Con107 As33

06/12/2023, 05:30 Kia ora, Talofa and welcome to Module 5 : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction
truction Projects (Open Polyte…
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CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects / Contents / Module 5: The Analysis and Report
Kia ora, Talofa and welcome to Module 5 5m
01:35
Thoughts on this page?
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06/12/2023, 05:31 Introduction to analytical reports : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - p…
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CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects / Contents / Module 5: The Analysis and Report
Introduction to analytical reports 1m
Nau mai, haere mai ki tenei Kōwae tuatoro. Welcome to the fifth module of your course.
© Getty Images
Analytical reports are formal reports used to define a problem, investigate possible solutions
and recommend a course of action.
Fact sheet 5.1 Why do an analytical report?

This fact sheet looks at why we need analytical reports, the process involved, identifying the
question and deciding on the type of report.
Fact sheet 5.2 Audience and scope

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06/12/2023, 05:31 Introduction to analytical reports : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - p…
In this fact sheet you will explore the types of people you might be writing for and how you
need to tailor your report to suit them.
Fact sheet 5.3 The format of a report

This fact sheet covers the standard sections in a report and the order they appear in.
Fact sheet 5.4 Presentation

This fact sheet details how you should use headings, figures and graphics in your report.
Fact sheet 5.5 Writing the report

In this fact sheet you will work through the process of outlining, drafting and revising your
report for final publication.
Whakangahautia ki ōu akoranga, ngahunga hei ako mā tatou. Enjoy your studies, focus
on your learning.
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06/12/2023, 05:31 Introduction – Why do an analytical report? : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Pol…
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CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects / Contents / Module 5: The Analysis and Report / Fact sheet 5.1: Why do
an analytical report?
Introduction – Why do an analytical report? 5m
An animated house with question marks surrounding it
© Getty Images
Why do an analytical report?

On the job, you may find yourself needing to write an analytical report. The purpose of an analytical
report is to explain what the situation is and give solutions. There must be enough information for
people reading your report to make a decision.
To write a great analytical report you will need to be able to:

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06/12/2023, 05:31 Introduction – Why do an analytical report? : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Pol…
 clarify the purpose for a report – what is the problem?

 select and organise information to meet the purpose of the report and needs of the target
audience
 gather necessary information from appropriate sources
 plan and write the report to a specified format and style
 prepare the report for publication by checking for correctness and sense
 request feedback on your report.
Analytical reports seek to answer the ‘why’ to a problem and recommend a solution. As the name
suggests, an analytical report must begin with analysing the situation.
In life, sometimes things go wrong; we encounter a problem and we wonder… ‘why?’
 ‘Why does that table wobble?’

 ‘Why did the wheel come off my child’s go cart?’
In these examples, we might do a simple analysis by:
 looking at options for what is causing the problem

 gathering information via observation, a manual or the internet
 deciding on the best answer to the problem.
We use a similar process when writing an analytical report. The first thing to do is clarify the
question you need to answer in to solve the problem. Let's have a look on the follow page.
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06/12/2023, 05:32 Asking the right question : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powered…
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Asking the right question 15m
Lets look at some examples of how to develop a question for an analytical report. You may develop
more than one question, but for following case examples we will explore one question.
Good analytical questions are usually something like the following:
 What happened?
 What is currently happening?
 Which do you want?
 Why did it happen?
 What should we do?
Take a look below at the examples of developing a question for an analytical report.
Fig. 5.1 Case study example
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© Getty Images
The owner of a garden centre is concerned that new leaves on camellias (Fig. 5.1
above) are turning yellow. They want to know what fertiliser to use. The owner could
look up a reference book on fertilisers, but this still may not solve the problem.
Maybe there are other reasons for the camellia leaves turning yellow? For instance:
 There has been a dry spell and the camellia is dying.

 The bush has been infested with a bug or a virus.
 There is no problem. New shoots always come through yellow on that type of
camellia.
A better question to ask is: why do the new leaves on the camellia bushes look yellow?
Fig. 5.2 Case study example

© Getty Images
Here’s an example from an engineering journal (Fig. 5.2): Failure Analysis Case
Studies
 During a routine RAAF training flight, the right-hand trailing edge flap (TEF)
separated from the wing of the plane.
 Reports of similar incidents showed that the TEF had failed at the outboard hinge
first and then twisted upwards.
 Inspection of the rest of the fleet of trainer planes disclosed cracking in the right-
hand TEF outboard hinges on two other planes.
The analysis sought to cover these issues:
 Can the cracks lead to the TEF separating?

 What is the age and cause of the cracking?
 Do we need to change the non-destructive inspection procedure?
In this case the RAAF knew why the wing flap fell off. The question to answer was: how can
we prevent this from happening again?
ACTIVITY 5.1: COLLAPSED RETAIN WALL
Fig. 5.3 Collapsed retaining wall
© The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand Ltd
The owners of the Ngatai road section contracted a landscaping company to terrace the
garden area of their property. After three months the top terrace has given way. This has
created a major slip onto the lower level, threatening the property next door.
An engineer needs to write a report to an insurance company investigating the collapse of a

retaining wall (A structure that holds back a slope and prevents erosion.).
 What might the engineer’s first question be?
Type your response into the box below, then Submit your answer.
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06/12/2023, 05:34 Hidden questions : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powered by iQu…
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CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects / Contents / Module 5: The Analysis and Report / Fact sheet 5.1: Why do an
analytical report?
Hidden questions 15m
We don't want our report to be used as ammunition in a hidden agenda. Hence, it's useful to ask
yourself ‘what else is going on?’
From the examples on the previous page, what's going on:
 in the garden centre with plants that are dying

 with the faulty planes.
‘What else is going on?’ is generally not a part of your brief and not something you will report on. However,
these answers may help you decide the sort of information your report should contain. For example:
 For the Garden Centre: How do seasonal influences affect camellia flowers? What is the best way to
care for camellia flowers?
 For the airline company: What are working conditions like in the airline’s maintenance department? Is
work contracted out?
If you feel your report could be used as ‘ammunition’ in somebody else’s argument, it’s wise to define your
scope exactly. For example:
 The Garden Centre, 'This report explores how the four seasons affect the condition and lifecycle of
camellia flowers in different ways, and how to care and maintain them in each season. It does not
comment on bug or virus or their cause.'
 The airline company, 'This report comments on what the working conditions are like in the maintenance
department, and discusses to pros and cons of contracting maintenance work out. It does not
comment on who (in-house or contracted out) is at fault for any maintenance errors.'
ACTIVITY 5.2: DEFINE THE TOPIC OF THE REPORT

