how to write a report terms of reference

How to write a terms of reference with template & examples

Why use a Terms of Reference document?

A Terms of Reference document is a really versatile document. I use it mainly for two things:

First , putting down in writing what my Steering Group are actually supposed to do to set the ‘ground rules’ for that group and their meetings. This helps them keep a focus on the job at hand, not get too much into the detail and helps them and others take the project seriously.

Second , to define what a particular workstream on a project is supposed to do.

I find a ToR is helpful when there’s a technical stream of work being led by someone, and then other strands being picked up by other people.

You could use the free terms of reference template (it’s a Word .docx that you can download from the template library ) to define almost anything: the remit of your school parent teacher association, the terms for a client project.

Anything where you need to quickly summarize the high level deliverables, objectives, people, cost and time commitments without going into pages of detail that might not be relevant to them.

If you are starting to write one, and want some sample text for inclusion in your own, I’ve shared loads of tips and examples below.

Terms of reference template doc on an ipad screen

What is a Terms of Reference document?

Just in case you need a refresher on what a ToR is, let’s make sure we’re on the same page.

A Terms of Reference is a short document that sets out the scope, boundaries, resources, objectives and constraints for a particular activity.

A ToR provides the context, purpose and structure for something. The ‘something’ could be a meeting, a committee, a project, an initiative or anything else.

Terms of reference vs charter: which one should you use?

A Charter tends to be longer, more formal and it serves a particular purpose in project management land which is to confer authority on the project manager.

A ToR has a much broader application as you can create them for committees, regular repeating meetings, the board, hiring groups, particular roles like risk champions and so on. It can be as formal as you like.

A ToR is almost a cut-down version of the Project Initiation Document or Project Charter , as it relates to a particular set of individuals and tasks. I like it because it helps them and me see what their particular role is and the responsibilities that fall within their remit.

What’s included in a Terms of Reference

What goes into a Terms of Reference document? I’m glad you asked.

Read on to see what I include.

General info

As with so many project documents, start with some general stuff. Put in the project’s name, title or ID code. Add today’s date. Put the version number so the versioning is clear.

That’s your meta data done. While we’re doing those kind of updates, be sure to also add the project name and the document file name into the footer. You can also add the version number there too if it makes sense to do so (and if the version number isn’t already in the file name).

I use the ‘Insert field’ option in Word to enter the file name, but if it comes out looking too long or weird I’ll abbreviate it to a name we’ll all understand.

Project introduction

Start the ToR document for your project with some brief introductory text about what the project is all about.

Summarize what this Terms of Reference covers. This is likely to be either the remit of a single group i.e. your Steering Group or a workstream of work. Explain what this involves.

For example:

This workstream covers the technical elements of the xxx project including software and hardware elements, technical design and testing.

Note down any principles that this Terms of Reference will operate within e.g. the Steering Group will work according to the principles of PRINCE2® .

Objectives and deliverables

State the objectives and deliverables of this particular workstream, project, group etc. Here are some sample project objectives that you can adapt for your ToR.

Ensure that all deliverables are completed on time, within cost and to quality
Ensure the work is adequately resourced against the overall project/ resource plan
Assess risks and ensure appropriate mitigating actions are in place
Resolve all high level project issues, escalating for resolution to relevant management teams as appropriate
Raise and analyze changes impacting the project including major milestones, scope of deliverables, costs and benefits
Ensure compliance to corporate policies and protocols impacting the project
Manage project dependencies
Take responsibility for local project communications
Make/input to critical Implementation go/no go decisions
Formulate plans for the workstream including deliverables, development, testing, implementation, and communications.

You can see how the work is described to make it clear what the outcomes are expected to be, and we spell it out in really obvious terms.

You’ll also have some specific deliverable information in there too, relating to the outputs that the project team are creating.

Sounds like a lot to spell out? Yes. But successful project managers make sure that the team understands exactly what is expected of them and this is one way to achieve that.

