This article summarizes effective report writing techniques.I. The typical structure is as follows:II. Title, author, date.III. Summary.IV. Introduction and terms of reference (plan for the report).V. Executive summary (containing key evidence points, recommendations and findings).VI. (1-2 pages maximum)VII. Context/history/situation.VIII. Implications/problems/opportunities/threats, with evidence of facts and figures reported to the source.IX. Solution/action/decision options with implications/effects/results, including financial data and input and output parameters.X. Recommendations and actions with values ​​and costs of inputs and results and, if necessary, return on investment.XI. Appendices.XII. Bibliography and optional acknowledgments. Outline your structure before you begin researching and writing your report. Make sure the purpose, objectives and scope of the report are clearly explained in your terms of reference. The executive summary must be very concise and summarize the main recommendations and findings. Provide interpretation of situations and options. Shows the most important facts and figures. Your recommendations should include implications, with values ​​and costs where applicable. Unless yours is a very complex firm, limit the executive summary to less than two sides of a standard business document. The body of the report should be divided into logical sections. The content must be very concise. Use concrete facts and figures, evidence and justifications. Use efficient language: Large reports with too many words are not impressive. The best reports are quick and easy to read because the author has interpreted the data correctly and developed sound recommendations. Don't cram in lots of details, diagrams, figures, evidence, references etc. in the main body of the report. Index and attach these references as appendices at the end of the report. When reporting figures or evidence you must always identify the source. Show figures in columns. Try supporting important figures with a graph. If it is appropriate to acknowledge contributors, do so in the introduction or in a separate section at the end. Writing Reports When You're Not Sure What's Required If you're ever faced with the task of writing a report and you're not sure how to proceed, here are some tips. It's common for you to be asked to write reports in business and organizations, for all kinds of reasons. Sometimes relationships are necessary for good reasons, sometimes they are simply a waste of time. Sometimes reports with clear terms of reference and criteria are requested, but in most cases they are not. It is common for reports to be requested with only a vague idea of ​​what is actually needed - there is usually no "brief" or written specification.