It's time now to plan your way through the rest of the report, so try to delay the temptation to start writing for just a little while longer.

First, review the purpose of the report. This could be to share an idea, answer a question, solve a problem, or share information. Make sure that you can describe the purpose of the report in straightforward terms. This will help you to keep your information clear when you start to write.

Consider the different types of formats available to you and decide which is best for the information that you have and for your audience. The different report types are presented here from least to most formal.