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Fig. 5.4 Failed retaining wall
The owners of the property have contacted you for an analytical report. They explain the scenario to
you:
 They contracted a landscaping company to terrace the garden area of their property
 After three months the top terrace has given way
 This has created a major slip onto the lower level, threatening the property next door.
1. Define the topic for your report (what is the report about?)
2. What is the purpose of the report (what question does it answer?)
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06/12/2023, 05:34 Types of analytical reports : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - power…
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Types of analytical reports 3m
Types of analytical reports

An analytical report examines why a home might be in a particular state and how it got there. Your
report provides information to answer questions or make recommendations for further action. We
will look at four common types.
Table 5.1 Types of analytical reports.
Feasibility Is it possible to do this?
Evaluation Did this work?
Investigation What happened?
Recommendation Your best option is this…
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06/12/2023, 05:35 Feasibility reports : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powered by iQu…
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Feasibility reports 10m
A feasibility report answers the question, ‘Should we implement this plan?'
It provides a recommendation, and also gives specific information about the proposed project,
outlining the factors to be considered and rationale to justify any recommendations.
A photo of a double door garage
© Getty Images
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ACTIVITY 5.3: POTENTIAL FEASIBILITY QUESTIONS
You have a great idea — let’s add a double garage to our property! Your partner very sensibly
suggests getting a feasibility report first.
 What are some of the questions a feasibility report might look into?
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06/12/2023, 05:35 Evaluative reports : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powered by iQ…
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Evaluative reports 5m
An evaluative report evaluates the effectiveness of a situation for instance, a new addition to
a home or using masonry for a retaining wall.
This type of report compares the situation to a set of criteria and asks:
 Did it work?
 How well has it met the goal?
Fig. 5.5 Christchurch cyclists
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© Getty Images
Christchurch City Council wanted to reduce congestion in the central city at rush hour
(see Fig. 5.5 above). It was decided to make free bicycles available from central
locations. The council wants to know:
 Did it work?
 Was it worthwhile?
The analysis of this situation will need to include:
 a sample of public opinion (pedestrians and cyclists)

 a value judgement – setting loss of bicycles against the extent of traffic
congestion (which itself may be affected by other factors).
The answer within this type of report may be yes/no/maybe. There may also be a
recommendation to stop having free bicycles as a way to reduce congestion in the central city.
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06/12/2023, 05:35 Investigative reports : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powered by i…
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Investigative reports 15m
A photo of an apartment block made of bricks which has a huge crack running up the wall
© Getty Images
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Investigative reports
This type of report answers:
 Why did this happen?

 What went wrong?
An investigative report does not have a yes/no answer. Instead, it looks for a reply that says, ‘this
happened’, or ‘this is what went wrong’ or possibly, ‘as far as we can tell, this is what we think must
have happened….’
Reading
Lightly read pages 1 - 12, Determination 2006/20 - Refusal of a code compliance certificate for an
alteration to a house with a “monolithic” cladding system at 8 Prospect Terrace, Milford, North
Shore City is an example of an investigative report.
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06/12/2023, 05:36 Recommendation reports : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powere…
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Recommendation reports 20m
Recommendation reports
A recommendation report starts from a known need. It examines a selection of possible solutions,
then recommends one, several, or none of those solutions.
In a recommendation report, possible solutions are judged against criteria. This shows a solution’s
strengths and weaknesses. Solutions can then be ranked accordingly. Finally, a recommendation
report provides a recommendation:
 You should go with this solution because….
Recommendation reports have a table of the ratings of each approach. Thus, our audience is able to
decide which approach to go with (depending on their budget and which features are most
important to them).
Examples of recommendation reports
 Potential need: Do you want to know which dishwasher to buy that gives you least long-
term maintenance cost for your money, or which cat food will keep your pet healthy?
 Recommendation: Consumer has been providing analytical reports on these and thousands
of other items for decades – read Dishwashers.
 Potential need: Want to know which digital camera will best suit your needs?
 Recommendation: Look in Canon Cameras for various digital cameras.
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Often your recommendation report will be required to incorporate aspects of some or all of the
types mentioned (for example, all the Dishwashers, and all the digital cameras).
 Why do you think this is the case?
Post your ideas to the discussion forum below.
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Post your ideas in this discussion box.
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Stephen Bates 02 Nov 2023, 6:01 PM
Maybe the report has been written for someone who requires more information on a specific type rather than all
types?
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Liam Liddicoat 14 Jun 2023, 7:03 AM
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Shona 07 May 2023, 6:04 PM
To give the reader options on best solution, then next best solution, etc. Also, each reader of the report might
have different criteria they are looking to fulfill e.g. price vs quality.
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Kat 19 Mar 2023, 12:55 PM
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Mat Ware 01 Mar 2023, 1:55 PM
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Jeffrey Rudolph 08 Feb 2023, 2:14 AM
To fully inform the client, so that they may be satisfied about the rationale they took in their decision.
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Aaron Swift 24 Jan 2023, 12:20 PM
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06/12/2023, 05:36 Introduction to audience and scope : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic…
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CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects / Contents / Module 5: The Analysis and Report / Fact sheet 5.2: Audience and
scope
Introduction to audience and scope 10m
The audience for a report

