I’ve seen many [usability] reports with an inordinate amount of repetition. A consultant might identify that users have trouble finding things, using the navigation of a business application, and then proceed to mention the issue in the:

1. Exec summary
2. Findings
3. Task specific data and
4. Heuristic (criteria) evaluation section. 

What a waste of time and how boring for the reader (and the author)!

Instead the report should be planned properly so that there is a maximum of two repeats:

1. In the report, and
2. Exec summary.

Our reports use lots of pictures and tables most of the time they don’t even have an exec summary!

In this post I describe how I use mind maps to organise my thoughts and arrange an efficient hierarchy of information. This is the best way to make sure you don’t repeat yourself. And you don’t leave anything out!

So far in this report writing series, you’ll be on the right track if you:

1. use some spin,
2. design it properly and
3. minimise repetitiion.