OFFICE CORRESPONDENCE:

Report Writing

Muhammad Ziualhaq Mamun, PhD

Professor, Institute of Business Administration
University of Dhaka, Bangladesh
Home Page: www.mzmamun.info
Email: [email protected], [email protected]
Hand Phone: 0171-3035202

July 22, 2023

 BUSINESS REPORT
A Business Report is an Orderly,
Objective Communication of
Factual Information that serves
some Business Purpose

KEY WORDS

Orderly, Objective,
Communication, Factual
Information, Serves Some
Business Purpose
 BUSINESS REPORT (Cont.)
WHY REPORTS

• Vital to the communication needs

• The larger the organization, the greater the need for
the Report
• More technical & complex the work within the
organization, more likely is the need of Reports
• Handling large masses of information & data
• Maximum clarity to information

REPORT WRITING

• WORK ON A REPORT BEGINS WITH A PROBLEM/ NEED

– Preliminary Investigation
– Clear Statement of Problem
– Determination of Factors/Subtopics
– Hypotheses/Objectives
 REPORTS MAKEUP (LONG REPORT)
✓ PREFATORY PARTS
✓ REPORT PROPER
✓ APPENDED PARTS

✓ PREFATORY PARTS
– Title Fly
– Title Page
– Letter of Authorization
– Letter of Transmittal, Preface, or Foreword
– Acronym/ Abbreviations (Optional)
– Table of Contents, Illustrations
– Executive Summary (Synopsis, Abstract,
epitome, Précis, Digest)
GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES
AND CHALLENGES OF THE
JUTE INDUSTRY OF
BANGLADESH
BUSINESS ETHICS AND CORPORATE AWARENESS DEVELOPMENT IN
BANGLADESH: THE MANAGEMENT PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES

Prepared for:
Dr. Muhammad Z Mamun, Professor
Institute of Business Administration (IBA)
University of Dhaka

Prepared by:
Muntasir Mamun
ID: 201309188
MBA Program

IBA, Dhaka
14 January 2016

ii
 REPORTS MAKEUP (Cont.)

• REPORT PROPER
– Introduction
– Methodology
– Literature Review
– Report Analysis and Findings
– Summary, Conclusions, and Recommendations
 REPORTS MAKEUP (Cont.)

• REPORT PROPER (Cont.)

– Introduction
• Issue/Background
• Problems
• Objectives
– Broad
– Specific
• Hypotheses
• Rationale
• Scopes and Limitations
 REPORTS MAKEUP (Cont.)

• REPORT PROPER (Cont.)

– Methodology
• Data Collection
– Primary
– Secondary
• Sample & Sample Size
• Population & Sample Frame
• Sampling Techniques
– Probabilistic
– Non-Probabilistic

• Questionnaire Development
– Pre-testing
• Statistical Tool Used
 REPORTS MAKEUP (Cont.)

• REPORT PROPER (Cont.)

– Literature Review
• Journal Articles
• Reports
• Books
– Report Analysis and Findings
• Focusing Coordination Schema (Parameters,
Complex variables, simple variables, value, etc.),
broad objectives, specific objectives
– Summary, Conclusions, Recommendations
 REPORTS MAKEUP (Cont.)

✓ APPENDED PARTS
– End Notes
• Explanation of certain terminology that the author thinks the reader
will have difficulty to understand

– Appendix
• Elements that may disrupt the flow of reading (long table, detailed
calculations, newspaper clippings, questionnaire, etc.)

– Bibliography/References
• Detailed mention of the data sources (courteous, adds value and
authenticity to the report

– Index
• Pagination of key words (Subject index) and author (Author index)
 Example of Notes, Reference, etc.
1.0 ISSUE

Security at workplace is becoming an important issue in manufacturing units in Bangladesh. The work place security
encompasses security from the accidents and injuries, security from the harassment by supervisors and employers,
security of jobs from frequently hire and fire, etc. It is even more severe in garment factories of Bangladesh (Appendix 1)
as most of the workers are young women and gender inequality is prevalent in the country (Zohir and Paul-Majumder
1996). It can be hypothesized that the higher the level of work place security the lower the level of job insecurity, job
dissatisfaction, work confrontation, etc. Also with higher work place security the job satisfaction and employee relation
will increase leading to lower employee turnover and higher productivity. Job security levels are a function of
restructuring events, personal characteristics, and contextual conditions (King 1997). The frequency of restructuring,
management behavior (i.e., attitudes of management and supervisors towards employees), and the contextual conditions
directly influence workplace security of an enterprise. As a large number of women workers are employed in the
garments sector, it is expected that they can play a vital role at all stages of production if their participation is recognized
through proper enforcement of the provisions of the laws and feel secured at their work place. But unfortunately they are
dispossessed of workplace security. The lack of job security is due to the abundance of cheap labor supply and free-rein
control1 of the government over garment sector. As such, employers hire and fire workers frequently based on their own
desires and wishes.