For analytical reports, the most important thing to consider in planning and writing your document is
adapting what you write to meet the needs of your readers. This advice may sound straightforward but it
is easy to get carried away with technical details not suitable for a non-technical audience.
Your audience could be anyone from a management team who wants a general idea of the background
and conclusion and who doesn't want to get into the details. Or an insurance company who wants to know
exactly, for example, why this wall collapsed.
There are several levels (or types) of audiences for a technical analytical report. We’ll look at the main
categories below – experts, executives and non-specialists.
Experts
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© Getty Images
The experts
Experts know the theory, know the product and know the trade. They have the qualifications, have
designed the bridges and boats, tested the structures, researched the materials and made it all work in
practice. These people want to know the specific technical detail you are commenting on, and expect you
to ‘talk tech’ without needing to explain the basics.
Executives
© Getty Images
The executives
Executives make the decisions about what the experts design and the technicians operate. Their interest
may be financial, political, legal, or commercial.
 If the report is about a new technology, these are the people who make the decision as to whether
their corporation will use it.
 If the report is about selecting this rather than that product, a million or more dollars for the
successful manufacturer may hang on their decision.
Executives will tend to have little technical knowledge, but will want to understand exactly what extra
features they get for their money by buying the more expensive product.
In both cases, you need to know what their critical requirements are, and be sure you have the answers to
them.
Non-specialists
© Getty Images
The non-specialists
Non-specialists have the least technical knowledge, but have a personal interest in an issue or a product.
For example:
 Someonenthinking of buying a new house might notice that the house resembles a ‘leaky building’,
and they want to know whether this particular house is at risk.
 Computer users might want to know which internet security product will protect their type of system
best.
 Ratepayers might want information on which to base their vote regarding a particular chemical added
to their water supply.
All these people want their particular issue analysed and explained, with points for and against reported
objectively. They want just enough technical information for them to understand, with options set out
clearly so they can make their decision.
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06/12/2023, 05:37 The scope of a report : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powered by…
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CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects / Contents / Module 5: The Analysis and Report / Fact sheet 5.2: Audience
and scope
The scope of a report 20m
The scope of a report

Clarifying the question you need to answer, and understanding the audience, will help you decide what is
expected from the report.
The scope of a report is how far your investigation and analysis should go. To help decide what is in
scope we ask:
 Why have your clients asked for the report?

 What sort of information do your clients want the report to contain?
 What are your clients going to use the report for?
Note: the purpose, target audience and scope are all part of what is often referred to as the terms
of reference in a report.
With answers to the above questions, you can decide which factors are within your ability and schedule
to make informed comment on. You can add extra factors to the criteria you report on, or you can be
explicit about excluding certain factors.
Factors to consider when developing the scope:
 Is your report one of a series published by an engineering journal on causes of metal fatigue?
- If so, you will need to acknowledge this and confine yourself strictly to this brief.
 If your report on options for purchasing equipment is going to a management group, you need to
find out what particular implications they are concerned about.
- Is it the cost of supplying one to every member of staff?
- Is it the downstream re-training requirements?
- Or is it the equipment’s adaptability for other purposes?
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A photo of a collapsed retaining wall
ACTIVITY 5.4: SCOPE OF REPORT
Continuing with the collapsed retaining wall at Ngatai Road, define the scope of your report:
1. Why have your clients asked for the report?
2. What sort of information do your clients want the report to contain?
3. What are your clients going to use the report for?
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06/12/2023, 05:38 Selecting and gathering information : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic…
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CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects / Contents / Module 5: The Analysis and Report / Fact sheet 5.2: Audience
and scope
Selecting and gathering information 1m
Deciding what information you need

Analytical reports need to be factual and detailed. The point of the report is to analyse the problem.
Sometimes you’ll need to keep sifting down through levels of information (the macro to the micro) to
cover all possibilities.
 The exact size of a screw used to join two surfaces may be the most important information you
need in deciding why a table wobbles.
 The specific metal used for the TEF hinge on the RAAF trainer plane was crucial to the amount of
strain it could take without cracking.
Information in analytical reports must be:

Valid
Information must be correct for the specific situation. You must check every piece of information you
use. In the instance of the trainer plane it’s not enough to say, ‘The maintenance crew always inspected
the wings of the plane – here is the checklist and here is where it was ticked off.’ In a critical situation
you will need to know who ticked it off and have confirmation that what has been recorded actually took
place. That is, you must verify that the person who signed off the checklist actually looked at each
checklist item relating to that wing, at that time, on that day.
Current
The soil test taken from the ground around a camellia bush that is turning yellow needs to have been
taken from that piece of ground during the last week or month (depending on the duration of the
problem), not one from two years ago when the garden was first planted.
Relevant
The information you gather must also relate to the purpose of the report and the target audience. As an
ordinary gardener worried about a yellowing plant, you just need to look up camellias a gardening book
to find that they need an acid soil. A basic soil test kit can tell you that the soil around your plant
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currently has a high pH, and you would realise at once that using an acid-type fertiliser would give your
plant its best chance to grow and flourish. Your information gathering has been factual, current, valid,
and sufficiently detailed for your report (to yourself!) as to how to help your plant.
However, if you are a camellia breeder, you may want to know much more about the exact chemical
balance of the soil in relation to different varieties. Perhaps dwarf varieties need a different pH from tree
types. This would take an entirely different level of research and testing over time to analyse and report
on.
Failed retaining wall at Ngatai Road
© Getty Images
Ngatai Road worked example

Let’s say that you need to gather information on the brief from an insurance company to
report on why the retaining wall on a terraced, sloping section has collapsed. Remember
the situation — the owners of Ngatai Road contracted a landscape gardening firm to
terrace the garden area of their property. After three months the top terrace has given
way, creating a major slip onto the lower level, burying the garden on that level and
threatening the property next door.
You might immediately ask:
 What is the geological profile of the substratum and soil type?

 Was the overall design of the wall appropriate for the site?
 What was the nature of the backfill used to create the terrace?
 Was the drainage adequate for normal expected moisture build-up, rainfall and so on?
For a greater than normal build-up?
 Were there detailed specifications, and were these suitable for the site?
 Was Council approval required for the type of site and the type of wall specified?
 If so, was a compliance inspection carried out and were modifications required?
 What were the conditions immediately before the wall collapsed?
This first brainstorm has already generated a first list of key information you will need to obtain,
such as:
 a civil engineer’s report on the substrata of the hillside

 the design and full specifications for the retaining walls, including drainage channels and holes
 an expert opinion on whether the specs were suitable for this site
 information about the actual fill used
 rainfall history of the area, including the weeks prior to the collapse of the wall
 council documentation on prior consents and inspection following building completion.
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06/12/2023, 05:38 Where to find information : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powere…
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CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects / Contents / Module 5: The Analysis and Report / Fact sheet 5.2: Audience and
scope
Where to find information 20m
Where to find information

Before gathering information, you might start by making a checklist of what information you need and
where to get it. Your checklist could also include a column to note when you have completed that task.

