Reporting for Analysts
This course provides a detailed introduction to the development and delivery of written reports and oral presentations. You will be given a general introduction to the principles of effective reporting and shown how to draft copy that is crisp and clear. From there, you will be shown how to structure long and short-form intelligence products. The course goes on to provide guidance on the delivery of effective oral briefings and presentations.
Course Outline
Writing Skills
General Reporting Principles
- Knowing your audience
- Constructing and testing your arguments
- Communicating risk and warning
- Communicating analytic confidence
Writing Skills
- Effective writing skills
- Writing to Minto's Pyramid Principle
- Referencing your work
- Self-editing and proofing
- Peer-editing and evaluation
Developing Analytic Products
Analytic Products
- The varieties of analytic product
- Developing and working with templates
- Drafting alerts
- Drafting briefs and situation assessments
- Drafting estimates, reports and forecasts
- Generating customer feedback
Making Recommendations
- Developing options
- Generating SMART recommendations
Briefings and Presentations
Presentations and Oral Briefings
- Developing presentations
- Multimedia intelligence products
- Preparing for a briefing
- Effective presentation skills
- Handling questions and objections
- Managing your audience
Course Details
Who is this Course For?
This course is intended for all analysts, regardless of background or work experience.
How You Benefit
On completion of this course, participants will have the ability to:
- Construct arguments that are logical and supported by evidence
- Employ simple rules to improve the quality and clarity of their writing
- Draft long and short-form products that support customer needs
- Develop and deliver oral briefings that address the audience’s descriptive, predictive and prescriptive information needs
- Generate constructive feedback from one’s customers and peers
What You Receive
- A full set of course slides in PDF
- An index of analytic techniques
- Templates to support the application of the techniques taught
- Six months of post-course support
Course Prerequisites
There are no prerequisites for participation in this course. Participants are encouraged to select one or more issues they would like to prepare a report / presentation on prior to the course commencing.
Course Requirements
Please bring a Windows or Mac laptop with you. Please also ensure you have a Gmail account to access the course materials.