Article: A report that presents an idea is called a justification/recommendation report. You can use these reports to make suggestions to management or other important decision makers. This report typically contains a summary and body. The summary highlights your request. The report’s body delves into the benefits, costs, risks, etc., associated with your request. For example, you want a 3D printer for your division. To convince your manager to requisition one, you would write a justification/recommendation report to formally ask the management team for the printer. An investigative report helps determine the risks involved with a specific course of action. This type of report is great for helping a company anticipate repercussions. The report will contain an introduction, body and conclusion. The introduction highlights the problem under investigation. The body is used to discuss the facts and results of the investigation. The conclusion is used to summarize. For instance, say pharmaceutical company X wants to partner with pharmaceutical company Y but has some concerns. Company X doesn’t want to partner with a company that has current financial problems or has had financial problems in the past. Company X conducts an investigation and uses an investigative report to discuss in-depth financial information on company Y and its directors. This report, known as a compliance report, helps companies show accountability. A company will use a compliance report to show proof to a governing body (city, state, federal government, etc.) that it is following all applicable laws/rules and that it is spending money properly. The report contains an introduction, body and conclusion. The introduction typically includes an overview of the report’s major sections. The body contains the specific data, facts, etc., that the regulatory entity needs to know. The conclusion is used to summarize. For instance, CALPERS (California Public Employees Retirement System) needed to show its board of administration that it followed all applicable laws and rules in 2010. It put together an annual compliance report to show their activities for the year. An exploratory report to determine whether an idea will work is called a feasibility report. The report should contain a summary and body. The summary presents the idea. The body covers the benefits, potential problems, associated costs, etc., of the proposed idea. A company might use a feasibility report to explore questions such as these:  Can this project be completed within its budget? Will the project be profitable? Can this project be completed within the allotted time frame? A research studies report presents research on an issue or problem. It’s an in-depth look at a very specific issue. The report should contain an abstract (summary), introduction, methods, results, conclusion and recommendation. It should also cite the study or studies involved. For example, a business might conduct a company-wide study on whether to ban smoking in its employee lounge. The person who writes up the study would produce a research studies report. This report, called a periodic report, is written at fixed intervals, such as weekly, monthly, quarterly, etc. It may examine efficiency, profit and loss, or any other metric over the chosen interval. For instance, a pharmaceutical sales representative might provide a monthly summary of his or her sales calls. A specific situation — as opposed to a fixed interval — calls for a situational report. The situation can be as simple as the information provided at a conference or as complex as a report on the response to a natural disaster. These reports contain an introduction, body and conclusion. Use the introduction to identify the event and briefly preview what you cover in the body of the report. The conclusion discusses the undertaken or necessary actions for the situation. As an example, a state’s governing body would like a situational report after a hurricane. A yardstick report weighs several potential solutions for a given situation. Based on the results, the writer would recommend a particular course of action. A yardstick report should contain an introduction, body and conclusion. The introduction states the report’s purpose. The body presents the situation or problem followed by potential solutions/alternatives. The conclusion reveals the best solution or alternative. For instance, ABC Auto Manufacturing, Inc., wants to open a plant in Asia. The report might narrow down three country options based on the company’s needs. The report would then conclude which of the three countries is the best location for the new plant.

What is a summary?
Present an idea. Present risks involved with a specific opportunity. Present compliance information to a governing body. Present the feasibility of an idea or proposed project. Present research found in a study. Help a company improve its policies, products or processes via consistent monitoring. Report on a specific situation. Present several solutions for a problem or situation.