At Ngatai road, with the collapsed retaining wall, some places to visit or contact are:
 the site itself, including the adjoining property

 the owner
 the City Council
 the Met Service (or perhaps their website)
 an authority on building requirements for these specific conditions.
Here’s an example of a checklist to find information on the collapsed retaining wall.
Date
Information needed Notes on sources done
Civil engineer’s report on substrata of Did owner have this done before contracting?
hill Was it part of contract for landscaper to do?
Otherwise will need to commission
Design and specifications Owner’s copy of contract for the retaining walls
with landscaper gardener
Consents before commencement Owner, City Council
Inspection reports following sign-off on Owner, City Council

completion of wall
Actual structure used Site examination
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Date
Information needed Notes on sources done
Actual fill used Site examination
Normal rainfall profile Met service, Internet
Actual rainfall prior to collapse Met service, Internet
What other environmental factors are Site examination

relevant? Get permission to look at adjoining properties
Meanwhile you could be thinking of more questions to answer:
 Who does the City Council regard as an authority in this area?

 What do they say about this site and the correct specs?
 You could also check text books for some sample specs and ask legal colleagues for precedents in
this sort of case.
You may find the information you want in your own files or your organisation’s records or information
sources, manuals and specifications. If you need more technical information, you could ask a library to
do a search in technical journals, or you could do an internet search.
Keep your focus clear, this is not a thesis! Your aim is to provide necessary data and informed opinion
(from a textbook, journal or authoritative person), which suits the audience for your report, and keeps
within the scope of the report.
Whole articles you think your audience might find helpful as follow-up or supplementary information can
be kept as appendices.
As you go about collecting your information, keep a record of your sources. Make notes on why you
have selected them and what you will do to identify the specific information you need.
Note:
Keep track of all your references to quotes, acknowledgements and research.
Important
Read the task contained in the assessment section for Assessment 3. Now is a good time to start
planning your assessment. Brainstorm your topic and plan your information gathering for your
assignment.
 Look at the topic and purpose of your report. What questions do you need to answer?
 What information will you need to answer your questions? Where could you find this information?
 You could organise your information gathering plan as a checklist, as in the example for the
retaining wall.
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06/12/2023, 05:39 Analysing your information : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - power…
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CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects / Contents / Module 5: The Analysis and Report / Fact sheet 5.2: Audience and scope
Analysing your information 40m
Analysing your information

Once you have completed your on-site visit and you’ve returned to the office with lots of information, you can start
to ask: what does it all mean? You now need to analyse the notes and sketches you made on the site. Then you
must decide what recommendations you will make to your client about the choice of a site or about the
buildability and cost of what they have proposed on an existing site.
The scenarios below are activities to help you practise analysing information and giving recommendations. For
each scenario state whether you agree and why you agree.
ACTIVITY 5.5: PROTECTED TREE ON-SITE
A site sketch for an addition to a home notes a listed/notable/protected tree on the site. The tree will
obscure the harbour view of the proposed second storey addition. The site feasibility report concludes
that ‘this is not a problem – the builders can prune the tree as necessary as the work progresses and the
extent of the obstruction becomes obvious’.
 Do you agree with what this report has said?
          
0 / 500 Word Limit
SAVE DRAFT
SUBMIT
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ACTIVITY 5.6: A MODERATE SLOPE
The site is on a moderate slope. The report states ‘The building costs on this site will be significantly
greater than for a dwelling of similar standard and construction on flat land.’
 Do you agree with what this report has said?

 Give reasons for your view.
          
0 / 500 Word Limit
SAVE DRAFT
SUBMIT
ACTIVITY 5.7: LEGAL RESTRICTIONS
The client wishes to change the use of a large house built prior to 1930 from a dwelling to a child care
centre. The house does not comply with the current building code. The report states 'a building consent
(Consent issued by a building consent authority for building work to begin in accordance with the
approved plans and specifications. For information about when a building consent is required and how to
apply, see Building consents and inspections process.) will be required and a resource consent (A
consent issued by a Territorial Authority to use the land in a way that is not a permitted activity under a
council or district plan. Resource consent will be needed when a building project will contravene a
permitted activity, for example, wishing to locate a building closer to the boundary than permitted on the
District Plan.) but there will be no other legal restrictions on the project'.
 Do you agree?
          
0 / 500 Word Limit
SAVE DRAFT
SUBMIT
ACTIVITY 5.8: SITE LOCATION
The client has a choice of two sites both of which are flat and on good soils. One is close to the sea and
the wind speed is rated VH (Very High). The other is in an inland and sheltered valley. The report states
'there is little to distinguish the sites in terms of buildability and cost factors'.
 Do you agree?
          
0 / 500 Word Limit
SAVE DRAFT
SUBMIT
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06/12/2023, 05:40 Introduction to the format of a report : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechni…
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CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects / Contents / Module 5: The Analysis and Report / Fact sheet 5.3: The format of a report
Introduction to the format of a report 10m
Standard report format

The format of a report is how you organise your material. The structure of information is sometimes dictated
by your audience. If the format is not dictated it should follow the standard format.
The standard report format includes the following parts:
Title page
Table of contents
Abstract or Executive summary
Introduction (includes Purpose, Scope, Background)
Procedures (Methods) Body of the report (the body of

