ABSTRACT
Reports were bulky data extracts generated on a scheduled basis, supplying information in a batch mode. It worked well for getting access to historical data, and many managers made good use of it. Management reporting should be structured like a pyramid, with summary reports at the top going to a few executives, while detailed operational transaction reporting goes way down. A problem-solving approach to report design is necessary for both the report designer and the manager. A report must provide answers to a reader’s real-world situation and be designed to support the questions of the actual problem-solving environment. A good report should communicate the required information to the intended audience in a relatively short period of time. Maslow’s theories apply to human beings, and a lot of reporting about business deals with goods, monetary transactions, and the like. The report designer must recommend when a trend analysis report is better suited as compared to a snapshot report.
