And other common reports

Types of Reports on The Basis of Form

The form of a report pertains to its format, structure, and mode of presentation. It
determines how information is organized, presented, and communicated, thereby
influencing the report’s accessibility, readability, and impact.

Letter Report
Letter reports are formatted as formal letters and are typically used for external
communication. They are concise, focused, and are often employed to convey
findings, recommendations, or updates to clients, stakeholders, or other
organizations.

Memorandum Report
Memorandum reports, or memo reports, are informal documents used for internal
communication within an organization. They are brief and direct and are often
employed to convey updates, instructions, or announcements to employees.

Form Report
Form reports follow a standardized template, ensuring consistency and uniformity.
They are often used for routine documentation such as incident reports, inspection
reports, and progress reports.
Field Report
Field reports document observations, findings, and insights gathered from fieldwork.
They are essential in research studies, surveys, and investigations, providing a
detailed account of real-world experiences and observations.

Fact Finding Report

Fact-finding reports are investigative documents that uncover the truth about a
specific issue or subject. They are thorough and objective and are often used in
audits, investigations, and research.

Laboratory Report
Laboratory reports document experiments, tests, and analyses conducted in a lab
setting. They are characterized by a structured format detailing the experiment’s
purpose, methodology, findings, and conclusions.

Library Report
Library reports provide an overview of library activities, usage, and resources. Library
libraries use them to document acquisitions, circulation, and patron engagement,
aiding in library management and development.
Types of Reports on The Basis of Subject
Subject-based categorization revolves around the primary topic or field of study that
the report addresses. It helps in identifying the domain of knowledge, expertise, and
interest that the report pertains to, thereby guiding its content, audience, and
application.

Engineering Report
Engineering reports detail the findings and recommendations of engineering projects
and studies. They cover various engineering disciplines, providing insights into
design, development, testing, and evaluation.

Economic Report
Economic reports analyze economic conditions, trends, and developments. They are
essential for policymakers, economists, and businesses, providing insights into
market dynamics, economic indicators, and fiscal policies.

Sales Report
Sales reports provide a comprehensive overview of sales performance, detailing
sales figures, targets, and trends. They are instrumental for sales teams and
management, aiding in strategy development and performance evaluation.

Survey Report
Survey reports present the findings of surveys and questionnaires. They detail the
methodology, participant demographics, responses, and conclusions, providing
insights into public opinion, market trends, and consumer behavior.

Project Report
Project reports document the progress, performance, and outcomes of a project.
They are essential for project management, providing stakeholders with insights into
project development, challenges, and achievements.

Performance Report
Performance reports evaluate the performance of individuals, teams, or
organizations. They detail achievements, challenges, and areas for improvement,
aiding in performance management and development.

Technical Report
Technical reports provide detailed information on technical subjects, processes, or
developments. Their depth of detail characterizes them and are often used in
scientific, technological, and industrial fields.
 Examples of some common reports include the following:

Status updates
may be internal to a company in addressing a business situation, or external in
providing the status of a project to another organization. Status reports are usually to-
the-point, tightly focused, brief informational reports.

Project reports
are lengthier documents which may cover many different aspects of a project at various
stages, for various stakeholders in the project. They may be informative or analytical,
depending on your purpose and situation.

Feasibility reports
analyze a situation and propose a direction to take. They are often written to explore a
new idea or process, or to evaluate a current situation and make recommendations, as
a way to explore a change before making major investments of time or money. For
example, a feasibility report may be a first step toward doing a full business plan, since
it can be developed in much less time and still provides direction for decision makers.

Business plans
are often informative reports about what an individual or organization plans to do over
an upcoming period of time? A business plan can be informative but may be more
analytical if it’s intended for potential investors. In some cases, a business plan may
include a request for funds; in those cases, the writing is more persuasive and may, in
fact, turn into a formal proposal.

Proposals
analyze a problem or situation, research possible solutions, and propose a specific
solution or action, as a result of the evidence presented. They often include action
plans, timelines, costs, and other appropriate information. Proposals may be informal or
formal, internal to a company or external to an outside audience, depending on the
situation.

Recommendation reports
often result from a business problem that an individual or team has been asked to solve;
these reports are usually analytical and internal to an organization. Reports that deal
with needs assessment are one type of recommendation report.

Research reports
gather and explain data; these reports are usually informative.

Compliance reports
may be informative or analytical as they deal with how well a department, division, or
the whole organization is addressing a set of standards.

Financial reports
may be informative or analytical as they deal with use of funds in certain
contexts. Financial reports may be internal or external to the organization.

Trip or conference reports

summarize and transmit information learned, therefore increasing the value of the trip
by disseminating information through the organization. They are usually informative.
Meeting minutes
are informative reports that summarize concepts and topics discussed at a meeting.

REFERENCES:

https://www.iedunote.com/types-of-reports
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-esc-
communicationforprofessionals/chapter/report-purposes