The ready-made garment (RMG) industry in Bangladesh has seen a meteoric growth. From less than 50 factories in
1983, today it reached over 3500 with majority in the form of join-stock company (71%). Most of them (55%) were
established after 1990 (BIM 1999). In fact there is a gradual increase in export performance of garments industry since
1983 (Appendix 2). The garments industry is now one of the major export earning sector of Bangladesh. In 1997-98
financial year, garments sector amounted for US $3781.94 million, which is 73.28% of total exports of Bangladesh. For
the emergence of garment industry, about two
 Notes, References (Cont.)
NOTES

1 Opposing autocratic policy making.

2 It can be noted here that by the MOU signed by GOB, UNICEF, ILO and the US government Bangladesh agreed to stop child labor (which
is 14 years and below) use in the RMG plants.

REFERENCES

Ali, M. & Speece, M., (1997), Competitiveness of Bangladeshi Ready-Made Exports, Journal of Euro-Asian Management (AIT, Thailand), Vol. 3,
No. 2, December, pp.1-30.
Asian Textile Flash, Vol. 5, No. 88, May 15, 1999, p. 14.
BIM (1999), Bangladesh Institute of Management Report, Impact Study on Enforcement of Labor Laws Relating to Women Workers in the
Garments Industry, May-June, 1999.
Campbell, A.J., (1997), Using Buyer-Supplier Networks to Increase Innovation Speed: An Exploratory Study of Thai Textile Exporters, Asia
Pacific Journal of Management, Vol. 14, pp. 107-222.
King, J. E., (1997), White-Collar Workers and Job Satisfaction: Adjusting Loyalty and Behavior in the Face of the Changing Nature of
Employment?, Doctoral Dissertation, The University of North Carolina at Capital Hill, USA.
Naji, K., (1997), Fears for Garment Industry, The Financial Times, Sept. 29, p. 4.
Nicholson, M., (1998), Sector Gets a Rude Shock, The Financial Times, May 5, p.3.
The World Bank, The Uruguay Round and the Developing Economies, Discussion Papers No. 307, Washington, D.C., 1995.
Yang, Y. & Zhong, C., (1998), China’s Textile and Clothing Exports in a Changing World Economy, The Developing Economies, XXXVI-1,
March: 3-23
Yang, y. (1994), The Impact of MFA Phasing Out on World Clothing and Textile Markets, The Journal of Development Studies, Vol. 30, No. 3,
April, pp. 892-915
Zohir, S. C. & Paul-Majumder. O., (1996), Garments Workers in Bangladesh: Economic, Social and Health Condition, Bangladesh Institute of
Development Studies (BIDS), Research Monograph No. 18, Dhaka, Bangladesh
Referencing in APA (American Psychological Association) and
Harvard Style
1. Book Referencing:

APA Style
Lesikar, V. L., Pettit, D. J. & Flatley, M. E. (1999). Lesikar’s Basic Business Communication. 8th
Ed. New York: McGraw Hill.
Harvard Style

Lesikar, V L, Pettit, D J & Flatley, M E 1999, Lesikar’s Basic Business Communication, 8th Ed,
McGraw Hill, New York, USA.

2. Chapter in a Book Referencing:

APA Style
Mamun, M. Z. 2009, ‘Conflicting Approaches of Managers and Stockholders in a Developing
Country: Bangladesh Perspective’, Dobashi, M., Hooker, J. And Madsen, P. (eds), A Survey of
International Corporate Responsibility, International Corporate Responsibility Series, Volume
4, Philosophy Documentation Center, Virginia, USA, Chapter 19, pp. 317-336.

