5. Conclusion Most reviews will require a final report to conclude the process. In some cases it may be necessary or desirable for the report to be tabled in Parliament. This chapter outlines some important issues to consider during the concluding stage of a review. Key consideration 18: draft the review report The review report should communicate the key messages in an appropriate manner by taking into account the target audience. The report should clearly outline why the review was conducted; the terms of reference; how it was conducted (i.e. the methodology followed); the findings and recommendations. It can be helpful for the drafting process if the report structure is agreed by the review’s governing body before drafting begins. Details of previous review reports published by other agencies can be found in the Bibliography. A helpful guide for creating and reviewing the structure of a large document is given in Writing at Work: How to write clearly, effectively and professionally. Once drafting is underway, ensure that the style and tone are consistent with the style guide (if one exists). agency’s The final report should take into consideration the needs and expectations of the target audience, especially the stakeholders. Some stakeholders may have different review’s needs to others—where possible these needs should be catered for by additional methods of communication. For example, a detailed formal report may be appropriate for some, but unlikely to be read by others. In such cases, an additional short summary report or information leaflet could be more appropriate.
5. Conclusion Most reviews will require a final report to conclude the process. In some cases it may be necessary or desirable for the report to be tabled in Parliament. This chapter outlines some important issues to consider during the concluding stage of a review. Key consideration 18: draft the review report The review report should communicate the key messages in an appropriate manner by taking into account the target audience. The report should clearly outline why the review was conducted; the terms of reference; how it was conducted (i.e. the methodology followed); the findings and recommendations. It can be helpful for the drafting process if the report structure is agreed by the review’s governing body before drafting begins. Details of previous review reports published by other agencies can be found in the Bibliography. A helpful guide for creating and reviewing the structure of a large document is given in Writing at Work: How to write clearly, effectively and professionally. Once drafting is underway, ensure that the style and tone are consistent with the agency’s style guide (if one exists). The final report should take into consideration the needs and expectations of the target audience, especially the review’s stakeholders. Some stakeholders may have different needs to others—where possible these needs should be catered for by additional methods of communication. For example, a detailed formal report may be appropriate for some, but unlikely to be read by others. In such cases, an additional short summary report or information leaflet could be more appropriate.
guidelines_for_the_review_of_legislation.docx