Reports are accounts of certain individuals of the things or events they have observed, investigated, or researched. A report can be a written or spoken piece of information which is given with the intention of expressing hard facts to a specific population or audience.
People tasked to deliver the report are commonly known as reporters. Reporters are not necessarily the writers of the report. In many cases, however, the writer of the report, also gets to deliver the report to a certain audience (as in research reports).
An activity report (also known as a progress report, or a status report) is a documentation of an employee’s activities and performance over a specified time period. Activity reports are often presented or submitted to the manager or head of the company.
Different activity reports contain different information. Some include information about the name and signature of the employee preparing the report, and other information needed by the management. An activity report can be submitted monthly, weekly, or even daily. Activity reports can be delivered verbally, though most managements prefer something in writing.
Activity reports help managers or office heads in monitoring their employee’s performance report during a given time frame (e.g. a month). Managers often have a tight schedule, thus he/she won’t have enough time to talk to his/her employees one by one.
Activity reports help in bridging the communication gap between a manager and his/her employees. An employee’s activity report will allow a manager monitor the tasks of the employee, and the progress of projects the employee is currently working on, without having the need to talk in person. Activity reports minimize the time it takes for the manager to monitor and give feedback to every employee report activity.
In order to write an activity report, one needs to think thoroughly, and of course, carefully consider what to write. Here are some tips which might be useful in writing an activity report: