Constructing an Effective Formal Report

In this unit, we were required to have a formal report draft completed for peer review. The process of researching was very interesting and insightful. Since my report is about upgrading a data storage system, I spent a lot of time researching on effective techniques and ways improve productivity. While researching, I came across an article stating that the problem of information overload (too much accumulated documents) is costing US companies approximately $650 billion a year in lost productivity. This ties into my report nicely and emphasizes the importance of effective documentation and filing.

Organizing the report was not an issue as we were required to complete an outline. I followed the outline as best I could, while also adding new sections and removing those that were no longer needed. Writing the report came naturally as this was something I experienced first-hand at my workplace. Being passionate about my work definitely motivated me to do my best to solve the issue. If I was forced to write a report about an unrelated topic, it would definitely be much more difficult and less engaging during the process.

I enjoyed peer reviewing my partner’s formal report draft about improving the undergraduate enrolment rate of the UBC chemistry program. As an undergraduate student who has gone through those exact first and second year chemistry courses, I was able to relate my experiences to the recommendations my partner gave. I completely agree with her recommendations, and am extremely excited to read her final formal report.

During this unit, I learned that the process of writing an effective formal report takes a lot of time and effort. Creating a survey took majority of the time because extra care was needed to make sure the results were interpretable from the given questions. Summarizing my findings and proposing recommendations were the parts I enjoyed the most. I got to review the opinions of the undergraduate research assistants I work with, and suggesting recommendations to improve the workflow of the lab was incredibly rewarding. Overall, writing the report has been a great experience.