ABSTRACT
The essence of reporting provides the information necessary in order to monitor performance and take action as a result. The project and the business approaches to this can differ quite significantly. Business reporting tends to follow one of two patterns. The first pattern relates to the nature of the core operational processes that the business follows. If they are quick and high volume, then the reporting activity may in effect be real-time and continual. The second pattern will be anchored in the financial cycles of the business, reports will reflect the annual, half-yearly and other financial periods that the business uses to plan and manage its performance. The way in which project reporting is provided to the business will make a difference. Within the business there are multiple audiences comprising individuals, committees and possibly boards. In the project world reporting is the key to controlling a project effectively.
