This document discusses different types of business reports. It defines a report as a persuasive document used to solve problems, provide services, or sell products. Reports can be informal or formal, information or analytical, direct or indirect. Different report formats are discussed, including electronic, letter, memo, digital, infographic, and manuscript. The document also distinguishes between solicited and unsolicited, internal and external reports. It provides examples of Cisco internet reports and concludes with a summary of the key points covered.

1. Business Communication
Adapted from NETA PowerPoint for Essentials of Business Communication by
Lisa Jamieson
Business Reports

2. What is a report?
• A persuasive offer to solve a
problem, provide services, or
sell equipment or other
products.
Image source

3. Informal vs Formal Reports
Informal Formal
• Offers work or services • Product of thorough
investigation and analysis

4. Information vs. Analytical Reports
Information Analytical
• Presents data
• Descriptive
• Analyzes data
• Interpretative

5. Direct vs. Indirect Reports
Direct Indirect
• Purpose stated at
beginning
• Recommendations stated
at closing

6. Audience Analysis and Report
Organization

7. Report Formats
Electronic
Letter
Memo
Digital
Infographic
Manuscript

8. Sample Report
• Cisco Internet Report
• Cisco Internet White Paper

9. Reports can be…
•Solicited or unsolicited
•Internal or external
•Formal or informal
•Informational or
analytical
•Direct or indirect
•Written in a variety of
formats
Image source

10. Summary
• Defined what a business report is
• Learned to distinguish between different types of
reports
• Explored different report formats

11. References
Guffrey, M. E., Loewy, D., & Almonte, R. (2019). Essentials of business communication
(9th Canadian Edition). Nelson.
Jamieson, L. (2019). Chapter 8: Communicating in the digital-age workplace [PowerPoint
slides]. Nelson.

12. Image Sources
[Stamp saying request for proposal] [Photograph]. [n.d.]. Vizion.
https://www.vizion.com/blog/create-your-own-rfp-with-these-rfp-examples/
[Person writing notes and typing on computer] [Photograph]. [n.d.] Insurance Thought
Leadership.https://www.insurancethoughtleadership.com/tag/informal-report/