What are Qualities of a good Business Report, since a report is a very important document, it needs to be written very carefully and consciously.
In view of its importance as a decision-making document, a report has to be well-thought and well-written. Let’s discuss in detail the Qualities of a good Business Report, which are as under:
Qualities of a Good Business Report
A good business report should have the following qualities:
- Completeness and Conciseness
- Correctness and Concreteness
- Consideration and Courtesy
- Clarity
- Logical Arrangement of Ideas and Objectivity
- Comprehensiveness
Completeness and Conciseness
In view of the fact that a report is written with a specific objective, it must be complete in all respects, and not omit anything which is pertinent and relevant to its subject.
See Also: How to Write a Business Report
It must include all facts needed to answer the questions asked by Five ‘’Ws’ and ‘Il’. At the same time, it should be ensured that ‘the report fully serves the purpose for which it has been written.
Depending upon the nature of the report, everything which is to be added or attached should be carefully completed.
Unnecessary burdening of the report should, however, be avoided to render it concise and to-the-point.
Correctness and Concreteness
Care should be taken that the report gives a correct and concrete picture of the problem and its solutions.
The information sources and the bases of findings must be mentioned correctly and specifically to make the report a reliable document.
Hypothetical approach should be avoided, and what bears correct and concrete testimony to the facts be presented. Any kind of emotional approach is avoided.
At the same time, all care should be taken that the words used by the writer evoke a clear, correct and concrete picture of the problem and the solutions suggested in the report.
Consideration and Courtesy
It is always a desirable quality of a good business report that it shows a consideration for what will be most meaningful for the reader.
This means that a total integrity is to be applied in making the research, in analyzing the problem, in discussing the subject and in organizing the facts, figures, and findings.
Consideration should also be made that personal comments are avoided unless they are asked for.
In case there is any disagreeable material to be presented in the report, it must be handled carefully and courteously.
It is preferable to place the favorable aspects before the unfavorable ones. Such a consideration and courtesy on the part of the writer will make his report a qualitative work.
Clarity
Clarity is particularly an essential quality of a good business report. It is very important that everything which is discussed and analyzed, argued and presented, is fully clear and understandable.
All references, terms, and definitions must be mentioned with due consideration to the clarity aspect of the report.
Things described or discussed in ambiguous language or understandable terminology will make the report a useless stuff for the reader.
Thus, clarity of thought and expression is always regarded as an important feature of a good report.
Logical Arrangement of Ideas and Objectivity
Logical arrangement of ideas, suggestions, and recommendations, etc. is a great quality of a good business report.
Whichever the method one uses to write a report the inductive or the deductive the report must be logically arranged and objectively analyzed and discussed
See Also: Parts of a Short & Long Reports
Nowhere the report should cause the impression of a loose attempt or of a disorderly presentation of ideas based on the personal likes and dislikes of its author.
Comprehensiveness
A good business report has essentially to be comprehensive so that it covers up all relevant aspects of the problem.
The writer of the report must not forget even for a while that the document he is preparing shall form the basis for the decisions to be taken.
It has, therefore, to be written so, that it does not lack in any respect and discusses the problem comprehensively needed, an explanation should be made a part of the report so that the reader does not have to ask questions after reading it.
