PRESENTING INSIGHTS AND FINDINGS: WRITTEN REPORTS

Business Research Method Chapter Twenty

Astrid Widayani BRM-58A

"We hope to eventually have a written report based on the day's events, and recommendations to show the state of the creative economy today and its possible future through a strategic action plan that shows ways we can expand it." Patricia Zaido

Determine Written Report Style & Type: Formal/Informal Long/Short Technical/Management Determine Written Report Access: Paper Electronic Both Paper and Electronic

Develop Appropiate Data Displays: Tabular Graphic Textual Visual

 Short

For well-defined, limited-scope problems with straight-forward methodology Usually 5 or fewer pages Formats Findings summary (graphical or tabular) attached to letter of transmittal Business letter Internal memorandum

report

Written Research Report

 Short

Report (Memorandum)

Reason for writing Answer direct inquiry with specific answer and supporting detail Expository style with brevity and directness Attach detailed materials as appendices when needed

Written Research Report

 Long report Technical report, written for an audience of researcher Management report, written for the non technically oriented manager or client The two types of audiences have different technical training, interests, and goals

Written Research Report

Research Report Components

Methodology
Sampling design Research design Data collection Data analysis Limitations

Prefatory Items
Letter of transmittal Title page Authorization letter Executive summary Table of contents

Findings Conclusions
Summary conclusions Recommendations

Introduction
- Problem statement - Research objectives - Background

Appendices Bibliography

Written Report Considerations

Prewriting Concerns
The Outline The Bibliography

Writing the Draft

Readability Comprehensibility Pace Tone Final Proof

Presentation of Statistics
The presentation statistic in research reports has four basic ways to present: Text paragraph format Semi-tabular format Tabular format Graphical format

Line graphs, are used chiefly for time series and frequency distribution.

Graphical Formats

Area charts, are used for a time series, consisting of a line that has been divided into component parts.

Graphical Formats

Pie charts, are another form of area chart. They are often used with business data.

Graphical Formats

Bar charts, use the horizontal axis to represent time and vertical axis to represent units or growth-related variables.

Graphical Formats

Pictographs, use pictorial symbols (an oil drum for barrels of oil, or pine tree for amount of wood).

Graphical Formats

Geo-Graphics, use a portion of the world map, in pictorial form, to show variations in regional data.

Graphical Formats

3-D graphics, virtually all charts be made three-dimensional.

Graphical Formats