2. What is Report?
The word report is derived from the Latin word of “reportare”
which means carry back. Re means back and portare means to
carry. Therefore, a report is a description of an event carried back
to someone who was not present on the scene.
Meaning of Report: A report is an organized statement of facts
relating to a particular subject prepared by reporter after making
independent inquiry or investigation with or without opinions or
recommendations.
3. Definitions by Author’s
“A report is a communication from someone who has some information to
someone who wants to use this information”.
C.A.Brown
“A formal report presents an organized form of the information that has
been requested by an authorized person”.
Philip S.Atkinson & Helen Reynolds
4. Importance of Report
Decision making tool : A large number of important decisions in
business or any other areas are taken on the basis of information presented in
the report.
Investigation : Whenever there is any problem, a committee or commission or
study group investigate the problem to find out the reason behind the problem
and present the fount output with or without the recommendation in the form of a
report.
5. Development of Skill: Report writing skill develops the power of
designing, Organization co-ordination, judgement
and communication. Therefore such skill acts as a catalyst.
Proper Control: Whether activities are happening according to
plan or not is expressed through a report.
So, controlling such activities are implemented based on the
information of a report.
6. A Managerial Tool: Various reports makes activities easy for
the managers. For planning, organizing, coordinating, motivating
and controlling. A manager may find help from a report which acts
as a source of information.
7. Characteristics of Report
• Precise: The reporter should be very clear in drafting a report. If so, he/she
may present the report very precisely with coherence and makes it a valuable
document.
• Only Facts: The management is going to take a decision on the basis of
factual information available in the report. Inaccurate facts may lead to faulty
decisions.
8. • No Grammar Mistake: All the rules relating to grammar
should be followed while drafting a report. The quality and
validity of the report is affected due to grammar mistake.
• Simple Language: Simple sentences can be used for drafting a
report. Lengthy sentences should be avoided. A report should
be understood by an ordinary layman.
9. • Reader Orientation: It is necessary to keep in mind the
person(s) who(are) is going to read the report. There must be
an attraction in the report while reading the same.
• Relevance: Only relevant information must be included in the
report. Irrelevant information should not be included in the
report.