1.

3 PURPOSE/ IMPORTANCE
OF TECHNICAL REPORT
WRITING
 Why A Report?...
Reasons for Report Writing

 Some of the reasons we write reports are to:

 inform
 make proposals or recommendations for
change
 analyze and solve problems
 present the findings of an investigation or
project
 record progress
 How Engineers Spend Their Time
Early Career

 25-30 % Engineering: Designing, measuring,

calculating, problem-solving= technical skill

 50-75 % Communicating: Writing reports, letters,

memos, proposals; giving presentations, talking to
colleagues, bosses, customers and clients=
communication skill
 Performance evaluation and job advancement usually
depend more on communication skills than on
technical skills.
 How Engineers Spend Their Time
Later Career

 5 -10 % Engineering: problem-solving

 90-95 % Communicating: Writing reports, letters,

memos, proposals; giving presentations, talking to
colleagues and bosses and customers and clients

As you advance in your career, even more of your

time is spent communicating rather than
calculating.
 REPORT FUNCTIONS
 The main purpose of a technical report is fact
findings and prepares the base for making decision.

 Eg.Changing schedules, Design changes

 To evaluate the performance of something

 To inform what is going on status

 To communicate an idea/problem with concerned

body: EX: Damages as a result of flooding, Losses
as a result of failure of structure
 REPORT FUNCTIONS…

 An informational report presents the facts but does

not analyze the information, draw conclusions, or
make recommendations.

Annual report —summarizes a company’s

accomplishments, finances, and significant events

Progress report — updates status of a project

Travel or trip report — summarizes travel agenda

Minutes — record of proceedings of a meeting

 REPORT FUNCTIONS…
 An analytical report presents information, analyzes
to draws conclusions and sometimes includes
recommendations.

Feasibility report— examines a proposed course

of action

Justification report— explains or recommends an

action
 REPORT FUNCTIONS…

 The experimental report enhances the

readers knowledge and interests.

 Render the accuracy and reliability of the

measurements in experiment and be able
to link it to the related theory.

 Be able to demonstrate the order and

coherence in experiment results.
1.4 Classification of reports
The Form Report:-
The Informal Report:-
The Formal Report:-
A report can also be Academic Report and Professional Report
Academic Report:
Professional Report:
Technical report may also comprise: Preliminary Reports:
 Problem or Needs Analyses-
 Project Plans;
 Comparison Reports;
 Feasibility Reports;
 Recommendation Reports;
action should be taken by an organization.

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 Proposals,
 White Papers:
 Marketing Plan:
 
Progress Reports:
Test Reports:
Strategic Plans:
Business Plan:
Design Reports:
Periodic Reports:

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End of Lecture