9 Steps to Write a Report (Most Effective and Helpful Steps)

There are various reports available for various purposes. Now how the report will be developed is a key question here. There are some steps to write a report effectively. The following steps are generally followed to write a report.

Table of Contents

Steps to write a Report

Recognizing and defining a problem
Defining the purpose and scope of the study
Developing a hypothesis
Defining terms clearly
Determining the Audience
Selecting a method of solution
Organizing, analyzing, and interpreting the data
Making an Outline
Writing the final report.

The topic given above is the most important step to write a report. Now a detailed discussion about the above topic is given below:

1. Recognizing and defining a problem

One must first realize what the problem is. Then the problem should be defined by answering the following 5 W questions:

What to study?
Why do we need such a study?
When do we need such a study?
Where do we need to investigate?
Who will be investigated?

2. Defining the Purpose and Scope of the Study

What is the purpose of any study, the reasons are discussed here. Then for the convenience of the study, the exact scope should also be determined, e.g. there is a labor-management problem for which an investigation is required.

Now the purpose of such an investigation to study would be to find out those factors which are raising conflict between laborers and management. Whereas the scope would be the factory workers and respective authority of the factory.

3. Developing hypothesis

For problem-solving, and research, a researcher should develop hypotheses. A hypothesis is a tentative statement or explanation of any problems. e.g. If the investigation is required to find out the labor-management problem, then the hypothesis could be as follows :

H 1: There is a huge communication gap between management and labors
H 2: Management has always ignored the Job satisfaction of the laborers.

4. Defining terms clearly

There may be various confusing terms related to the study and require a clear definition. So, the definition of various confusing terms should be nicely presented, e.g. Job satisfaction depends on person to person. So, what type of satisfaction is ignored by management should be defined properly.

The term ‘labor’ is also a confusing one because there may be factory labor or general labor. So, which laborers are facing problems should be defined properly.

The term ‘time’ is also confusing because it may be short-term or long-term. So, how long the problem exists between laborers and management need proper definition.

5. Determining the Audience

This is another most important steps to write a report. Reports are prepared for readers. So, who are readers of the report should be considered carefully?

For example, Report for cost, volume, and profit analysis is required for higher-level management.

This report is not for factory workers or outsiders. An annual confidential report (ACR) is made for higher-level management and not for workers.

So, the knowledge and interest of readers should be considered while preparing any report. So, the report should be reader-oriented.

6. Collection of Data

To solve the problem we need a reasonable basis and therefore we need to collect data. Data are of two types:

Primary data: Data collected from research, observation, experiment or survey,
Secondary data: Data collected from the library.

7. Organizing, Analyzing, and Interpreting the Data

Data that is collected is required to be arranged in an orderly, i.e., data should be arranged on some logical basis such as time, quantity, and place.

Analyzing involves examining the collected data for possible errors or omissions and making proper editing for accuracy and completeness.

After the data are organized and analyzed, now it is time to interpret the data in terms of logical meaning. More presentation of data does not make any sense; it requires an evaluation of the data to derive any logical conclusion.

8. Making an Outline

Once the final pattern of the report has taken shape in the writer’s mind, he should prepare an outline to write the report.

In this outline the problem is stated, the facts are recorded, they are briefly analyzed and logical conclusions are made. An outline is not essential, but it helps in writing a systematic report.

9. Writing the Final Report

The last stage is that of writing the report. The writer should be careful that the language of the report is simple and free from grammatical errors. The success or failure of all efforts made for the project under study depends directly on the nice presentation and preparation of the report.

Hope you find all steps to write a report and now you can write an effective report by following this steps.

Related Content of Report Writing:

Steps to Write a Report (9 Most Effective and Helpful Steps)