1. Different kinds of Business Reports ESL 505 Janice Adapted from http://www.prismnet.com/~hcexres/textbook/feas.html#defined

2. Some Rather Fine Distinctions • There is a loosely defined category of reports that is very important in technical writing. These reports are variously called • feasibility reports • recommendation reports • evaluation reports • They all provide carefully studied opinions and recommendations. • There are some subtle differences among some these types. . .

3. Feasibility report • This type studies a situation (for example, a problem or opportunity) • Determines whether that plan is technologically possible • Determines if it is practical (in terms of current technology, economics, social needs, and so on). • The feasibility report answers the question "Should we implement Plan X?" • It give a recommendation, and provides the data and the reasoning behind that recommendation.

4. Recommendation report • This type starts from a stated need, a selection of choices, or both and then recommends one, some, or none. • The recommendation report answers the question "Which option should we choose?" (or in some cases "Which are the best options?) by recommending Product B, or maybe both Products B and C, or none of the products.

5. Example For example, a company might be looking at grammar-checking software and want a recommendation on which product is the best. As the report writer on this project, you could study the market for this type of application and recommend one particular product, a couple of products, or none (maybe none of them are any good).

6. Evaluation report • This type provides an opinion or judgment rather than a yes-no-maybe answer. • It provides a studied opinion on the value or worth of something.

7. Example For example, for over a year the city of Austin had free bus transportation in an attempt to increase ridership and reduce automobile traffic. Did it work? Was it worthwhile? • These are questions an evaluation report would attempt to answer. This type of report compares a thing to a set of requirements and determines how well it meets those requirements. (And of course there may be a recommendation—continue the project, scrap it, change it, or other possibilities.)

8. Application • As you can see, these distinctions are rather fine; and they overlap. In real-world writing, these types often combine • Examine 3 business reports, and see if you can come up with general rules/criteria for each business research report. Look for similarities and differences.