
reports to their particular audience, thus,
enabling their target audience to gain a
foundation of knowledge in any decision-making
process.
IV. Discussion
A. Methodology of Research
Methodology refers to how research proceeds
and encompasses a range of logistical,
relational, ethical, and credibility issues. The
term methods commonly denotes specific
techniques, procedures, or tools used by the
researcher to generate and analyze data.
(Bloomberg, 2007)
Methodology is the means or method of doing
something (Mouton, 1996). It is sometimes
referred to as the process of following steps,
procedures and strategies for gathering and
analyzing the date in a research investigation.
(Polit, Hungles, 1996) These methods describe
in detail how the study was conducted.
Methodology includes the design, setting,
sample, methodological limitations and the data-
collection and anaylysis techniques in a study
(Burns and Grove, 1998). This is the know-how
of the scientific methods and techniques
employed to obtain valid knowledge.
Methodology and research design direct the
researcher in planning and implementing the
study in a way that is most likely to achieve the
intended goal. It is a blueprint for conducting the
study (Burns and Grove, 1998).
Methodology of Research (MOR): Techniques and Strategies of Research in Writing Business Reports
Las Pinas College MBA Program
Victorio D. Berrey
In doing a business writing report, a specific
methodology must be followed as stated in this
outline:
1. Identifying personal fields of interests.
In writing a business report, there is vast
information which one can discuss. It is
essentially important that there should be a
specific discussion of a field of interest which is
close to the heart and mind of the business
report writer. This may be determined on
previous experiences which the writer has
personally gone through. Also, mere information
gathered personally from another person or
group may be available to establish a well
defined personal field of interest. Lastly, it can
also come into a future endeavor which a
business report writer would like to seek, given a
good opportunity.
2. Choosing a particular topic.
Once a personal field of interest is already
established, this should be supported by a
particular topic in order to further limit the field of
discussion and to focus on the discussion on a
single topic in order to create a clear picture and
understanding of the business report.
3. Targeting a specific group and number of
audience.
By looking at a targeted group in writing a
business report, one can utilize various forms of
written expressions depending on the audience.
Writing business reports may be done formally if
its purpose is to be presented to the top level
management such as company officers or board
members. It can also be done less formally if the
target audiences who will read it are the
members of the supervisory or supporting staff.
And lastly, if it is aimed at merely to inform the
general populace, it may be done in a less
formal matter.
Example of this is in the usage of the proper
tenses, past present and future. Also is the way
on how the report is written such as if it is in the
first, second or third person respectively.
4. Browsing through and collating various
information from different sources.
Again, with the myriad of available information
through various media – print or otherwise, it
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would be best to initially browse through
information. Researchers have a propensity to
“zero in” on certain issues early on, during the
preparatory stage of creating a business report.
Prematurely focusing on data gathered only the
researcher’s knowledge based on initial findings,
thus hinder the ability to think “outside the box”.
Such produces a domino effect wherein the
focus may be shifted to only one area of the
business report when other facets may well
worth be considered. To browse would initially
mean having to compare all the information
gathered, thereby, giving an overview of the
general pattern that the business report should
take. Browsing would also aid in determining
which pieces of information are relevant and
which need more attention or researching.
5. Looking a specific problem statement.
Albeit business reports are initiated with the
shaping of a problem statement, common pitfall
of most researchers is the tendency to shift
away from it during the period of data gathering.
With all the information ready and the inclination
to use as much information as possible, thereby
foregoing the need to discern relevant and
necessary information from those that merely
support the main conclusion, most researchers
end up changing the problem statement or
answering it obscurely. The most important part
of writing a business report is never to
compromise the problem statement by
conforming it to the information obtained. It
should always be kept in mind that if the focus is
too narrow, or the scope too limited, the
creativity and innovation of the solution arrived
at can be stifling.
6. Delivering discussion pertaining to the
statement.
To reiterate, there is a crucial necessity of
browsing through the information initially,
keeping in mind the specific problem statement.
Discussions pertaining to the statement would
be a result of the understanding of the
researcher based on all the information gathered
and the connection it has with the statement at
hand. Of paramount importance is keeping in
mind the direction of the discussion in
connection with the statement to avoid shifting
away from it in order to utilize as much
information as possible. At this stage, it is best
to remember that quality is better than quantity.
A great weakness is to fall into the
misconception that research must be
Methodology of Research (MOR): Techniques and Strategies of Research in Writing Business Reports
Las Pinas College MBA Program
Victorio D. Berrey
information-laden by disregarding that it must be
information sensitive – meaning the coherence
of data gathered to the problem statement at
hand.
7. Defining a research question and
addressing such with particular and
definitive answers based on concrete
findings.
Oftentimes, the problem statement and research
question are used interchangeably. Note,
however, that there is a slight difference
between the two concepts. A problem
statement facilitates in focusing the attention of
the research group. On the other hand, the
research question is the final determination of
the direction that a business report will take.
The former establishes the general pattern taken
in order to obtain information and browse
through the data gathered while the latter is
used to customize the report to answer specific
problem sought to be cured.
8. Establish an appropriate recommendation.
A recommendation solves the problems and
takes advantage of the opportunities obtained
from the data gathered and gives suggestions
about how to to do. Recommendations must
always be SMART – Specific, Measurable,
Achievable, Result-oriented and Time-bound.
a. Specific. It must be kept in mind that for a
recommendation to be specific, it should state
the method for implementing the
recommendation.
b. Measurable. Although some things in
business are difficult to measure, such as
reputation, goodwill, knowledge and quality, your
recommendations will be more persuasive if
they are. Estimates will not be difficult to obtain
if the necessary facts are obtained that will give
the researcher a general overview as to the
figures that would be appropriate to support a
recommendation.
c. Attainable. Recommendations should not
involve too little time, or too much money,
labour, facilities or risk.
d. Result-oriented. The recommendation
should provide good results for stakeholders.
More often than not, because of the volume of
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information gathered and with the goal of
keeping with the research question, the
