KMS Write your Research Report in a Structure

1. KMSWrite your Research Report in a Structure August 2014

2. A Report: A report is a statement of the results of an investigation or of any matter on which definite information is required. (Oxford English Dictionary) Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

3. Knowledge Management TACIT KNOWLEDGE VS EXPLICIT KNOWLEDGE Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

4. Benefits of written reports Consolidated form Effective form of internal communication and shared knowledge Facilitates decision making and planning Discloses unknown information Enables periodic reviews Invites contribution from others Live documents Don’t have to remember and forget Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

5. No one can understand it! Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

6. Comprehensible Structure your Report Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

7. Methodology Develop a method Explain clearly Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

8. A Usual Report Structure Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

9. Stages: The following stages are involved in writing a report: clarifying your terms of reference planning your work collecting your information organizing and structuring your information writing the first draft checking and re-drafting. Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

10. Anatomy of a Report Cover Page Letter of Transmittal/ Executive Summary Table of Contents List of Illustrations Report Body Appendixes Citations Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

11. Cover Page Describes what the report is all about Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

13. Letter of Transmittal: Executive Summary Background Summarize conclusions and recommendations Minor problems. Thank those who helped. Additional research necessary Thank the reader. Offer to answer questions. Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

14. Table of Contents An outline of the report Bone structure Leads the reader Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

16. Illustrations Tables Graphs Charts Diagrams Label Number Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

17. Report Body Introduction: • Purpose and Scope; Limitations, Assumptions, and Methods Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

18. Background/History of the Problem/ Correlations / Analysis • Presents and interprets data Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

19. Conclusions and Recommendations Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

20. Appendixes • Interview transcripts, questionnaires, question tallies, printouts, and previous reports Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

21. Citations References or Works Cited Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

22. Plan your report Consider the report as a whole Break down the task of writing the report into various parts Keep in mind the time available to finish the report How can time be divided up into various phases Set yourself the deadlines Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

23. Draw up an outline of the report Divide your works in components Note: Some of the most time consuming parts of the process are collecting and arranging your information and checking &revising your report. Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

24. Collecting Information What is the information you need? Where do you find it? How much do you need? How shall you collect it? In what order you will arrange it? Make lists Make an action plan Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

25. Organizing Information Write the main theme in the Centre of a paper Write down all ideas and key words related to your topic starting from the Centre and branching out along lines of connecting ideas Each idea can be circled or linked by lines as appropriate Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

26. Organizing Information Cont’d When you have finished, highlight any related ideas and then sort topics Some ideas will form main headings and others will be sub-headings You will then be able to see a pattern emerging and be able to arrange and re-arrange Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

27. Mind Map

28. Questions and Common Errors Questions • You, We, I – personal pronouns • Standards for reports • How long? Common Errors • It’s a common error! Its consequences are great! • Singular & Plural errors. • Neutrality (he/she, John) Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

29. Document Design Use nomorethan5fonts. Use no more than 5 colors. Use normal paper. Use white space. Use templates. Use parallelism. Avoid double emphasis. Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

30. Remember The art of good writing is in re-writing Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

31. Subjects of Reports Various Information Needs Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

32. Information Needs Exporters from Pakistan Provision of information on Target Markets Logistical and Travel Information Export Procedures Trade Fair suitability Connectivity information Others (unlimited) Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

33. Information Needs International Importer Information on Procedures in Pakistan B2B Support Logistical information Visa and travel information Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

34. Information Needs Country basic facts Cultural differences Business Ethics in target markets Travel requirements Logistics and shipping Financial institutions (banking) Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

35. Information Needs Applicable import tariffs in importing country Applicable tariff concessions (FTA, GSP, etc) Sanitary and Phyto-sanitary requirements Labeling requirements Packaging requirements Health and safety related requirements Environment related requirements Standards Liability issues Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

36. Information Needs Trade statistics Trade fairs Business norms Distribution networks Buyer preferences Cost of doing business Competitor analysis Dispute resolution system Others Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

37. Information Needs Export related laws and procedures of Pakistan What incentives government offers for export? How can these incentives/ benefits can be gained? Others Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

38. Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014

39. Exercise 2 Take a blank page of paper Create a mind map for your report Centre for the Promotion of Imports from developing countries | August 2014