What Is a Recommendation Report?

A recommendation report is created to offer or recommend solutions to an issue or to meet a requirement. The report’s objective is to assess choices, make a recommendation, and back up that suggestion. While money is always a factor, there are other factors to consider as well. A report’s audience is usually predetermined and particular, with one or more groups delving into different aspects of the study. Report writers must include enough detail so that audience members can confidently follow the recommendations as well-informed team members. While online searches are the most popular method of conducting product research, family and friends are also valuable sources of information. However, when consumers seek suggestions, demographics matter. Statistics show that white Americans are 13% more likely than non-white Americans to purchase a product suggested by a friend. Women rely on recommendations from friends and family 22% more than men do.

Benefits of Writing a Report

Reports are one of the most significant vehicles for organizational communication, and they give invaluable assistance to management tasks. The information presented or recommendations made in words make critical business, industry, and government choices. It aids managers in planning reports, organizing, directing, overseeing, and regulating their operations. The following sections explore the advantages, benefits, and merits of reports from various perspectives:

Detailed Information: After a thorough study of the problem and an in-depth analysis of the occurrence, a report is produced. It examines the information gathered critically and makes management recommendations. So, aside from reports, no other communication mechanism delivers this level of in-depth information on the issue.Precise and accurate: The material in the report is accurate and precise, and it can be verified. In an investigation report, there is no room for extraneous or inflated facts. A business report is meticulously crafted, which is why the reporter must give careful consideration to the findings and organize them in a precise manner.Presentation of Facts in an Objective Manner: A good report is always objective, as it is written to disclose facts. The reporter exposes the truth, regardless of the repercussions, and presents it as discovered. The objectivity with which points are presented enables management to analyze their situation and take appropriate action in response to it.Fact-Checking Instrument: As it provides the facts, a report is considered a fact-finding tool. The team or committee responsible for writing the report makes every effort to ascertain the factors that contributed to the development of the particular situation that is of interest to management. It assists management in recognizing the scenario or problem by the management’s objectives. It helps management visualize the system’s components and formulate future policies to address the situation or problem.External Application: Reports are used to communicate both internally and externally. Internal reports are utilized internally and are not distributed, while external ones are generated for various external parties. Annual reports, audit reports, and directors’ reports, among others, are created to enlighten external stakeholders and enable them to reach informed decisions about the company or corporation.Unusual Communication Technique: A report is regarded as an excellent communication tool. As the recipient can read the report several times, the reader will have a clear and thorough understanding of the message. Furthermore, it is the only written Strategic communication plan that offers management suggestions unavailable through other communication channels, making it a more effective communication method than others.Recommendations: The report provides management with the essential recommendations to take proper action plans to resolve the situation. The report’s recommendations are more accurate since they are based on a thorough analysis of the incident and the interrelationships between numerous components.Documentation: A report is acknowledged as a legal document, and in some situations, the organization’s preparation of reports is a legal responsibility. Companies are required by law to present annual reports, audit reports, directors’ reports, and other Business documents. The report can also be used in court as legal proof in favor of any business transaction.

Types of Business Reports

Each firm and business report must transmit a great deal of information. Corporation reports are the formal means to share a piece of data within a business. The data may consist of facts and figures or a comprehensive study of any circumstance. Companies rely on these reports to make critical decisions and prepare for the firm’s future, and hence the relevance of such reports is self-evident. Significant business decisions, such as investments and expansions, are entirely based on Annual business reports.

Formal Business Reports

These reports follow a deliberate format and are delivered to the appropriate authorities in a predetermined manner. They are presented to numerous committees and bodies and the heads of various departments and organizations. Because the report discusses business exclusively formally, it is referred to as a formal business report. Other standard reports are classed as statutory reports or non-statutory reports.

Informal Business Reports

These reports are created in a helpful format for the reporter and delivered to the appropriate person. A memorandum or a business letter can also be used to provide these reports. These reports are referred to as informal reports because they do not have a set framework.

Informative Business Reports

These are business reports written to provide descriptive information on a particular topic, scenario, or problem. They provide information wholly and comprehensively that authorities use to understand better the situation, which is why they are referred to as informative reports.

Interpretative Business Reports

Unlike an informational report, which contains merely facts, opinions, views, or numbers, an interpretative report provides facts, thoughts, ideas, or numbers that aid in interpreting a particular piece of information, situation, or problem. Additionally, the interpretative report may include reasons for a specific issue, including why a specific incident or issue occurred and what course of action should be taken, as well as a recommendation for the same.

Verbatim Business Reports

The report generated by secretaries or any other employee who records the discussions held during a meeting is a verbatim report. For instance, suppose a resolution authorizing the appointment of an auditor was passed in a session, and the reservation is reflected verbatim in the Verbation report. When many members’ votes are considered, the verbatim accounts provide the members’ identities, voting methods, and results. These business reports should not be confused with meeting minutes, which record the meeting’s actions and decisions.

Summarized Business Reports

A summary report is created with the assistance of essential details addressed during the meeting. These types of business reports are prepared with the goal of sending them to a press release, to the company’s shareholders agreement, or to a member of a particular institution.

Problem Solving Business Reports

As the name implies, a problem-solving business report assists in the resolution of an issue by advising or advocating a course of action for a particular situation. Additionally, the study discusses the origins of such problems, and the conclusion discusses potential strategies for resolving the issue. Further, the paper outlines how that situation might be avoided in the future by adopting particular actions.

