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Subject:Re: Creating annual reports? From:Karel van der Waarde <waarde -at- GLO -dot- BE> Date:Tue, 2 Mar 1999 08:12:58 +0100
Larry Hoffenberg stated:
>> As a former accountant and auditor turned tech writer, allow me to offer
some words of caution about the annual report. They require even more than
the usual attention to details. ALL the details MUST be perfect. Even the
tiniest mistake could be VERY costly.<<
My advice: please pay attention to the diagrams and graphs. Analysis of
graphs in annual reports reveals that between 16 per cent and 50 per cent
of presented figures is visually distorted. (A diagram is distorted when
the visual presentation differs at least 5 per cent from the original
number).
Kind regards,
Karel van der Waarde
waarde -at- glo -dot- be
- Beattie, V. & Jones, M.J. 1992. The communication of information using
graphs in corporate annual reports. Certified research report 31. London:
The chartered association of certified accountants.
- Beattie, V. & Jones, M.J. 1996. Financial graphs in corporate annual
reports. A review of practice in six countries. London: The institute of
chartered accountants in England and Wales.
- Courtis, J.K. 1997. Corporate annual report graphical communication in
Hong Kong: effective or misleading? The journal of business communication.
34(3). pp 269-288
