Report Writing Management Concepts

Report Writing

Management Concepts

Academic Writing and

Issues & Aims

Report writing:

The brief

ii.

What is a report?

iii.

Structure of this report

iv.

Layout of a report

AOB

The Brief

•

Question 1: Outline Sony’s organisational

structure and provide an explanation of why the

organisation is structured in this way.

•

Question 2: Outline how Aravind eye hospital

applies the principles of ‘Scientific Management’

and why .

The Brief

•

TASK

•

This is an assignment in which you apply business

and management theories to a particular

organisation

•

Review how the management concepts have

been applied in the particular organisation and

why

•

Minimum of 6 sources: 5 academic & 1 non

academic (such as websites, newspapers, etc.)

What is a Report?

Purpose

•

A report is not just a discussion of different ideas or

theories

•

A report is a formal written document written for a

specific audience/s which aims to:

•

inform clearly and accurately about something

that has happened

•

inform clearly and accurately about something

that needs to be solved

•

provide clear and accurate information which can

then be acted on in some way

Structuring your Report

“We do not store experience as data,

like a computer: we story it”

(Winter 1988)

Structuring your Report

•

Suggested Structure (1,500 words):

•

Title page

•

Executive summary

•

Table of contents

•

Introduction

•

Describe the specific management concept/theory (organizational

structure or scientific management)

•

Provide background (context) information on the organization (Sony or

Aravind )

•

Outline how/why Sony or Aravind applies the specific management

concept/theory at their organisation,

•

Conclusion

•

References

•

Appendices (for any extra tables, graphs, etc...)

Title Page

This should show:

–

The title

–

Your name

–

Your personal identifier (NB: this should also be at

the top of every sheet.)

–

An explanation of what the report is on and who it

is for, e.g. ‘An External Environment Analysis

Report for [tutor's name]

–

The date

Executive Summary

The Executive Summary should contain:

The purpose of the report

II.

The major findings

III.

The main conclusions

Example

Executive Summary

•

This report provides an analysis and evaluation of the current and

prospective profitability, opportunities and risks of the UK ice cream

industry. The report also outlines different strategic decisions made by

the main companies (Unilever/Walls birds Eye, Nestle/Lyons Maid and

Mars) in the industry. It finds that the two most important decision

made were the decisions by Unilever to supply CTN’s with freezer

cabinets, and Mars’s decision to enter the market with their chocolate

bar ice cream. The report concludes with an update of the market

showing how consumers’ tastes have changed to become more health

conscious and how the positions of the companies have changed.

Example

Executive Summary

•

In groups, read the executive summary below. Is it good? How

might you improve it?

•

This report analyses the business environment of Easyjet at multiple

levels. Firstly, the report analyses the competitive environment in the

airline industry, with a focus on short haul service providers.

Secondly, the report analyses the strategies that Easyjet is using to

effectively compete in the industry, not only domestically but

internationally. Lastly, the report analyses the factors that have

contributed to the internationalisation of the company.

Table of contents

This should show

–

The full list of sections within the report

(including any appendices, reference or

bibliographic lists; etc.)

–

The page number on which each section

begins

An Example

Table of Contents

1. Introduction ……………………………………………………………….…..3

2. IKEA Background.................................................................3

3. The internal and External environment of IKEA................4

3.1 External environment…………………………...5

3.2 Internal environment…………………..………...7

3.3 PEST Analysis of Internal Environment…...9

4. Limitations of Report……………………………………………………..11

5. Conclusions / Recommendations…………………………………..12

6. Bibliography……………………………………………………………………13

7. Appendices………….……………………………………………………..….15

Introduction

This should give a succinct explanation of

the

aims/context of the report , and should include

brief details of any information necessary for the

reader to understand it, e.g. industry size ;

structure ; main activities ; scope of the report

limitations ; methods used

Introductions should include brief breakdown of

report structure

Example Introduction

Once considered a luxury for the rich due to its high costs, eye care in India was

revolutionised by the establishment of Aravind Eye Care hospital. This is representative

of an unconventional self sustainable business model redefining the dynamics of eye

care industry by providing high quality eye care at affordable prices ( Ravilla and

Ramasamy , 2014). Numerous studies provide evidence as to how Aravind eye care

network has successfully boosted its efficiency from two to seven times by

implementation of Mcdonaldisation to its social business enterprise.

Structured into three different segments, this report will firstly describe a brief theory

of Mcdonaldisation and its four key components. Secondly, it will discuss how the

founder of Aravind developed his idea of starting up this social enterprise, the

establishment of this business and its current business operations. Thirdly, there will

be a critical evaluation of how Aravind eye hospital has been able to adapt this unique

process of fast food restaurant chains into its business model derived from George

Ritzer theory of Mcdonaldisation to achieve its goal “ to offer quality eye care at a

reasonable price ” Rangan , 2009). Finally, this report will establish an indication of

whether or not Aravind was able to successfully adapt to this unique process of fast

food restaurant chains into its business model to achieve his vision.

Example Introduction

Introduce the topic