What do you do when you have a big task to accomplish but don't quite know how to get started? Do you have a method for getting started on your class research and writing projects? How do you control the quantity and quality of your work? Just like any other projects or reports, begin with the basicsanalyzing the problem and the purpose, know your audience and what their needs are, and prepare a work plan. When you know your goals for your report, and you know what the audience needs, you can then develop a step-by-step process to achieve those goals. And just like any other communication, develop your message in a way that is most meaningful for your audience, whether that is in writing or in person, direct or indirect. Organizations use formal reports when working with those outside of the organization. Formal reports might be used to require new business or provide an update on a current project. They use informal reports when sharing information internally. But do not confuse the word "informal" with sloppy work, casual formats, or otherwise unprofessional efforts. Both formal and informal reports follow a specific format that should be followed. To complete this