Before you start writing your report, it is important to prepare by: Understanding the brief
Identifying your theoretical framework
Gathering your material
Organising your material
Analysing the material
2. Jan-20 2Gauge Capability
How do you prepare for effective reports
• Understanding the brief
• Identifying your theoretical framework
• Gathering your material
• Organising your material
• Analysing the material
3. Jan-20 3Gauge Capability
Understand your brief
• The report brief provides the instructions for the work.
It should include:
• The purpose: What is the purpose of the report?
• Audience: Who will read the report? How will it be
used?
• Key questions: What are the key questions the report
should address?
• Data and information: What data and information
should be used to answer these questions? Is this
available?
• Parameters: What are the key parameters for the
report such as time frames, budget etc?
https://library.sacredheart.edu/c.php?g=29803&p=185919
4. Jan-20 4Gauge Capability
Identify your theoretical/reference
framework
• A theoretical framework consists of standards,
definitions, theories and methodologies used in the
field of the report.
• This strengthens the reports by:
• Connecting the report to existing knowledge
and provides the basis for your choice of
methodology.
• Providing a statement of theoretical
assumptions that enable these to be evaluated
critically.
• Articulating theoretical assumptions enabling
reports to move from simply describing data to
analysing and discussing this with reference to a
wider field.
https://library.sacredheart.edu/c.php?g=29803&p=185919
5. Jan-20 5Gauge Capability
Examples of theoretical/reference
frameworks
https://library.sacredheart.edu/c.php?g=29803&p=185919
Field Examples
Municipal strategic
development
National Development Plan
Policy on municipal systems.
Disability The Social Model of Disability.
Carbon emissions reporting Greenhouse Gas Protocol.
Corporate sustainability
performance reporting
Global Reporting Initiative.
Energy efficiency in buildings South African of Bureau of
Standards SANS 204.
Green building performance Green building rating systems.
6. Jan-20 6Gauge Capability
Gathering your material
Type of
report
Material Examples
Report
evaluating
the
sustainability
performance
of different
house types.
Theoretical
framework
Green building rating system
Sustainable building research
papers
industry reports,
Journal articles
Energy, water, efficiency
benchmarks targets
Project
documentation
Project brief, site plans, building
plans, specifications
Site information Site plans, climatic data,
Field data Logged energy, water and
temperature data
Occupant
comfort surveys
Indoor environmental quality
surveys
7. Jan-20 7Gauge Capability
Analysing your material
• Review key questions that need to be addressed by
the report then, analyse your material and ask:
• Do you have sufficient material?
• Is it of the right amount and quality to meet required
standards?
• Are there gaps or anomalies in the data?
• If it is insufficient, or if there are gaps, can this be
addressed?
• Present the data clearly (tables, graphs)
• Standardise / format for comparability / analysis
• Analyse data for patterns and compare to benchmarks
• Review data in terms of theoretical framework
• What are initial trends, issues?
8. Jan-20 8Gauge Capability
For more information
and to access the
full online course on effective reports
go to
www.gaugecapability.co.za