Fact-Finding Business Reports

There are several instances inside an organization where a factual determination is required. For example, a piece of machinery breaks down in a rivalry between an associate and the management. The scenarios necessitate in-depth reasoning regarding the occurrence of the situation. In those instances, the fact-finding report is advantageous since it presents facts in the information from a third-person perspective. These reports are submitted to high management to take appropriate action in response to the current scenario.

Performance Report

Regularly, management wants to know how each department is performing. Not only that, but the management analyzes the performance of newly launched branches, freshly appointed personnel, and even existing employees who are due for promotion, for which a performance report is created. These reports are critical for management to make decisions, so they are created by the senior members of the appropriate groups.

Technical Business Report

Equipment advances quicker than the speed of light, which is why businesses upgrade their technology regularly. When a company undergoes such a significant transformation in terms of technology, a Technical Business Report is developed to analyze the level of technology. These papers outline the process of changing, including the time and money involved, which assists top management in making a decision.

Standing Committee Report

A standing committee is appointed for a defined purpose. Whether the reason is financial, personnel, or departmental, the standing committee is expected to study these factors thoroughly. The committee’s report is referred to as a standing committee report. In many organizations, periodic reports are required.

Majority Report

Typically, the members of a committee, including the chairman, make unanimous decisions. In these instances, a single report is prepared and submitted to the official committee. If that is not the case, most of the member’s reports must be provided to the examining authority from their report. This report is referred to as a majority report.

Annual Report

The annual report is a document that summarizes the business’s year operations, including sales profits and turnovers. Such a report is created only once a year and is distributed to corporate executives for an in-depth examination of the previous fiscal year. The Annual report serves as the foundation for most critical investments, product portfolio adjustments, event marketing strategies, and marketing campaigns. Annual reports may be used to modify or alter pre-determined strategies.

How To Write a Recommendation Report

Typically, writing a recommendation report includes explaining a situation, analyzing various solutions, and recommending a remedy to a problem. The final report should include conclusions and recommendations that are detailed, precise, and evidence-based. Whether you’re writing a project, performance, or risk assessment, articulating the facts helps people make an informed conclusion based on your research.

Step 1: Choose a format.

A complete recommendation report would typically include a table of contents, an executive summary, the technique used to collect the data, and options and findings. You can get a template for a piece of business advice or make your paper or presentation. Additionally, you can send detailed attachments or links to related websites. Choose the most appropriate format for the type of report you are writing.

Step 2: Explicitly Defining the Situation

According to the University of Arkansas, the purpose of the recommendation report is to present helpful solutions that can help meet a need or fix a bothersome situation. Begin your suggestion report by saying what you’re reviewing. This establishes the tone. For instance, if you’re writing a report regarding absenteeism at your workplace, begin by compiling facts about the issue. Then include feedback on the impact. Absenteeism, for example, may result in diminished productivity, missed deadlines, and decreased customer satisfaction.

Step 3: Conducting Investigations

You must define the approach utilized to acquire data in your proposal. For instance, you may run an online poll, focus groups, conduct interviews, or read relevant literature. This assignment enables you to learn what other people think about the subject and their actions due to their personal experiences. For instance, you may notice that employees at your organization frequently miss work due to caregiver responsibilities, bad health, or transportation issues. Conduct a comprehensive analysis of the circumstances before forming any conclusions. For example, you can employ analysis approaches such as developing a fishbone diagram to ascertain the problem’s root cause analysis.

Step 4: Alternatives That Qualify

After defining the issue, you can move on to suggesting feasible remedies. Recall what elements should be addressed when creating research recommendations. For example, when writing a recommendation report regarding staff development needs, identify choices for increasing trained skills such as efficient communication, negotiation, and decision-making. Additionally, your recommendation report may include information regarding previous therapies and their outcomes.

Step 5: Conclusion

Utilize succinct charts, lists, and diagrams to summarize your research findings. This makes it easier for your superiors to evaluate and draw their inferences from your recommendation. For instance, you may discover that employees are unaware of the impact of their absenteeism. Raising awareness can help improve attendance and provide adequate coverage. Your advice should include precise, quantifiable, and actionable steps. Additionally, they should be practical and time-bound. A recommendation can advise that posters highlighting incentives and punishments be designed, distributed, and displayed at the workplace by the end of the month.

FAQs

What is the purpose of a recommendation after a report?

Although they serve distinct objectives, recommendations are frequently provided after a report. Whereas a conclusion allows you to summarize or examine the report’s essential points, recommendations indicate actions that should be made in response to the report’s findings.

How is a reference report defined?

A reference informs readers about the source in sufficient detail to understand its source, and typically, references are given after the lab report.

What is a report’s appendix?

Appendices contain too comprehensive information for the main report, such as lengthy mathematical derivations or calculations, detailed technical drawings, or raw data tables. The content should be summarized and referred to appropriately throughout the report’s body.

It is critical to keep your objectives in mind when you write your recommendation report. For example, you cannot write about sailboards in a story about trucks. Additionally, it would help if you organized your facts before beginning to write. Maintain appropriate language and tailor your report to your intended audience, especially if you have a strong sense of who will read it. If you incorporate other people’s work into your report, ensure it is appropriately referenced and cited.