Upon completing this chapter, you will be able to write well-structured business reports. To reach this goal, you should be able to:

1. Explain the makeup of reports relative to length and formality.
2. Discuss the four main ways that the writing in short reports differs from the writing in long reports.
3. Choose an appropriate form for short reports.
4. Adapt the procedures for writing short reports to routine operational reports, progress reports, and problem-solving reports as well as to minutes of meetings.
5. Write longer reports that include the appropriate components, meet the readers’ needs, and are easy to follow.