the report may have more
Results/Findings
sections. This is the minimum)
Conclusions (Discussion and Recommendations)
Acknowledgements
Bibliography/References
Appendices
The standard format is used for most feasibility, recommendation, and investigative reports, including those
intended for publishing in technical journals. Reports intended for publication also usually require an abstract
at the beginning of the article.
Use the standard report structure unless you are writing the following:
 An article for publication – look carefully at the articles in the journal you intend to publish in, and type up
your report in the specified structure of that model. However, some journals have their own specific
template and guideline for authors.
 A management report – use the management report format specified by the company (details later).
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06/12/2023, 05:40 Title page : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powered by iQualify)
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Title page 5m
Title page
Figure 5.6 below, shows an example for a title page with a:
 report title ( this should be comprehensive enough to summarise the subject and purpose, and grab the
reader’s attention)
 the name and professional status of the person who commissioned the report
 the name and professional status of the author of the report (if the report is written by a person
representing a company, they should include the company's name and logo)
 the date it was written.
If you have not provided an abstract at the beginning of your report, you could include a very brief description
of the content of the report at the bottom of the title page.
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06/12/2023, 05:40 Title page : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powered by iQualify)
Fig. 5.6 Example title page
© IOCOM Corp.
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06/12/2023, 05:41 Table of contents : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powered by iQu…
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Table of contents 15m
Table of contents
The table of contents lists all the headings and subheadings of the report in the order written, giving either
page numbers or section numbers, depending on which of these you have used.
Figure 5.7 below, shows a contents page with a numbering system used for headings and indents for the
different levels of headings.
Whichever system you use to order your report, be consistent. You want to make it as easy as possible for the
reader to find specific parts of your report.
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06/12/2023, 05:41 Table of contents : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powered by iQu…
Fig. 5.7 Example contents page
© IOCOM Corp.
Microsoft (MS) Word

MS Word can automatically create a Table of Contents for your report. It requires some setting up and
formatting of your page numbers and headings before you simply click create table of contents. Take a look at
the following video to get you on track.
How To Create A Table Of Contents In Word - Effectively Insert And Customize Your TOC (Sharon Smith,
December 15, 2020).
How To Create A Table Of Contents In Word - Effectively Insert And Customize Your TOC
Skip to main content Thoughts on this page?
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06/12/2023, 05:41 Abstract or executive summary : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - po…

CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects / Contents / Module 5: The Analysis and Report / Fact sheet 5.3: The
format of a report
Abstract or executive summary 3m
Abstract or executive summary

This is standard for a report and also applies to articles intended for publication in a journal, and
management reports. When used, it appears at the beginning of the report and is a summary of the
contents of the report. The general rule for writing an abstract is to write a summary of around 100
to 150 words. It covers:
 method of investigation
 evidence
 conclusions.
Although the abstract or executive summary appears first in the report, it’s best to write it last, when
you have completed the whole report including the conclusions and/or recommendations.
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06/12/2023, 05:42 Introduction : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powered by iQualify)

format of a report
Introduction 3m
Introduction
The introduction covers:
 the background to the problem

 the purpose of the report
 the intended target audience
 who commissioned the report
 the scope of the investigation, including an indication of how widely research was conducted
(these may also be called the ‘terms of reference’).

In our example you described the issue or question being analysed and outlined the
purpose of the report. This is most of the information needed for an introduction!
All we need to add is a short statement saying who you are writing this for (insurance
company, IT technician, management team) and the scope of your analysis (what it
does and doesn’t cover).
From this information, put together an introduction for the report on the collapsed
retaining wall.
Skip to main content Thoughts on this page?
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06/12/2023, 05:42 Procedures (methods) : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powered b…
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format of a report
Procedures (methods) 1m
Procedures (methods)
Here you give a clear account of how you carried out the investigation. For example, for a feasibility,
evaluation or investigation report, this is where you will describe:
 what information you needed and where you found it

 who you went to for advice
 what research you needed to carry out.
Detailing procedures is suitable for long reports where the reader has to be convinced that sound
investigation and analysis were carried out before conclusions were formed. However, if the
investigation you are carrying out is straightforward or the report quite short, you might choose to
provide the conclusion first, followed by the method and then the evidence.
If you are examining different products to make a recommendation, you will write about:
 which models you tested

 what criteria you used to judge the products
 how you carried out your tests.
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06/12/2023, 05:43 Results/Findings : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powered by iQu…

CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects / Contents / Module 5: The Analysis and Report / Fact sheet 5.3: The format
of a report
Results/Findings 10m
Results/Findings
Here you present your findings, with graphics if appropriate. Your topic and what you found will
determine how this is organised and which headings you will use.
In the report about the collapsed retaining wall, let us assume that there was a design
and specifications prepared by the landscape gardener and approved by the owner, but
that the wall was not high enough to require special Council consent. You have found
that the specs would have been adequate for the purpose on a stable hillside in
conditions of normal rainfall. But in this case, the hillside was actually a landfill, and
unusually heavy rain in the previous week had created a slip behind the wall, which was
not strong enough to withstand it.
In this case the first section in the results might be about the geological profile of the
hillside, and the next section about the types of retaining wall structures required for this
type of profile. Then a third section would describe the weather conditions prior to the
collapse, and the implications of this for the water pressure the wall was therefore
subjected to. The outline of this part of the report would look something like this:
5. GEOLOGICAL PROFILE
5.1. History of Hill St area
5.2. Extent of landfill
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6. DESIGN OF RETAINING WALLS FOR LANDFILL SLOPES
6.1. Recommended specifications
6.2. Specification of wall at Ngatai Road
7. WEATHER CONDITIONS JUNE–JULY 2021
7.1. Comparison of normal rainfall with 2021 period
7.2. Effects of water pressure on Ngatai Road site
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06/12/2023, 05:43 Conclusions : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powered by iQualify)

CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects / Contents / Module 5: The Analysis and Report / Fact sheet 5.3: The format
of a report
Conclusions 5m
Conclusions
Your conclusion must refer to the purpose of the report. This includes your discussion where you:
 summarise and restate your findings

 relate your findings to the findings of others
 state your conclusion carefully and clearly.
The conclusion may also note additional research that should be carried out, and your
recommendations.
Your recommendations may come under a separate heading.
Recommendations
If you are making any recommendations, focus the discussion of the relevant issue. Aim for clarity at all
times. Make it as easy as possible for the reader to follow your report and keep interested. You want
readers to be confident in the un-biased advice you are giving. In a management report you must also
list all your recommendations in a separate section following the executive summary.
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06/12/2023, 05:43 Sources : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powered by iQualify)

format of a report
Sources 1m
References
List all resources you have referred to in your report, whether referencing a quote, or writing
something in your own words. If your words are based on something you read in a book, or journal,
or article, or saw on YouTube and so on, you will need to reference. Referencing is a way of
acknowledging the work of an author, and also shows the reader that your statements and ideas are
based on supporting evidence.
Where do we use references?

