DOCU 2600

Business Reports
Dr. Ellul

Laura Martin
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Table of Contents
Writing a Business Report......................................................................................2
Parts of a Business Report.....................................................................................2
Executive Summary.............................................................................................2
Table of Contents.................................................................................................2
Introduction..........................................................................................................2
Body.....................................................................................................................3
Conclusion...........................................................................................................3
Reference............................................................................................................3
Appendix..............................................................................................................3
References..............................................................................................................4
Index.......................................................................................................................5

The body of this data was modified from Stanley, Lucinda. Writing a Business Report. Retrieved
December 28, 2016 from http://study.com/academy/lesson/writing-a-business-report-structure-
examples.html
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Business Reports
Writing a Business Report
A business report is a written document that provides information and sometimes
analysis to assist a business in making informed decisions. The main purpose of
a business report is to make data that is relevant to the company, such as
information regarding efficiency, competition, or procedures, easily available to
everyone in the company (Stevens, 2015). The report needs to make this data
easy for the reader to understand. The best way to do that is to have clearly
defined sections with labels and headings.

Parts of a Business Report

Once information has been accumulated on a specific topic, one may write a
business report which may include some of the following fairly standard
sections1:
Executive Summary
A report begins with an executive summary, which summarizes the main points
of the report, such as the report topic, the data obtained, the data analysis
methods, and recommendations based on the data. The summary could be as
short as a paragraph or as long as four pages, depending on the length of the full
report. One may read the executive summary as a brief overview of what the
entire report contains; this informs the reader with having to read the entire
report. While the executive summary comes first in a report, it is written after the
main part of the report has been written.
Table of Contents
If the report is lengthy, include a table of contents. The table of contents lists the
main topics the report covers and the page on which that information may be
found. If the reader is looking for specific information, they can go straight to the
page that contains it.
Introduction
When it comes to writing the report, the author will start with the introduction. The
introduction sets the stage for what is included in the report. It highlights the
major topics that are covered and provides background information on why the

1 Accurate as of October 15, 2016

The body of this data was modified from Stanley, Lucinda. Writing a Business Report. Retrieved
December 28, 2016 from http://study.com/academy/lesson/writing-a-business-report-structure-
examples.html
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data in the report was collected. For example, one might state that the report
describes the two most common injuries that occur in the workplace and why
there was a need for a workplace safety, health and wellness committee.
Body
The body of the report describes the problem, the data that was collected, how
the data was collected, and discusses the major findings. The body may be
broken into subsections, with subheadings that highlight the specific point to be
covered in that subsection. The author could use headings such as 'Proper
workstation ergonomics' or 'How to avoid injury in the workplace.' This additional
structuring will make the report easier to read and understand.
Conclusion
Finally, the author will bring it all together with the conclusion. The conclusion
clarifies how the data described in the body of the document may be interpreted
or what conclusions may be drawn. The conclusion often suggests how to use
the data to improve some aspect of the business or recommends additional
research. For example, the author may recommend that all employees undergo a
work station evaluation including computer, desk, and chair configuration, based
on his research that suggested appropriate ergonomics increases productivity
and workplace satisfaction (McCaughey, 2014, p. 80).
Reference
If the author used other sources of information to help write the report, such as
books, journal articles or a federal/provincial database, they would include that in
the references. The references section lists the resources used to research or
collect the data for the report. References provide proof for your points and
enable readers to review the original data sources themselves.
Appendix
The appendix is optional and may include additional technical information that is
not necessary to the explanation provided in the body and conclusion. It supports
the findings, such as charts or pictures, or additional research not cited in the
body but relevant to the discussion.

The body of this data was modified from Stanley, Lucinda. Writing a Business Report. Retrieved
December 28, 2016 from http://study.com/academy/lesson/writing-a-business-report-structure-
examples.html
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References
McCaughey, D. (2014). The relatiosnhip of positive work environment and
workplace injury. Health Care Management Review, 39(1), 75-88.
Stevens, M. (2015). Constructing a Business Report. Toronto: Grey House
Publishing.

The body of this data was modified from Stanley, Lucinda. Writing a Business Report. Retrieved
December 28, 2016 from http://study.com/academy/lesson/writing-a-business-report-structure-
examples.html
 5

Index
data, 2, 3
ergonomics, 3

The body of this data was modified from Stanley, Lucinda. Writing a Business Report. Retrieved
December 28, 2016 from http://study.com/academy/lesson/writing-a-business-report-structure-
examples.html