How to Write an Effective Recommendation Report

Writing a recommendation report can be a challenging task. A good recommendation report clearly outlines the problem, evaluates alternative solutions, and provides a specific recommended course of action. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the key steps for writing an effective recommendation report.

Choose a Topic

The first step is selecting a relevant topic or problem that needs a solution. Your instructor may assign you a specific topic, or you may need to choose your own area to investigate. If selecting your own topic think about a problem opportunity, or decision you have encountered in your personal, academic, or professional life that requires a thoughtful recommendation. The topic should be complex enough to warrant research and analysis.

Once you have a topic refine it into a focused problem statement. The problem statement will guide your research and ultimately your final recommendation. For example a broad topic like “how to improve student literacy” can be narrowed down to “how to improve literacy rates among elementary school students from low-income families.” The more focused your problem statement, the clearer your recommendation report will be.

Conduct Thorough Research

With a defined problem statement, the next step is gathering pertinent information to analyze possible solutions. Cast a wide net with your research by exploring various sources such as books, academic journals, news articles, interviews, and surveys.

As you conduct research, look for:

• Background information on the overall problem and industry context
• Case studies of how similar organizations have addressed the issue
• Data and statistics related to the problem
• Costs and benefits associated with potential solutions
• Expert perspectives on the problem and viable solutions

Take detailed notes and record your sources as you research All the information you gather will serve as evidence to support your ultimate recommendation

Write an Executive Summary

After completing your research, draft an executive summary that provides a high-level overview of the key sections and main recommendation of your report. Think of the executive summary as a snapshot of the entire report condensed into one paragraph.

The executive summary should briefly explain the problem, essential background details, your main findings from research, your final recommendation(s), and expected outcomes if your recommendation is implemented. The executive summary previews the key details that will be expanded on throughout the rest of the report.

Though the executive summary comes at the beginning of your report, I recommend writing it last after you have analyzed your research findings and finalized your recommendation.

Craft a Clear Problem Statement

The next section of your recommendation report will be a detailed problem statement. While the executive summary gave a high-level overview of the problem, the problem statement section provides specific evidence demonstrating why the defined problem exists and why it matters.

When writing your problem statement:

• Clearly define the problem using specific facts and data
• Outline who the problem impacts and quantify the effects
• Use your research to establish the context around the problem
• Explain why a solution needs to be found

A strong problem statement justifies the need for taking action through compelling facts, statistics, expert opinions, and real-world examples. It sets up the rationale for your proposed solution.

Outline Possible Solutions

With a well-defined problem, you can now move to the next section – presenting potential solutions. Use your research to outline 3-4 possible options to address the problem.

For each potential solution:

• Explain how it would work in detail
• Analyze the benefits it offers
• Discuss any limitations or drawbacks
• Provide data, precedents, expert perspectives to back up your claims

Be sure to include a mix of solutions such as new technology implementations, policy changes, education programs, or operational process improvements. The goal is to demonstrate you have thoroughly evaluated various alternatives through careful research.

Establish Evaluation Criteria

To judge the merits of each potential solution, you need to establish clear evaluation criteria. This section of your recommendation report will define 4-6 factors to assess the strengths and weaknesses of each option.

Common criteria used to evaluate solutions include:

• Cost – both upfront and ongoing costs
• Timeline – how quickly it can be implemented
• Resources – staffing, infrastructure needed
• Risks – potential downsides or barriers
• Effectiveness – ability to resolve root problem
• Sustainability – ongoing positive impact
• Stakeholder reaction – how users and partners would respond

Assign weights to each criterion based on its level of importance. More critical criteria should be weighted higher when scoring options. Defining weighted criteria sets up your final recommendation section.

Provide a Specific Recommendation

With your evaluation criteria established, you can now select the best solution to recommend. Objectively score each potential solution based on the defined criteria.

In your recommendation section, state your recommended course of action clearly. Provide justification by linking back to:

• Your evaluation criteria and scoring
• The key benefits highlighted in your solutions section
• Facts and data that support why your recommendation is optimal

Be specific on the details of implementing your recommendation. Outline action steps, timelines, budget, roles and responsibilities, potential challenges, and how to measure success.

The recommendation is what your entire report has built up to. It should flow logically from the research and analysis presented.

Compile References

Conclude your recommendation report with a list of references citing all sources used for your research according to the requested formatting style (APA, MLA, etc).

Cite sources within the report wherever you incorporated data and information from your research. Appropriately citing sources lends credibility to the evidence presented in your report.

Following these key steps will produce a polished recommendation report that demonstrates thoughtful analysis. From choosing a focused topic to providing a well-justified recommendation, you can leverage research to craft persuasive reports that drive impact. Approach each section thoroughly and let your recommendation naturally emerge from the research findings.