One of the most useful ways to think about a report, any report, is to consider a report as an answer to a question.

When someone asks you to write a report, they are seeking information about something they don’t know. So, your job when writing a report is to answer that question.

Having a clearly defined question at the beginning helps focus your work, helps to minimise unproductive investigations, and will make your report more useful.

But make sure you have the correct question – one that probes the heart of the matter.

Spend some time with the person who has commissioned the report and the likely readers to explore what they really need to know. Ask them what they will do with the answer you provide.

And of course, maintain your integrity. Never write a report to provide a predetermined answer.