Writing a Case Study Report in Engineering

ACTIVITY: Recognising Report Sections

For this activity there are 4 example extracts from case study reports. Your task is to decide which part of a case study report the extract most likely belongs to.

I say most likely because when a paragraph or section of text is removed from its context, its purpose can become ambiguous and debatable. Sometimes one can argue that a paragraph could be placed in a number of locations in the report. This is partly due to the repetitive nature of reports and the various ways that writers and disciplines and workplaces decide to structure their reports. As a writer you will be faced with deciding where to place information in a report and I hope this activity assists you to clarify the purposes of your own texts that you produce.

Example 1

One of the objectives set by the board was to identify the top five strategic risks for XXX petroleum operations in Angola. The following table (Table 4.7) illustrates the risks and the appropriate decisions and actions required for scenario 1.

Table 4.7: Top 5 strategic risks to XXX petroleum Angolan operations —Scenario 1
Risk Dimension	Description risk & no.	Rank	+ve or -ve	Risk level definition	Action/Decision
1.Instability & civil disorder	8.active internal factors	1	-ve high	A significant potential for major significant losses, injury or degradation of reputation/ image.	Immediate notification and action by senior management required. Effective treatment (-ve risk) and/ or detailed planning required (+ve risk). National Risk and Assurance Group to be notified.
1.Instability & civil disorder	6. weak & disorganised government	2	+ve high	High opportunity , major financial gain, enhanced reputation.
15 Ideological change	63. major shift in ideals	3	-ve high	A significant potential for major significant losses, injury or degradation of reputation/ image.
16. Global expectations and scrutiny	67 enhancing & improving corporate reputation	4	+ve high	High opportunity , major financial gain, enhanced reputation.
16. Global expectations and scrutiny	65. damage to corporate image a& reputation	5	-ve high

[Source; Student Assignment, authors N. Clarke & I. Puckering]

A)Executive Summary
B)Methodology/ Approach
C)Recommendations

Example 2

"The analysis of the governor's Executive Order 92-242, House Bill No. 911 and Senate Bill No. 1858 begins with a description of Florida's political landscape to place the case study in context. It includes a discussion of those characteristics which have influenced gubernatorial and legislative action including the development of the emergency management function within a state agency reporting directly to the governor and unsuccessful attempts in previous legislative sessions to improve the state's emergency management capabilities. This is followed by an account of the events after Hurricane Andrew leading up the creation of the Lewis Committee and the actions leading to enactment of Chapters 93-211 and 93-128, highlighted by a list of factors which supported their enactment and a list of factors which argued for their defeat. Finally, in a postscript, a progress report is provided, describing the degree to which the recommendations of the Lewis Committee have been implemented." [Source: Mittler, 1997]	A) Introduction B) Methodology/ Approach C) Conclusion

"The analysis of the governor's Executive Order 92-242, House Bill No. 911 and Senate Bill No. 1858 begins with a description of Florida's political landscape to place the case study in context. It includes a discussion of those characteristics which have influenced gubernatorial and legislative action including the development of the emergency management function within a state agency reporting directly to the governor and unsuccessful attempts in previous legislative sessions to improve the state's emergency management capabilities. This is followed by an account of the events after Hurricane Andrew leading up the creation of the Lewis Committee and the actions leading to enactment of Chapters 93-211 and 93-128, highlighted by a list of factors which supported their enactment and a list of factors which argued for their defeat. Finally, in a postscript, a progress report is provided, describing the degree to which the recommendations of the Lewis Committee have been implemented."

[Source: Mittler, 1997]

A) Introduction
B) Methodology/
Approach
C) Conclusion

Example 3

Each team was advised to conduct a risk assessment on XXX and was provided with the 2001 Financial Year Report. No specific guidance was provided as to what issues or event was to be assessed. Determining the context and frame of reference for the assessment was left to individual teams, hence the risk assessment conducted by Sydney team five is in accordance with the following: "Conduct a risk assessment on the 'political risks' of XXX's operations in Angola arising from the death of the rebel leader, Jonas Savimbi on 22 February 2002. Projected period for analysis is 18 months." [Source: Student assignment, authors N. Clarke & I Puckering]	A) Introduction B) Methodology/ Approach C) Conclusion

Each team was advised to conduct a risk assessment on XXX and was provided with the 2001 Financial Year Report. No specific guidance was provided as to what issues or event was to be assessed. Determining the context and frame of reference for the assessment was left to individual teams, hence the risk assessment conducted by Sydney team five is in accordance with the following:

"Conduct a risk assessment on the 'political risks' of XXX's operations in Angola arising from the death of the rebel leader, Jonas Savimbi on 22 February 2002. Projected period for analysis is 18 months."

[Source: Student assignment, authors N. Clarke & I Puckering]

A) Introduction
B) Methodology/ Approach
C) Conclusion

Example 4

"A critical element which makes the legislative system function effectively is the existence of full-time year-around staff assigned to all standing committees. Many of the committees have been able to attract and retain extremely competent staff, and thus committee bills reflect the expertise of these staff members. " [Source: Mittler, 1997]	A) Introduction B) Findings C) Recommendations

"A critical element which makes the legislative system function effectively is the existence of full-time year-around staff assigned to all standing committees. Many of the committees have been able to attract and retain extremely competent staff, and thus committee bills reflect the expertise of these staff members. "

[Source: Mittler, 1997]

A) Introduction
B) Findings
C) Recommendations

If you have questions about Report sections, you can email Pam Mort

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