Project report
Definition:
A project report is a document used in project management that provides a
detailed account of the progress, challenges, and outcomes associated with a project. It
serves as a formal record for the management team, stakeholders, and future projects.
This structured document captures the essential aspects of a project. It is used by the
project team and management team to track and communicate the progress of the project,
identify and manage risks, and make informed decisions.
Structure:
1. Title Page
• Project Title: A clear and concise title.
• Your Name: Author of the report.
• Institution/Organization: Your school, company, or organization.
• Date: The date of report submission.
• Project Team: Names of team members, if applicable.
2. Abstract
A brief summary of the project, including objectives, methodology, results, and
conclusions. Typically 150-250 words.
3. Table of Contents
List of sections and subsections with page numbers for easy navigation.
4. List of Figures and Tables
If applicable, include a list of all figures and tables used in the report, with page
numbers.
5. Introduction
• Background: Context and background information.
• Objectives: What you aim to achieve with the project.
• Scope: The boundaries of the project—what is included and what is not.
• Importance: Why the project is significant.
6. Literature Review (if applicable)
A review of relevant literature and previous work related to your project.
7. Methodology
• Research Design: The overall approach and design of the project.
• Data Collection: Methods used to gather data.
• Analysis: How the data was analyzed.
• Tools and Techniques: Software, equipment, and techniques used.
8. Results
• Presentation of the findings of your project.
• Use tables, graphs, and charts to illustrate data.
• Include a narrative that explains the results.
9. Discussion
• Interpretation of the results.
• How do the results relate to your objectives?
• Implications of the findings.
• Comparison with previous studies or literature.
10. Conclusion
• Summary of key findings.
• Achievement of objectives.
• Recommendations for future work or projects.
11. References
List all sources cited in the report in a standard citation style (APA, MLA,
Chicago, etc.).
12. Appendices
Supplementary material such as raw data, detailed calculations, or additional information
that supports the main text but is too lengthy to include within the main sections.
13. Acknowledgments (if applicable)
Recognition of individuals or organizations that contributed to the project.
This structure can be adapted depending on the specific requirements of
your project or organization, but this should give you a solid foundation.
Types of report:
• Research Project Report
• Technical Project Report
• Business Project Report
• Progress Report
• Final Project Report
• Feasibility Report
• Audit Report
• Proposal Report
• Case Study Report
• Project Closure Report
• Implementation Report
• Evaluation Report.
Purpose:
• Documentation: To provide a detailed account of the project’s activities,
processes, and outcomes for future reference.
• Communication: To inform stakeholders, team members, and other interested
parties about the project’s progress, results, and any issues encountered.
• Assessment: To evaluate the effectiveness, efficiency, and impact of the project,
helping to identify successes and areas for improvement.
• Decision-Making: To provide the necessary information to make informed
decisions about the project's continuation, expansion, or termination.
• Accountability: To demonstrate that project resources (time, money, personnel)
were used appropriately and to fulfill any reporting requirements or obligations.
• Learning: To capture lessons learned and best practices for future projects,
facilitating organizational learning and improvement.
• Compliance: To meet regulatory or organizational requirements by providing
evidence of adherence to standards and procedures.
• Planning: To support future planning and strategy development by analyzing the
outcomes and impact of the current project.
Intended audience:
An intended audience refers to the demographic that writers expect will read and
interact with their work, whether it be an article, research paper, or book. When
reflecting on your intended audience, consider factors such as age, geographic
location, culture, and education. Your intended audience may be a wider, general
group of people from different backgrounds or a narrow, specific set of individuals
with similar interests. For instance, journalist write for the general public, so their
intended audience is often more diverse than those who write single-story genres,
such as science fiction novels.
Plagiarism:
Presenting work or ideas from another source as your own, with or without consent
of the original author, by incorporating it into your work without full
acknowledgement.
Report writing in STEM fields:
1. Title Page
• Title: Concise and descriptive of the report’s content.
• Author(s): Names of contributors.
• Affiliation: Institution or organization.
