Module 3 discussion
Do it, or write about it
The word “report” has six letters, yet for many managers, it
falls into the category of “four letter words” – epithets uttered in anger,
derision, or disgust. A common sentiment
concerning reports is, “Do you want me to actually DO my job, or spend my time WRITING about it? Just go away!”
In many instances, such as the corporate annual report to
stockholders or the military efficiency report,
writing the report is a required exercise. Everyone knows how the game is played; what’s
to be taken seriously, and what’s mere boilerplate. But project reports are a bit different. In most cases, they’re optional – which makes
them an even greater nuisance, when they’re seen to be performing no useful
function. Please see Wideman’s article,
“Is it time to scrap project status reports?” listed on the Background Info
page (Wideman, 2014).
Please reflect upon your own experience as a producer of
reports. It would be a project report,
an efficiency report, or something as mundane as writing report cards for a
class of schoolchildren. Does Wideman’s
(2014) critique resonate with your experience?
Why or why not?
