When you write workplace reports, your manager is not likely to tell you whether you are writing to inform or to analyze. It will be up to you to make that determination, along with choosing the most appropriate medium. Similarly, you should also be able to determine what kinds of reports you are reading, so you are better able to act upon them, as necessary.
Discussion Question
For this discussion, describe a report you have received in your own organization. As you describe the report, determine whether it was an informational or analytical report and, using the information from your reading, explain why you believe your assessment to be correct. Then, critique the effectiveness of the report, using the following questions to guide your analysis:
- What was the purpose of the report?
- Did the report achieve its purpose? If so, how? If not, what would you have done differently?
- Who was the intended audience for the report?
- Was the document prepared appropriately for the intended audience? If so, how? If not, what would you have done differently?
- What was the medium (method of delivery) for the report?
- Was the medium choice the most appropriate, given the report's purpose and audience? If so, how? If not, what would you have done differently?
Reference: Bovee, C.& Thill, J. (2016). Business communication essentials(6th Ed.) Upper Saddle River, N.J.; Pearson