• Date: Date of publication or submission.
2. Abstract
• A brief summary (150-300 words) of the report’s objectives, methods, results, and
conclusions.
• Should be concise yet informative enough to give readers a quick overview.
3. Introduction
• Background Information: Context and importance of the study.
• Objectives/Purpose: What the report aims to achieve.
• Scope: Boundaries and limitations of the study.
4. Literature Review (if applicable)
• Summarize relevant research and findings related to the report topic.
• Identify gaps that the current report addresses.
5. Methods/Methodology
• Experimental Design: Description of the experimental setup or computational
methods.
• Materials and Equipment: Details of tools and materials used.
• Procedure: Step-by-step process followed.
• Data Collection: How data was gathered.
6. Results
• Data Presentation: Use tables, graphs, and charts to display results clearly.
• Analysis: Interpretation of data and any patterns or trends observed.
7. Discussion
• Interpretation: Explain the significance of the results.
• Comparison: Compare with previous studies or expected outcomes.
• Implications: Discuss the impact and relevance of the findings.
• Limitations: Address any limitations or potential sources of error in the study.
8. Conclusion
• Summary: Recap the main findings and their significance.
• Recommendations: Suggest future research directions or practical applications.
9. References/Bibliography
• List all sources cited in the report.
• Follow a consistent citation style (e.g., APA, IEEE, or specific to the field).
10. Appendices
• Include supplementary material such as raw data, detailed calculations, or
additional information that supports the main text but is too lengthy to include in
the main sections.
By adhering to these guidelines, you can produce a well-organized
and professional STEM report that effectively communicates your
findings and insights.
Experiment:
1. Experiment Overview
• Objective: Clearly state the purpose of the experiment. What hypothesis or
research question are you addressing?
• Background: Provide context or background information if necessary. Explain
why the experiment is important and how it fits into the larger project or field.
2. Materials and Equipment
• Materials: List all materials used in the experiment. Include specifics such as
quantities, concentrations, or specifications.
• Equipment: Describe the equipment used, including model numbers or brands if
relevant. Explain how each piece of equipment was used in the experiment.
3. Experimental Design
• Procedure: Outline the steps followed
during the experiment in a clear,
chronological order. This should be detailed
enough that someone else could replicate the
experiment.
• Variables:
o Independent Variable: The variable you
change or manipulate.
o Dependent Variable: The variable you
measure or observe in response to
changes in the independent variable.
o Control Variables: Variables that are
kept constant to ensure a fair test.
• Experimental Groups: If applicable,
describe any different groups or conditions
used in the experiment.
4. Data Collection
• Data Collection Methods: Explain how data
was collected. Include details on sampling
techniques, data recording methods, and any
instruments used for measurement.
• Data Sheets: Include any relevant data
sheets or tables. These should be well-
organized and include all necessary
information for understanding the data.
5. Results
• Presentation: Display your data using tables,
graphs, charts, or other visual aids. Each
visual aid should be labeled clearly and
include a legend if necessary.
• Analysis: Describe the main findings from
the data. Point out significant trends, patterns,
or anomalies.
• Statistical Analysis: If applicable, include
any statistical tests performed and their
results. Explain what these tests indicate
about your data.
6. Discussion
• Interpretation: Interpret the results in the
context of your objectives. Discuss whether
the results support or refute your hypothesis.
• Comparison: Compare your findings with
previous studies or theoretical expectations.
• Implications: Discuss the broader
implications of your findings. How do they
contribute to the field or project?
• Limitations: Address any limitations or
potential sources of error in the experiment.
Explain how these might affect the results.
7. Conclusion
• Summary of Findings: Summarize the key
results and their significance.
• Future Work: Suggest any further
experiments or research that could build on
your findings.
8. References
• Include citations for any sources of methods,
materials, or previous research that were
referenced during the experiment.
9. Appendices
• Supplementary Material: Provide
additional information such as raw data,
detailed calculations, or any other material
that supports the experiment but is too
extensive for the main body of the report.
