Difference between Individual and Community Report

 What is Report?

According to an Oxford Dictionary

“an account given on a particular matter, especially in the form of an official document, after thorough investigation or consideration by an appointed person or body”

Report Writing is a tool of Communication which basically falls under the category of Written Communication. A Report can be simply defined as an official or formal document which provides authentic, factual, database or evidence based information which can be further used for varied purposes. 

For example: To Remain Updated about day to activities, Decision Making, Analysing progress, Making Recommendations, Problem Solving etc….

What is a Business Report?

Different writers try to fence the border of the Business Report into below mentioned definitions…

 "A business report is an orderly, objective communication of factual information that serves some business purposes."

(Lesikar and Petit)

"A business report is a written message presenting information that will help a decision maker to solve a business problem."

(Bettly and Kay)

"A business report is a document that organises information on a specific topic for a specific business purpose."

(Louise E. Boone)

In the business world Report writing is a routine activity. Everyday thousands of Reports are presented by dozens of people related to the occupation they are engaged in. Business Reports are notably part of Upward Communication, Wherein people at lower position passing an information by writing a Report which is generally designated to people working above them or are at higher position or may be enjoying authority.

A business Report is a well organised write-up or document of facts and figures directly concerning the Business or Commercial world. In loose terms Business Report is any report which inculcates the business affairs. 

For Example: 

• A Company manager presents a report in front of authority about the activities carried out throughout the day under his/her supervision. 
• Bank Managers put forward a daily statement regarding the daily transaction done under a particular branch to their head office. 
• Also present a Special Weekly/Monthly/Periodical Reports to the Head Office concerning the problems faced while sanctioning the loan and recovering the loans from farmers.

A Business Report can be divided or classified into various categories according to their functions, purpose of writing, legal formalities, Nature of subject and Numbers of people involved in writing a Report.

Here, Our prime concern is to understand the Individual Report and Committee Reports which suit the category of people involved in writing this particular type of Report.

Individual Report and Committee Reports

Reports may be written by an individual or an organised body.

Individual Report: If only an individual person is involved in the process of writing a Report then it will be defined as an Individual Report. 

Committee Report: While a Committee or Sub- committee or Board of Inquiry is established at regular intervals to investigate into usual routine or on special occasions  and after a special inquiry, they draft a report then it is included in the category of Committee Reports. Here, The committee is headed by the Chairperson and members of the Committee coordinate with each other.

Difference between Individual Report and Committee Report

Individual Report	Committee Report
Written by one person	Written by a group of persons or after the consent of members
Personal in Style	Impersonal in Style (By Committee, As members of group suggested)
Can be written in Letter as well as Schematic Format	Always written in Schematic Format
Written in Active and Passive Voice both	Mostly written in Passive Voice
Always addressed to higher authorities (Include Salutation)	No Heading, No Inside Address, No Salutation and No complementary Close
Can be written in First Person Singular	Written in Third Person only
Adopt middle style of writing, neither too formal or too much informal	Adopt Formal Style of Writing
Subjective Tone	Objective Tone