Deck 5: Report to a Client

Question 1

How does the Conclusions section of a report differ from the conclusion of an essay?

Answer 1

The Conclusions section of a report comprises a numbered list of key findings; the conclusion of an essay is a paragraph that summarises the body of the essay, restates the thesis, and ideally finishes with a statement that leaves a memorable and perhaps thought-provoking impression.

Question 2

List the key differences between an Executive summary and an Introduction section.

Answer 2

An Executive summary focuses on Aims, Objectives, Key findings, and Recommendations. An Introduction starts with an overview and sets the context; like an Executive summary, it states the Objectives, then the Key findings, but these findings may contain less detail in an Introduction than in an Executive summary. An Introduction also indicates the scope of the report-in other words, what the report covers and does not cover-and any important constraints and assumptions.

Question 3

What mistake do students often make about writing an Executive summary?

Answer 3

A common mistake is to say what the report will present, rather than summarising what the report actually contains. For example, do not say, 'This report discusses the reasons underlying conflict between senior management and supervising
staff'; instead, say, 'The main reason underlying conflict at the Southland branch is senior management's insistence on detailed weekly reporting, which supervising staff see as inefficient and unnecessary'.

Question 4

List two ways of structuring your Conclusions and Recommendations.

Question 5

Why is report writing such an important skill to master for business students?

Question 6

What are the key questions you must keep uppermost in your mind when writing a report?