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How a business report is usually structured

Most lecturers expect a report to be easy to scan. A common layout looks like this, but always check your own brief for required headings and word count.

• Executive summary: a short overview of the problem, findings and recommendations.
• Introduction: the aim of the report and what it covers.
• Main body: headings that match the tasks in your brief, each with evidence.
• Conclusion: what your analysis shows, without adding new points.
• Recommendations: what the organisation should do, if the brief asks for it.
• Reference list and appendices.

How to approach a case study

1. Read the case twice. On the second read, underline facts that matter.
2. State the central problem or decision in one sentence.
3. Pick a model that fits the problem. Do not use a model just because it is familiar.
4. Use evidence from the case and from outside sources.
5. Make a recommendation and explain why it beats the alternatives.
6. Mention limits and risks, such as missing data or changing markets.

Using SWOT and PESTLE well

A list of strengths or political factors earns few marks on its own. The marks usually come from analysis: which factors matter most, why, and what they mean for the decision in front of you.

Pick the three or four points with the biggest impact, explain each with evidence, and link them to your recommendation.

Harvard referencing in a nutshell

Harvard puts the author and year in the text, for example (Smith, 2023), and lists full details at the end in alphabetical order. Direct quotes also need a page number.

Versions of Harvard differ between universities, so follow your own university's referencing guide for the exact format.

Common mistakes to avoid

• Describing the company instead of analysing it.
• Listing models without linking them to the case.
• Making recommendations that the evidence does not support.
• Ignoring required headings or the word limit.
• Using references that are old, weak or not cited in the text.