Harvard Style
Mamun, M. Z. (2009). Conflicting Approaches of Managers and Stockholders in a Developing
Country: Bangladesh Perspective. Edited by Dobashi, M., Hooker, J. And Madsen, P., A Survey of
International Corporate Responsibility, (Chapter 19, pp. 317-336). International Corporate
Responsibility Series, Volume 4. Virginia, USA: Philosophy Documentation Center.
Referencing in APA (American Psychological Association) and
Harvard Style
3. Journal Article referencing:
APA Style
Ali, M. & Speece, M. (1997). Competitiveness of Bangladeshi Ready-Made Exports. Journal of
Euro-Asian Management (AIT, Thailand), Vol. 3 (No. 2), December, pp. 1-30.
Harvard Style
Ali, M & Speece, M 1997, ‘Competitiveness of Bangladeshi Ready-Made Exports’, Journal of Euro-
Asian Management (AIT, Thailand), Vol. 3, No. 2, December, pp. 1-30.

4. Electronic Publication
APA Style
Thomas, S 1997, Guide to Personal Efficiency, Adelaide University, viewed 6 January 2012,
<http://library.adelaide.edu.au/sthomas/papers/perseff/html>
Harvard Style
Thomas, S. 1997. Guide to Personal Efficiency, Adelaide University. Retrieved 6 January 2012
from <http://library.adelaide.edu.au/sthomas/papers/perseff/html>

5. Thesis
APA Style
May, B. 2007. A survey of radial velocities in the zodiacal dust cloud (Doctoral dissertation.
Bristol, UK: Canopus Publishing.
Harvard Style
May, B 2007, A survey of radial velocities in the zodiacal dust cloud (Doctoral dissertation.
Bristol UK, Canopus Publishing.
Referencing in APA (American Psychological Association) and
Harvard Style
6. Report referencing:
APA Style
BBS (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics). 2010. Statistical yearbook 2010. Dhaka: Ministry of
Planning, Government of Bangladesh.
Harvard Style
BBS (Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics) 2010, Statistical yearbook 2010, Ministry of Planning,
Government of Bangladesh, Dhaka.
7. Newspaper Article:
APA: Anam, M. (1 October 2011). Future Leaders of Bangladesh. The Daily Star, p. 19.
Harvard: Anam, M. (1 October 2011), Future Leaders of Bangladesh, The Daily Star, p. 19.
 Appendix
Appendix 2: Ready-made Garment (RMG) Export and Total Export of Bangladesh
(1983-1998)

Year Export of RMG Total Export of Bangladesh % of RMG export to Total

(In million US $) (In million US $) Export

1983-84

1984-85

1985-86

1986-87

1987-88

1988-89

1989-90

1991-92

1993-94
 Table of Contents

Chapters Description Page No.

Title fly i
Title page ii
Letter of transmittal iii
Executive summary v
1.0 INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background 1
1.2 Problem Statement 2
1.3 Objectives 3
1.3.1 Broad objectives 3
1.3.2 Specific objectives 3
1.4 Hypotheses 4
1.5 Rationale 5
1.6 Scopes and Limitations 5
2.0 METHODOLOGY
2.1 Data Collection 6
2.2 Survey Methods 6
2.3 Pre-testing 6
3.0 ANALYSIS AND FINDINGS
3.1 Market Analysis 7
3.2 Economic Analysis 10
3.3 General Feasibility 12
4.0 CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 15
Notes 17
Appendices 18
References 20

iv
 Progression of Change in Report as Formality Requirements & Length of the
Problem Decrease

Formal Full Title Fly Title Page Letter of Table of Synopsis The Report Proper
Dress Report Transmittal Contents

1st Step Title Fly Title Page Letter of Table of Synopsis The Report Proper
Transmittal Contents

2nd Step Title Fly Title Page Letter of Table of Synopsis Transmittal + The Report
Transmittal Contents Synopsis Proper

3rd Step Title Fly Title Page Letter of Table of Synopsis Transmittal + The Report
Transmittal Contents Synopsis Proper

4th Step Title Fly Title Page Letter of Table of Synopsis Transmittal + The Report
Transmittal Contents Synopsis Proper

5th Step Title Fly Title Page Letter of Table of Synopsis Transmittal + Letter
Transmittal Contents Synopsis Report

6th Step Title Fly Title Page Letter of Table of Synopsis Transmittal + Memo
Transmittal Contents Synopsis Report