Managing expectations

Think about your primary readership and put yourself into their position. Asking some or all of these questions will help you write more directly and persuasively.

Type of report: How does the reader like information delivered? Would a presentation be better than a document?

Nature of outcome: Will the reader expect to be given a course of action, or options to consider?

Subject limits: Overview or one part only? Global practice or internal activities? Departmental or organisation-wide?

Level of detail: Summary or intimate detail? The same level of detail throughout?