As mentioned above, you will need to reference quotes, place in-text citations if paraphrasing or
summarising someone else's work, and place a reference list at the end of your report. For more
details go to:
 The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand Ltd website.
For more detailed information and examples, use our Guide to APA referencing:
 Quick referencing APA guidelines

 Guideline to APA referencing.
Acknowledgements
This lists people or organisations who have helped in compiling the reports.
List all references at the end of your report

Reports should include a list of all resources you have used or referred to in your report.
Appendices
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06/12/2023, 05:43 Sources : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powered by iQualify)
Appendices usually appear after the reference list. And appendix is a place for material that is too
detailed to include in the main report, for example district plan reports, certificates, and so on. The
content should be summarised and referred to at the appropriate point in the the body of the report.
The conventions for appendices are as follows:
 Each appendix must be labelled with a number (or letter) and title.
 The appendix numbers and titles must be listed on the Contents page under the heading
Appendices (if more than one) or Appendix (if only one).
 Each appendix must be referred to by number (or letter) at the relevant point in the text.
Plagiarism
Plagiarism is when you present another person's ideas as if they were your own, including
summarising information without showing the original source, or copying and pasting without citing
a source, or copying parts of someone else's report.
Dig deeper
Take a moment to learn when and why you need to reference: Referencing and plagiarism.
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06/12/2023, 05:46 Appendices : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powered by iQualify)

format of a report
Appendices 20m
Appendices
Appendices can include additional information such as tables, graphs and maps. You need to judge
whether additional material is best included in the body of your report, for example, procedures, or
as an appendix where it will not interrupt the flow of your report.
If you do use appendices, label them for example, ‘Appendix A’ so you are able to refer your reader to
them within your report. The conventions for appendices are as follows:
 each appendix must be labelled with a number (or letter) and title
 the appendix numbers and titles must be listed on the Contents page under the heading
Appendices (if more than one) or Appendix (if only one)
 each appendix must be referred to by number (or letter) at the relevant point in the text.
Check your understanding of the below 'report' terms. Open this activity into full screen to see the
whole table. Click the appropriate answers, then Submit.
Read the feedback after you submit.
ENT
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06/12/2023, 05:46 Appendices : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powered by iQualify)
Title Table of Executive

page contents summary Introduction Findings Conclusions
Suggestions
and advice
based on
⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪
conclusions
Supplementary
materials for
example, other ⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪
supporting
data/articles
Title, author’s
name, date ⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪
written
Purpose,
background,
methods,
⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪
scope
Analysis of
facts obtained
⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪
List of
sections, sub-
sections, ⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪
appendices
etc.
Summary of
entire report
⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪ ⚪
 
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06/12/2023, 05:46 Introduction to presentations : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - pow…
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CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects / Contents / Module 5: The Analysis and Report / Fact sheet 5.4:
Presentation
Introduction to presentations 3m
Presentation style
The style of a report is how the text is set out on the page, including:
 the system you use for headings, sub-headings, labelling or numbering your paragraphs
 the type and size of font used for the body of the text
 the use of bold, italics, or upper case to emphasise key words or sentences.
The style for a report will generally be specified by an organisation or publication.
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06/12/2023, 05:47 Headings and sub-headings : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powe…
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Presentation
Headings and sub-headings 15m
Headings and sub-headings

Headings are used to mark boundaries of major sections and subsections of a report.
Headings must be consistent throughout the report. Use the same font style, spacing,
alignment, capitalisation, and punctuation as well as the same style of wording.
Some general points about wording your headings

 Make the phrasing of headings self-explanatory – instead of ‘Background’ or ‘Technical
Information’, make it more specific, such as ‘How Photosynthesis Works’.
 Make sure headings indicate what is covered in that section. For example, if the section
covers the design and operation of a pressure pump, the heading ‘Pressure Pump Design’
would be incomplete and misleading.
 Avoid ‘widowed’ headings – that’s where a heading occurs at the bottom of a page and
the text it introduces start at the top of the next page. Keep at least two lines of body text
with the heading, or force it to start the new page.
The below video is a Tutorial: Simple way of creating (numbering) headings and subheadings
in Word, (thelittlemoments, 2020) (7:40).
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06/12/2023, 05:47 Headings and sub-headings : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powe…
Tutorial: Simple way of creating (numbering) headings and subheadings in Word
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06/12/2023, 05:48 Layout and alignment : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powered by…

Presentation
Layout and alignment 5m
The positioning of text on a page plays a big role in making your report visually consistent,
professional looking and easy to read. Your text can be aligned to different positions on a
page:
 Text may be aligned or ‘justified’ on the left, right or both sides of the page.
 Place figures and table consistently throughout — centred or aligned with a margin.
Table 5.2 (below) shows the example of Left, Right and Fully Justified text positions. In
Microsoft Word you can set the position of the text by placing your mouse cursor in the text,
the moving your mouse upward to click the alignment you want (circled in red below).
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An image of left, right, centre aligned text
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06/12/2023, 05:48 Figures, graphics and tables : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - pow…

Presentation
Figures, graphics and tables 10m
When to use a figure, graphic or table

You may have already collated some of your data into Tables, or found diagrams or taken
photographs to describe your chosen building and site. In writing a report, a picture (or table)
can be worth a thousand words.
Look through your report. Ask yourself:
 Could you present and explain your data more clearly with figures or graphics than writing
about it?
 Could you use a diagram, a Table, or a photograph to add a new level of information to
your report?
The below Table 5.3 is taken from a report written for experts and technicians. The table
provides an immediate reference for investigators of corrosion due to environmental causes.
Notice that tables have their titles above the table itself, while figures have their titles below
(see Fig. 5.11).
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Fig. 5.11 Entrance way house
Figures, graphics, tables, fonts, and captions to suit your audience

In making your choice of diagrams, tables, charts, photographs or other forms of graphics to
use in your report, consider the following:
 What does your audience usually see?

