Chapter 8/9 - Informal/formal reports

Question 1

What is an informal report?

Answer 1

• it is for internal communications and usually solicited by someone in authority
• the most common types of are incident, progress, expense, or information/evaluation reports

Question 2

What is the general format of an informal report?

Answer 2

• is brief and to the point in use memo format
• it always has an intro, background, report, and conclusion
• if it is more than three pages it’s considered formal

Question 3

What is a progress report?

Answer 3

• it updates stakeholders on progress

- it keeps track of what has been done, what needs to be done, any problems and possible solutions

Question 4

What is the format of a progress report?

Answer 4

– summary: what is the project, goals/objectives
– background: addresses why project was started
– planned work: work expected to be completed
– completed work: which tasks are done
– challenges: any difficulties experienced and how they have been addressed (to reassure reader)
– schedule: outlines schedule for work going forward
– future plans: work be completed
– conclusion: restate work completed, work to be completed, problems, etc.
– evidence: optional section like an appendix

Question 5

What is an incident report?

Answer 5

• it is for when a serious issue like an accident, technological issue or malfunction occurs

Question 6

What is the format of an incident report

Answer 6

• introduction
• investigation
• assessment
• conclusion
• recommendations

Question 7

What is an expense report?

Answer 7

• it is when you’re spending the companies money and want to claim expenses for reimbursement
• goal is to get detailed information of costs and provide solid rationale for expense

Question 8

What is the format of an expense report?

Answer 8

• introduction
• activities
• benefits
• costs
• conclusion
• recommendations
• attachments

Question 9

What is an information/evaluation report?

Answer 9

• they are a report on information/research and is not particularly persuasive
• an evaluation report asks for your recommendations on the information

Question 10

What is the format of information/evaluation report?

Answer 10

• intro
• overview/background
• methodology
• findings
• assessment (only eval)
• conclusion

Question 11

What is a formal report?

Answer 11

• used for external audiences or for internal audiences if topic is serious in nature
• written in a formal tone
• at least three pages in length & never use memo format

Question 12

What is the format of a formal report?

Answer 12

• cover page
• table contents
• executive summary
• follows format of informal report types