Technical reports are provided to a client during or at the end of a project. They include the results of your research, along with your analysis and conclusions. They usually present a solution to a problem, and recommend action.

Because they are likely to be read by people who may not have a technical understanding of the topic, technical reports should be as clear as possible. Make sure you spell out what your findings mean and why you are recommending a particular course of action.

Again, reports can be written in various formats and your company is likely to have a specific template to follow. The main sections of a technical report are as follows:

• Summary. This should include a brief overview of your investigation, outcomes and recommendations. It must include all the key information your reader needs to make a decision, without them having to read your full report. Don’t treat your summary as an introduction; it should act as a standalone document.
• Background or introduction. This provides context for the report. It should describe the problem being addressed, the aim of the project or situation that is being evaluated, the current state of research or technology, and any other elements that were taken into account during the analysis.
• Body. This will present the results of your work. It should be structured in logical sections, and can include figures and tables to convey data. However, if you have lengthy data tables or other research product, they should be included in an appendix.
• Conclusion. This brings together the various parts of the report to present a clear decision for the client. Summarise your key findings, state your major outcomes and highlight their significance. Be sure to include any limitations to your findings.
• Recommendations. These can be part of your conclusion or pulled out separately. Your recommendations can be presented in 2 ways
  • clear action statements (eg Ventilation fans should be installed in the main warehouse.)
  • conditional statements (eg If ventilation fans are installed in the main warehouse, it is likely that …).
• Appendixes. If you have data that are too detailed or lengthy to include in the report itself, include them in an appendix. It is also a good idea to include lengthy descriptions of research methods in an appendix rather than in the body of the report.