recommendation stops with giving the procedure
as to how the problem should be addressed.
The purpose behind keeping the
recommendation result-oriented is to enable the
end-users to create an informed decision by
knowing which combination of solutions would
bring forth optimum results.
e. Time-bound. The recommendation should
set realistic deadlines for completion of
suggestions. Failing to set a deadline would
lead to recommendations that are good in paper
but would not turn out be feasible, or if it is,
might even prove to be more disadvantageous
than accommodating of the problem at hand.
B. Research Strategy
Business reports cannot be properly
implemented and presented to the different
shareholders, customers, employees and most
especially decision makers of a business
enterprise without the proper allotment of
research strategies. The objective of which is to
properly set a guiding principle in the business
report, and present the necessary tools of
information in order for it to be properly
communicated to the designated target
audience.
With this, the Seattle Central Community
College has emphasized that research is a
careful investigation leading to the discovery and
interpretation of information. Researchers use
many different methods to discover or reinterpret
information and suggest practical applications or
theoretical implications of that information. In
scientific fields, research often involves
experimentation, which tests a researcher's
hypothesis.
Research may also involve investigating and
synthesizing findings of other researchers. In the
Social sciences and humanities, research
operates under the same principles of proposing
a hypothesis, then gathering, evaluating and
interpreting information to test it.
C. Validating of Research Materials
Methodology of Research (MOR): Techniques and Strategies of Research in Writing Business Reports
Las Pinas College MBA Program
Victorio D. Berrey
In doing research as a preparatory or
subsequent tool of writing a business report, it is
essential that the sources of materials are
relevant, updated and is necessary in finalizing
the report.
Nowadays, with the onset of technology, the
sources of data and materials for research
information is no longer limited to the usual
books, magazines, newspapers and journals
found in the library. The outbreak of
technological advancements has brought along
one of its most important tool, which basically
has changed the way people do research and
write business reports, and this is the internet.
This valid knowledge coming from sources such
as the internet in turn is utilized by the readers
or the target audience of a business writing
report in order to come up with business
judgment or decisions.
V. Analysis
The process of data analysis begins with putting
in place a plan to manage the large volume of
data you collected and reducing it in a
meaningful way. (Bloomberg 2007). Hence,
based on Albert S. Humphrey’s SWOT analysis
technique, here is a discussion of the
Techniques and Strategies of Research in
Writing Business Report.
S – Strength
There is a rich source of information available
anywhere on the techniques and strategies of
research in writing a business report. These may
come from traditional sources which may be
obtained from the library, through tangible
sources of information such as books and
written articles from a magazine, published
treaties, newsletters and the like.
Due to the output of global technological
revolution, these research information can also
be milled from the diverse intangible sources in
the internet.
In fact, it is very much easy to obtain research
information in preparing for a business report,
what it only takes is a simple click, and vast
information is immediately in one’s hands. What
is only left to do for a business report writer is to
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determine which source of information he or she
wants to get.
W – Weaknesses
There is no actual hard and fast rule which is
used as a sole and accurate measurement of
doing a proper research in writing a business
report. Each strategy, methodology and style is
determined on each set of facts, data available
and overall purpose and objectives.
In using the library in conducting research of
business reports, the updating valuable
information is subject to the immediate presence
of the materials such as books. Usually it will
take a few days or even months to wait for the
arrival of new books.
The question when it comes to using the internet
in obtaining research information in doing a
business report is, how often does information or
a particular topic being updated? Also, the
source of the information is usually
questionable, as it might only be shared by a
student who is merely studying or preparing the
same thing as with the business report writer.
O – Opportunity
There is a need to adapt the business writing
strategy to any existing development in the field
of ones topic of interest. The business
environment is like an entire rainforest spanning
thousands of kilometers in coverage. This is why
a business report topic should cover a minute
part of the business environment in order for the
written output to properly focus on the essentials
of the chosen topic.
Each and every day there are a lot of new ideas
breaking-in in the business cycle that is why it
makes it difficult to concentrate on focusing on
one particular aspect of information which will
become a target in writing a business report.
Writing a good business report brings forth
limitless opportunities: creating a business
report may lead to opening other doors for other
areas of business that may need more attention.
This is supported by the fact that business
problems are usually interrelated.
T – Threat
Methodology of Research (MOR): Techniques and Strategies of Research in Writing Business Reports
Las Pinas College MBA Program
Victorio D. Berrey
Oftentimes, because of the vast information that
is available for utilization in preparing for a
business writing report, there are many sources
that may seem reliable but are in fact
unsupported. There is a dire need to know the
type of information needed to formulate the
business report in order to sift through the
relevant materials, otherwise, it can lead to
erroneous conclusions based on outdated or
unsupported information.
There is also the risk of dogmatically following
the business report. Albeit the report is
persuasive in character in addressing the issue
at hand, businesses should always be keen on
remembering that with the vast developments
and numerous business changes, the business
report would be fully utilized if it were used
merely as a guide rather than a command in
making business decisions and changes are not
hesitatingly made in order to adapt the report to
the current situation of the business.
VI. Findings and Conclusion
Many people consider business reports as dry,
uninteresting documents which take a great deal
of time and effort to prepare. The reality is that
they are an essential part of doing business and
one’s ability to be proficient in this area is critical
to the ability to pursue commercial success
(McCarthy 1979; Ronstadt 1984; Thompson
2005c)
Nevertheless, a business report is an essential
tool in a business establishment or organization.
It provides for a direction into the status quo of a
business enterprise, the challenges it is facing,
the growth and expansion that if foresees, the
challenges as well as problems it face, and most
especially the solutions and alternative paths to
solve these problems.
VII. Recommendation
Business reports are quite often intended for a
wide variety of different audiences. It is critical
that one must carefully identify the intended
audience , otherwise it is likely that the report
will be misdirected and less effective. One must
consider exactly what the readers of the report
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 Las Pinas College MBA Program
Victorio D. Berrey

