Explain how outlining and sequencing helps build a report. Give an example of an outline of a justification report

Answer 1

The content outline serves as a framework on which to build the report. In the development of the outline, the writer identifies the major and minor points that are to be covered and organizes them into a logical sequence. Outlining is an essential prerequisite to writing the report. The outline is a planning document and is thus subject to modification as the writer develops the report. Developing an outline requires the writer to think about the information to be presented and how it can best be organized for the clear understanding of the reader. Assume, for instance, your firm must decide whether to develop their own wellness program or contract with an outside provider. You need to research the steps and costs associated with developing your own program and compare them to the cost and benefits of a packaged service. Your analysis, along with your reasons and recommendations, will be delivered in a justification report.
You gather all available information about wellness programs and wellness program providers and compare the two against a list of criteria created by management. Your final selection is to contract with a program provider. Why did you select it? What criteria served as decision guides? When you write the report, you will have to tell the reader—the one who will pay for the provider—how the selection was made so that he or she is "sold" on your conclusion. If you organize your report so that you tell the reader everything about the two options—in-house program versus outside provider—each in a separate section, the reader may have trouble making comparisons. Your content outline might look like this:

I. Introduction
A. The Problem
B. The Method Used
II. In-House Program
III. Outside Provider
IV. Conclusion.