Outline the scope of work.

For a committee this could be:

Our scope is to review pay and benefits on an annual basis and make a recommendation to the board.

For a project it could be a list of the key scope items included.

Some people get confused about terms of reference vs scope. Project scope is all about what you will do: the tasks or deliverables that will be completed by the team.

A ToR covers more than that. And it’s high level-ish. A scope document could be many pages, and include a full work breakdown structure for a project. In your ToR’s scope section you’re just going to put the big deliverables.

Key resources/roles and responsibilities

List the key names and what they are responsible for. This is easy to do in table format.

If you use a roles and responsibilities template , you can reference that one instead, to save you duplicating effort and writing it all out twice.

In this section, I would also add some information about how often the team is expected to meet.

Meetings of the team will take place monthly or less frequently as required. Deputies will only be allowed by agreement of the Chair. The standing agenda will include:

Review of project progress, milestones, risks and issues
Deliverables for approval or decisions to be made
Spotlight on special items for discussion or escalation

Workstream organization structure

The next section in your terms of reference should be an org chart . This helps people understand how this workstream/team/group etc fits into the overall project (or company).

It makes it clear how their actions feed into the bigger picture.

Add a paragraph or some bullets that explain the approach that is going to be followed for this. This is an explanation of how you are going to achieve the deliverables above.

We’re going to be following agile methods and planning in 2-week sprints. We will follow our internal processes for change management .

You don’t need to provide a complete project schedule, but it is helpful to include a table with the major milestones or a visual high-level project timeline .

List out the milestones and the dates they are expected to be completed.

No one is going to use this list as their main project plan, but it exists in the document as part of the expectation setting. It’s a discussion point for your agreement of the ToR, and the team’s opportunity to commit to realistic dates before you put too much effort into building a proper schedule.

If this work or group has a specific ring-fenced budget, then mention it so they know what they have to work with.

Include a statement like:

The indicative budget for this workstream/group is xxx. This covers xxx. The budget assumptions are included in the PID and the full figures are detailed in the project business case.

Other notes

Finally, add in anything else. Create new headings that are relevant to this particular project, or the ways of working that are appropriate for your organization.

Keep the document as short as possible (2 pages is great), but if you do need to add additional information for the team’s benefit, then do so.

For example, use this space to record any other information for your project closure, such as supplier contact information for ongoing contracts or the location of project’s archived files.

How often should the ToR be updated?

I add a note to the bottom of the ToR document to say when the next revision date is due.

You’d normally agree this with the individuals concerned, and you may have a document update schedule that you would need to abide by.

Most ToR wouldn’t get updated unless something changes in the responsibilities of the group.

You can do an annual review as a minimum to make sure that the ToR still reflects what you are doing and that it feels fit for purpose.

How to get the template

Access the Resource Library here to get the Terms of Reference template. You will get an email with the special link to access to my free Resource Library with all of my templates, checklists, and guides.

There you will able to download the Terms of Reference template. It’s a Microsoft Word document, and as always you’ll have to edit it to take out my notes and put in your text (and don’t forget to update the headers and footers too).

I don’t mind you using my free project management templates for your work purposes but please don’t sell them!

Pin for later reading:

Project manager, author, mentor

Elizabeth Harrin is a Fellow of the Association for Project Management in the UK. She holds degrees from the University of York and Roehampton University, and several project management certifications including APM PMQ. She first took her PRINCE2 Practitioner exam in 2004 and has worked extensively in project delivery for over 20 years. Elizabeth is also the founder of the Project Management Rebels community, a mentoring group for professionals. She's written several books for project managers including Managing Multiple Projects .

How to Write a Powerful Terms of Reference

April 30, 2019 by Jon Hartney Leave a Comment

The Terms of Reference (TOR) is a description of the technical work involved in a project, or part of a project. Specifically, it is used to specify the work required by an external consultant, contractor, or supplier.