 Does each graph/table truly say what you claim it does?
 Always discuss graphics in nearby text preceding the graphic. Don’t just throw in graphics
unexplained. Orient readers to the graphic and explain its basic meaning.
Labels and references

 Use figure titles for graphics.
 Use an explanatory heading or caption.
 Indicate the source of any graphic you have borrowed — this includes tables, illustrations,
charts, and graphs. Whenever you borrow a graphic from some other source, document
that fact in the figure title.
 Include identifying detail such as axis labels, column and row labels, and so on.
Numbering
 Number and clearly label figures and tables.
 Add numbers as follows: Figure 1, Figure 2, Table 1, Table 2, and so on.
 Put table and figure captions above the table.
 Don't number the items in a reference list.
Fonts
 Use a clear, readable font, such as Verdana, Calibri, Tahoma or Arial and use the same
font throughout.
 Use black text on a white background.
 Avoid coloured backgrounds or text in a colour other than black, unless you have special
permission to use them.
 Use 11 or 12 point for the body of your assessment/report.
Placement
 Make sure graphics fit within normal margins.
 Intersperse graphics and text on the same page. Don’t put graphics on pages by
themselves, or attach them to the end of documents.
 Place graphics as near to the relevant point in the text as is reasonable. However, if a
graphic does not fit properly on one page, put it at the top of the next, and continue with
regular text on the preceding page. Don’t leave half a page blank just to keep a graphic
near the text it is associated with.
 
06/12/2023, 05:48 Writing the report : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powered by iQu…

Writing the report
Writing the report 5m
Preparing the report outline

Having a good outline before you start is like having a map of a city. An outline helps you
figure out:
 where you are going in a report

 what’s coming up next
 where you’ve just been.
The outline gives you a framework, the lay of the land. Your outline should include topics and
subtopics to allow you to structure information logically.
Start now
Using the format described in this module, start developing the outline of your report for your
assessment (see Fig. 5.8 below example). Write headings for each part of the report, but don’t
be concerned about filling out what goes under these heading just yet. Note that headings
may change as you write and develop the report.
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Fig. 5.8 A generic outline of an analytical report
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06/12/2023, 05:49 Writing up your results : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powered b…
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Writing the report
Writing up your results 15m
Check:
 Have you done everything you need to gather all your information?
 Are there some journal articles you still have to check?
 Do you think you have come to sound, logical conclusions, and have the data and the back-
up of expert references or opinion?
Well done! Here’s what to do next:
1. Harvest what you have found out

Gather all your material, group separate items (information, findings, graphics) together in the
order you think you will use them.
2. Clear the decks

If you find when you sift through your piles of paper that you have collected pages of information
that you don’t want after all, now is the time to put them aside. Don’t throw them away (you never
know when you might want that important quote), but put them on a high shelf or at least away
from your desk.
3. Match your material to your outline

Take a copy of your outline and order your material in terms of the heading and subheading where
you will use it (it may help here to add numbers to the corners of your materials).
4. Reality check
Now look at your outline and see what you have to work with.
 Are there points you want to make but have no evidence to back them up?
Get
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main evidence, or string an argument together which leads to the point you want to make.
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 Are there overlaps?

Remove any information repeated unnecessarily.
Follow up on your answers to these questions until you are satisfied you have all the information
you need.
5. Is the sequence of headings still logical?

When you look at the actual information you want to use:
 Are your headings still appropriate, do they reflect the key points you need to cover?
It’s okay to re-jig your outline at this point if you find that the report has taken an unexpected
direction.
6. Get to work and write!

With all this preparation and material sorted into the right place, your writing should flow! Here are
some pointers that might make the process smoother:
 Don’t try to polish too much as you get your first draft down — just say what you need to in
short, simple sentences and then move on to the next point.
 If you get stuck at one point, jot down a few words to remind you what’s missing and move
on to the next heading or sub-heading. By the time you have done that, you’ll know how to
say what you intended in the previous section. Believe it!
 You may need to write a discussion several times before you get the sense of the best order
in which to introduce your facts. Don’t be afraid to cut and paste to test this out.
 Save your drafts. If you want to abandon one line of approach and go back to what you did
yesterday, it is very handy to have yesterday’s draft available! Keep saving them as Draft 1,
Draft 2 and so on each time you come back to your work again. You will be pleased you did!
 Make sure you leave yourself enough time before your deadline to set your work aside, then
come back and look at what you have done with fresh eyes.
 Imagine one particular member of your audience reading over your shoulder all the time you
are writing. Would they understand the words you are using, and how you reached your
conclusions? Would they follow the flow of how you have presented your ideas?
 Identify your topic in each paragraph and start with that. It sometimes happens that you
know exactly what you are writing about, but your readers have to work to discover what you
are saying. Look at Fig. 5.9, showing a problem version and a revised version of presenting
information about the causes of atherosclerosis. Notice how an accurate, but rather jumbled
paragraph, has been turned into one that flows well. How? Because the writer worked out
that the topic was the causes of atherosclerosis, not a general ramble around the field.
7. Watch your language

The tone of a report should be impartial and professional. An analytical report is a formal piece of
writing. You should avoid colloquialisms and use language that is impersonal. Beware of
sounding patronising or like a know-it-all.
You can do this by using language that is:
 coherent and unambiguous

 cliché- and jargon-free
 in simple, plain, active English.
You are likely to need to write several drafts before you are satisfied.
Fig. 5.9 Example of a reworked paragraph to help make it clearer and easier to read
© IOCOM Corporation
 Organise your material in the order of your outline, taking notice of any feedback on the
outline.
 Identify any gaps, and decide how or where to get the information needed.
 Identify any graphics needed to illustrate your report and decide on the most appropriate
form to use.
 Write a rough draft of each section, noting where graphics will go.
 Compile any appendices to support your report.
 Make an estimate of your word count to see if you have to write more or cut out some
information.
This is your first draft!
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06/12/2023, 05:50 Revising and reviewing the draft : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - p…

CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects / Contents / Module 5: The Analysis and Report / Fact sheet 5.5: Writing
the report
Revising and reviewing the draft 15m
Revise
Revise and edit your draft. Rewrite your draft to improve the meaning. Check that your work makes
sense and that it is well organised.
 Is your writing as clear and effective as possible?

 Do you need to re-order any of your work?
 Does your plan need to be revised?
 Do you need to seek further information?
 Most importantly, are your conclusions valid and clear?
Review
Now you have a workable draft of your final report. Imagine yourself as a member of your audience
looking at it for the first time.
 Can I follow the way the data has been presented?

