Steps Involved in Creating a Business Report

When creating a business report, it is important to consider the following steps, hence coming up with an effective business process. These processes are: audience analysis, planning, drafting, proofreading and revising.

Audience Analysis

Analysing the audience is a very critical step, since one needs to understand the knowledge which the audience has on the given topic. In addition, this is also the step whereby one needs to understand how the audience will use the information in the report (Kuiper, 2009). The information on the report should consequently target the audience, hence being of importance to them. The report should consequently be less informational, and more persuasive, in order to attract the attention of the audience (Kuiper & Clippinger, 2012). The nature of the problem being dealt with should be carefully researched, hence coming up with clear, concise information.

Planning

            Planning is a very essential step when writing a business plan, since this is the stage whereby al the strategies have to be put together (Kuiper & Clippinger, 2012). When planning, one needs to understand the main objective of the business report, the target of the business report, and the strategies to be used in the business report. In addition, the structure of writing the report should also be put into consideration. Secondly, one needs to understand how the message will be structured, this includes how the report provides evidence and recommendations (Kuiper, 2009). Finally, the main objective of the report should passed in a critical way, thus allowing the audience to fully understand.

Drafting

            In this step, all the plans need to be put on paper (Kuiper & Clippinger, 2012). Draft the report according to the structure in the plan. Secondly, draft the findings of the business report, beginning with the information which is less significant while moving to the more significant information. Provide evidence where possible, in order to allow the audience to understand how the information was reached at. Moreover, graphs and tables may also be used in order to explain the information (Kuiper, 2009). Thirdly, finalize by writing the recommendations, which should be providing solutions to the problems noted in the business report. In this part, show how the company can be able to improve sales, the strategies which can be used to improve the sales, and finally explain why these recommendations may be important for the company.

Proofreading

            In this stage, one is supposed to reread through the report, to make sure there are no mistakes (Kuiper & Clippinger, 2012). This mistakes may include spelling mistakes, and structural mistakes. The report should be proofread two to three times, making changes where necessary (Kuiper, 2009). Different people can also be allowed to read through the report, to ensure there are no mistakes. After clearing all the mistakes, the formats should then follow the next step which revising.

Revising

            In this stage, the whole report should be looked at carefully, whereby all the mistakes should be removed, thus making the report clean. Secondly, new structures and formats, which may be better than the actual formats should be used. This is responsible for making the report to be more attractive to the audience (Kuiper, 2009). The new format and structure should not change the message being conveyed by the report, but it should help in improving the presentation of the report by an executive. Finally, the report should be printed, in the best format, which should be formal and clear, hence allowing the flow of information to be concise (Kuiper & Clippinger, 2012).

Reference

Kuiper, S. (2009). Contemporary business report writing. Australia: South-Western Cengage Learning.

Kuiper, S., & Clippinger, D. A. (2012). Contemporary business report writing. Mason, Ohio: South-Western.