Page 248 - DENG401_Advance Communication Skills

Unit 15: Business Report Writing

(d) Analytical Report: Analysis means study of a problem or event, right from its Notes
identification to discovery of its causes. It makes use of the facts and figures. The
analytical report comprises stages in which there is a proper identification of the
problem, analysis and subsequent interpretation. Recommendations or suggestions
are then incorporated in the report, depending upon what is required by the report
writer. Thus, in a problem solving method, the steps observed are as follows:
(i) Draft Problem Statement

(ii) Evolve criteria
(iii) Suggest alternatives and evaluation
(iv) Draw conclusion(s) and make recommendations
The structure of an analytical report could follow any of the two patterns – deductive
or inductive:
An inductive ordering follows a simple, logical arrangement in which you proceed
from the known to the unknown. There are two premises or syllogisms that conjoin
to yield a final conclusion, e.g.
Syllogism 1 Ram is a man and he is mortal.

Syllogism 2 Shyam is a man and he is mortal.
Syllogism 3 ---------------------------------------
Syllogism n ---------------------------------------
Conclusion Therefore, all men are mortal

One could formulate umpteen numbers of syllogisms to reach a final conclusion
which is always based on the number of experiments conducted or factors observed..
Here the progression is always in the nature of working on the known elements to
arrive at an unknown conclusion.
However, inductive patterning, while normally followed for organisation based
studies and experiments, suffer from a major drawback. As it is not based on any
universal truth, it holds valid only up to the point there is discovery of an issue that
prove country to the findings in the report. It is by nature only relevant in the
present and no universal claims to the same can be made.

On the other hand, a deductive ordering observes a reverse ordering where it proceeds
from the unknown to the known. Universal truths are taken as the formulation
point for the problem. The various alternatives are suggested, evaluated and
conclusions drawn, keeping in mind the original problem stated. To take a look at
the manner of approach in deductive methodology, let us take an example.
Conclusion All men are mortal.
Syllogism 1 Ram is a man and he is mortal.
Syllogism 2 Shyam is a man and he is mortal.

Syllogism 3 ---------------------------------------
Syllogism n ---------------------------------------
4. Research or Academic Report: After having studied about Business Reports, we learn
about research or academic report writing. The word "Academic" means "that which is
related to studies or education", so Academic reports are those reports which are prepared

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