Page 254 - DENG401_Advance Communication Skills

Unit 15: Business Report Writing

4. Findings: This presents the inferences derived from statistical analysis. From the point of Notes
view of findings, reports may be either descriptive or explanatory. The finding is presented
in simple language. The problem in writing a descriptive report is to communicate
effectively in simple language. The audience is provided discrete facts abut the population
studied. In a descriptive report, an author has to describe the details of the findings. The
findings should be arranged in the way that makes it the easiest for the reader to understand
them quickly. Like a guide, the author helps in pointing out important findings. Possible
interpretations and applications are also suggested in the report. An explanatory report is
different and his prepared according to any one of the three models, each stemming from
a different set of framework, namely, hypothesis testing, focused argument and the
structural mode:
(a) Hypothesis testing: The report of such studies is compact and direct. It may begin by
stating the hypothesis. It also shows how they are implied in the theory. It may then
describe the methods used to present the data. Finally, it judges the validity of the
hypothesis in the light of research results. The process of testing the hypothesis is
seen carefully. Chi -square test, time & money test and z test may be used depending
upon the requirement. The level of significance is also decided. A concluding section
might offer some review and reassessment of both hypothesis and theory.

(b) Focussed argument: Another model for an explanatory report is the legal brief. To the
investigator, the data may all seem to contribute to a single conclusion, and to
support a single central proposition. This will be the most precise presentation. The
investigator may feel then that his task in his report is to win the assent of his
readers to the general conclusion. Unnecessary elaborations distort the central idea.
Focussed idea brings clarity and the audience can understand it in minimum possible
time. A Focussed argument is like a legal brief. This will contain a central issue.
Further, its examination of evidence in terms of its bearing on that issue also can be
made. In this presentation, the line of argument is extremely important. Unnecessary
details are to be avoided.

(c) Structural model: Perhaps the most difficult conceptual frame work to manage for the
presentation of quantitative data is the one that proposes a structural or system
model. The model has empirical relevance. This is prepared more logically. It
considers implementation aspects. A report of this sort might first concern itself
with structural aspects such as the number of personnel at their positions, goals,
environment etc. and then considers all other aspects of the system.

5. Presentation of Bibliography
(a) Avoid use of et al. in a bibliography unless list is very long (five or more authors).
The author subsumed into et al. may be your advisor or the reviewer... Note
punctuation of et al.

(b) If writing about networks or multimedia, use the network bibliography.
(c) Internet drafts must be marked ''work in progress''.

(d) Book citations include publication years, but no ISBN number.
(e) It is now acceptable to include URLs to material, but it is probably bad form to
include a URL pointing to the author's web page for papers published in IEEE and
ACM publications, given the copyright situation. Use it for software and other non-
library material. Avoid long URLs; it may be sufficient to point to the general page
and let the reader find the material. General URLs are also less likely to change.

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