Chapter 15 & 16 Informal and Formal Reports

Progress Report

-Monitors progress and problems, provides clear subject line, presents information efficiently

What is the difference between informal reports and an analytical report?

Informal reports provide data, and analytical reports offer both information and conclusions.

Formal Report

Complex and long

Casual analysis reports

Explains the causes of the effects of an event, a problem, or a decision.

Immediate cause

Most closely related to the effect.

Meeting Minutes

a written record of the major discussions held, decisions made, and distributed to all attendees/ interested parties.

Peer Review Reports

Written between employees, providing a way for people to give feedback or constructive criticism.

Common types of analytical reports

feasibility reports, recommendation reports, peer review reports

Parts of a formal report

letter of transmittal, front matter, text of the report, end matter

6 things an effective formal report must incorporate

-accurate, appropriate, and clearly interpreted data. -clearly identified purpose states -understandable structure -readable style -audience -user friendly design

Feasibility Analysis Report

Assesses the practicality of an idea or plan.

Audience of formal reports are considered as

Decision makers

Feasibility Reports

Helps decision makers assess whether an idea, plan, or course of action is realistic and practical.

Distant Cause(s)

Ones that precede the immediate cause.

Four most types of informal reports

Progress Reports, Periodic activity report, Trip reports, meeting minutes

Comparative analysis Reports

Rates similar items on the basis of specific criteria.

Trip Reports

Resemble periodic activity reports in that they detail activities during a given period.

Periodic Activity Reports

Resembles progress reports in that they summarize activities over a specified period.

Informal Reports

Short and focuses on matters that impact readers.

Recommendation Reports

Shorten or even skips the feasibility analysis & get right to the point of making recommendations.

What questions does a formal report answer?

Who is my audience? Should I use visuals?