 Does the information in each section add up to the writer’s overall conclusions without bias or
opinion?
 Do the tables and diagrams help me understand the content and the writer’s findings?
 Is it clear what questions the report attempts (and does not attempt) to answer?
 Do I still have questions about what this report tells me?
 Do the findings/conclusions cover the purpose of the report?
Checking your report before publication

You’ve written your report and you’re satisfied with its content and flow. Read it again. This time you
should concentrate on format and style.
 Does it follow the standard report format (or one specified by the organisation or publication)?
 Does it follow the specified style (style of headings, lists, figures, tables)?
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06/12/2023, 05:50 Revising and reviewing the draft : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - p…
 Is spelling and grammar correct?

Use your spellcheck, and if you are unsure of your grammar, ask someone else to check it, or
rewrite into simpler sentences.
 Have you acknowledged all your sources of information?
All quotes or ideas you have drawn on directly or which have contributed to your thinking about
your topic from other sources must be acknowledged.
 Have you included an abstract or executive summary if needed?
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06/12/2023, 05:50 Module 5 Job sheet : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powered by i…
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CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects / Contents / Module 5: The Analysis and Report / Module 5: Job sheet
Module 5 Job sheet 1m
Why you should complete the job sheet tasks

The purpose of this job sheet is to give you a chance to check for yourself whether you have enough
knowledge about this topic or whether you need to read more about it. Responding to the job brief
below will help you work towards your assessment.
Your brief
For this job sheet you are to use the site you have chosen for your assessments. This is an
opportunity for you to prepare a draft outline of your report for comment by your lecturer.
The focus of this job sheet task is to clarify:
 the topic
 the target audience and scope of the report
 how you will gather the information required.
The assessment asks you to prepare a feasibility report for your client that discusses the feasibility
of extending their existing home to accommodate an ageing family member, summarises building
elements condition data and provides recommendations based on the data you have collected.
Your report is to:
 Outline and summarise the information you researched for Assessments 1 and 2 (see

Assessment 3 for details).
See Assessment 3 for details
Assessment 3 
Suggested topics are:
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06/12/2023, 05:50 Module 5 Job sheet : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powered by i…
 Weather tightness remediation

 Improving thermal performance
 Recladding the home (material comparison).
Your tasks:
Task 1: Title and Introduction
Write a title and introduction for your report. Your introduction should outline the purpose and scope
of your report.
You may find answering these questions helpful in deciding on the purpose and scope.
 Who is your target audience (those that will read the report)?
 What level of technical knowledge will your audience have?
 What does your audience want to know from this report (their expectations)?
 Which of the target audience’s expectations can you deliver?
 What needs to be excluded from the report to stay within the scope expected?
Task 2: Gathering information

Brainstorm your topic and plan your information gathering.
 Look at the topic and purpose of your report. What questions do you need to answer?
 What information will you need to answer your questions? Where could you find this
information?
 You could organise your information gathering plan as a checklist, as in the example for the
retaining wall.
 Determine the scope and amount of information to be appended.
Task 3: Outlining the report

 Write headings for each part of the report. Be sure to include a title, executive summary,
introduction, results/findings, conclusions and references or an appendix as appropriate.
You may find the ‘outline’ function in Microsoft Word particularly useful for setting out your report.
How to use Outline in Microsoft Word (Jakki Bendell) (2014) (7.38 min) explains how to use this
feature.
What to do:
Create your draft outline as shown above. You can discuss the process of gathering information and
your sources of information with your classmates.
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06/12/2023, 05:50 Assessment Reminder : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects (Open Polytechnic - powered b…
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CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction Projects / Contents / Module 5: The Analysis and Report / Module 5:
Summary
Assessment Reminder 3m
Reminder
You have now covered the course content which will enable you to work on Assessment
3 and submit by Week 14.
 Assessment Overview and Assessment 3
Assessments Overview 
Assessment 3 
See study guide for details.
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06/12/2023, 05:30 Kia ora, Talofa and welcome to Module 5 : CON107 Feasibility and Analytical Reports for Construction

truction Projects (Open Polyte…

Kia ora, Talofa and welcome to Module 5 5m

Thoughts on this page?

Introduction to analytical reports 1m

Fact sheet 5.1 Why do an analytical report?

Fact sheet 5.2 Audience and scope

Fact sheet 5.3 The format of a report

Fact sheet 5.4 Presentation

Fact sheet 5.5 Writing the report

Thoughts on this page?

Introduction – Why do an analytical report? 5m

An animated house with question marks surrounding it

Why do an analytical report?

To write a great analytical report you will need to be able to:

 clarify the purpose for a report – what is the problem?

In life, sometimes things go wrong; we encounter a problem and we wonder… ‘why?’

 ‘Why does that table wobble?’

In these examples, we might do a simple analysis by:

 looking at options for what is causing the problem

Thoughts on this page?

Asking the right question 15m

Good analytical questions are usually something like the following:

Fig. 5.1 Case study example

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 There has been a dry spell and the camellia is dying.

Fig. 5.2 Case study example

 Can the cracks lead to the TEF separating?

ACTIVITY 5.1: COLLAPSED RETAIN WALL

Skip to main content

Fig. 5.3 Collapsed retaining wall

© The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand Ltd

An engineer needs to write a report to an insurance company investigating the collapse of a

 What might the engineer’s first question be?

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0 / 500 Word Limit

Thoughts on this page?

Hidden questions 15m

From the examples on the previous page, what's going on:

 in the garden centre with plants that are dying

ACTIVITY 5.2: DEFINE THE TOPIC OF THE REPORT

Fig. 5.4 Failed retaining wall

© The Open Polytechnic of New Zealand Ltd

2. What is the purpose of the report (what question does it answer?)

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Types of analytical reports 3m

Types of analytical reports

Table 5.1 Types of analytical reports.

Feasibility Is it possible to do this?

Evaluation Did this work?

Investigation What happened?

Recommendation Your best option is this…

Thoughts on this page?

Feasibility reports 10m

A feasibility report answers the question, ‘Should we implement this plan?'

A photo of a double door garage

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ACTIVITY 5.3: POTENTIAL FEASIBILITY QUESTIONS

0 / 500 Word Limit

Thoughts on this page?

Fig. 5.5 Christchurch cyclists

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