already know and what they need to know to information, in order for it to be used as a source
make informed decisions. (Applied Statistics for of knowledge for a business writing report.
Business and Economics, Allen. Webster, PP. There is no way of determining the accuracy of
957-961.) any given information, unless it comes directly
from reliable websites.
One needs to show the reader of the
following: (a) knowledge of the current
issues and discourse, and (b) relate the Sources:
study to those issues and discourse. In this
regard, it is essential to explain how one
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conducting the study while making sure Marketing. Homewood, Irwin.
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business writing report, not merely based on ecommendations.htm
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objective of creating an accurate conclusion.
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VIII. Anticipated Future Problems
and Remedies 5. Research Methods and Applied
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It is a common practice to write a business Allen. Webster, (PP. 957-961).
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situation and the need to communicate the same 6. National Commission on Writing:
to the business leaders. Oftentimes, business Writing, a ticket to work or a ticket
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evidence and is thus ended with an inadequate
Leaders; September 2004.
conclusion and recommendations.

Before, the only tool for gathering data in doing 7. www.wikipedia.com

research are published books, magazines,
newspapers and other printed publications. 8. Bloomberd (2007). Presenting
However, in this world that we live in at present, Methodology and Research Approach.
information sources for any given business
report is no longer limited to the usual kinds of
materials such as books, journals and
magazines in the libraries.

There are now two ways on looking at research

materials, one is through the traditional libraries
and bookstores and the most conventional one
is by utilizing electronic sources, in particular the
internet. Nowadays, with the onset of technology
and communication tools, information is
everywhere and can easily be accessed on a
simple click of a button. But, sometimes, there is
doubt as to the reliability, accuracy of the said

Methodology of Research (MOR): Techniques and Strategies of Research in Writing Business Reports 6