Depending
upon the type problem to be solved, reports may originate within the company or
outside the company. Except for reports required by the government, even
external reports originate within the company that is they are authorized by
the company.
INTERNAL REPORT
INTERNAL REPORT
Internal
reports (reports written and used within the company) usually fall into one of
two categories:
Routine reports
Special reports
1. Routine Reports originate because management
anticipates problems to be solved. Management establishes quantitative markers
to determine whether the companies are no schedule in meeting major company
goals or objectives. The budget is one the best known markers; other are sales
quotas and production units. Progress toward achieving these various markers or
quotas is communicated routinely to management in the form of report. Results,
good and bad are reported routinely to those responsible for company
operations.
2. Special Reports originate because of problems to be
solved which management cannot anticipate. Special reports frequently relst
because of problems that become apparent in routine reports. A routine report
may reveal that sale in district a are far below quota. Management investigates
and determines that production is below quota because of morale problems. Based
on this determination, a special report on sales personnel morale may be
authorized.
A
few reports come about because of the independent action of individual company
personnel. Although no attempt is made here to explain motivation, some
individuals (probably a relatively small number) of their own decision will
detect, research and report on some problem they identify in company operation.
EXTERNAL REPORT
External
report is reports to governmental agencies that are probably the most
frequently produced reports originating (authorized) outside the company. And
even though they are authorized externally, they originate that is the research
is performed – internally. Other examples of external reports would be those
going to trade association or to chambers of commerce.
Often,
there will be problems to be solved which the personnel of a company may not be
qualified to solve. Having isolated the problem(s). Management calls upon an
outside organization to research and reports the findings. Once again, though,
the problem is usually defined internally. Sometimes, even though company
personnel have the necessary abilities and skills to research and write a
report, an external source is hired to do the job in order to obtain the
essential report element of objectivity.