It is the technical part of the bidding documents.

Typically, a project manager develops a Terms of Reference which is included within the bidding documents for the vendor, and subsequently becomes a part of the contract.

A strong Terms of Reference contains the following information:

Scope of Work

Coordination requirements
Laws, regulations, and standards
Resources provided

This is derived from the project scope statement , and contains two main components:

The deliverables must be defined in terms of grade and quality. Grade is the product’s classification based on technical characteristics, versus quality which is the degree to which the product fulfills requirements. Low grade is not a bad thing, as long as it was intended to be so. Low quality, however, means the product did not fulfill its requirements and is always a bad thing. The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK) specifies the creation of a quality management plan, part of the overall project management plan, where the requirements are defined prior to project execution. The Terms of Reference are usually a document that contains verbiage only, that is, it does not include drawings and plans.

Hence, Terms of Reference should have a schedule that details the major milestones. Whether a full gantt chart with completion dates for each and every task, or a listing of a few project milestones, it gives the vendor a firm schedule to perform the work under.

Typically, a simple table itemizing the major project milestones establishes the schedule baseline without micromanaging an external supplier.

Coordination Requirements

Often the work must be coordinated with third parties. These could include utility companies, environmental monitoring agencies, database management firms, or other third party stakeholders that overlap with the project.

It is rare these days that a project does not have some form of overlap with third party stakeholders . Adjacent landowners, end users, or even the general public must be actively managed to ensure they do not trip up the project.

It is easy to identify the major stakeholders that have large power over, or interest in, the project. But it’s usually the minor ones, who aren’t as obvious who trip up a project when they feel they haven’t been consulted.

The Terms of Reference should clearly list the third parties that have an interest in the project, and define what their interest is as much as possible.

Laws, Regulations, and Standards

Government regulatory agencies are not in the business of stopping projects. Rather, they seek to balance the needs of a stakeholder group, for example an environmental activist group, with the needs of the project. Of course, they have the power to rule completely in one direction. But typically they allow projects to proceed under a set of requirements which was determined from consultations with the other side. And these requirements often have cost and schedule implications to the project.

In the same way, almost every industry has standards that have been developed for different types of work. The International Standards Organization (ISO) has developed standards for many things, but most countries have their own standards organizations that have expanded on and adapted the ISO standards, for example the American National Standards Institute (ANSI). In addition, industry specific standards organizations produce highly focused standards, such as the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM).

Unless the work is innovative or cutting edge, it is a safe bet that a strong industry-adopted standard can be specified within the Terms of Reference that gives the owner comfort in the quality of work being performed.

Resources Provided

Often the vendor requires resources from the owner to complete the work specified within the Terms of Reference. This can include databases, facilities, or access to work sites. It can include past evaluation data for similar work.

This is an area that, in my experience, has some significant room for improvement. Typically, owner organizations possess quite a bit of information that might assist a contractor, but they do not think very hard about what a contractor might need to do their work better or faster. Hence, it doesn’t get passed on to the contractor and the contractor does not ask unless it results in large increases in time or cost. The result is that easy ways to save money are neglected.

The Project Management Body of Knowledge (PMBOK Guide)

The Terms of Reference is identical to this Procurement Statement of Work . The PMBOK Guide prefers the more generic Statement of Work because Terms of Reference is used predominantly in certain industries and very little in others.

It is located within the Project Planning process group, hence it is produced prior to the execution phase of the project.

Certification

FIND IT HERE

Subscibe to ProjectEngineer.NET channel – YouTube

WordPress.org
Documentation
Support Forums

Generate accurate APA citations for free

Knowledge Base
How to cite a report in APA Style

How to Cite a Report in APA Style | Format & Examples

Published on November 6, 2020 by Jack Caulfield . Revised on June 17, 2022.

Reports may be published by governments , task groups, or other organizations. To reference a report with an individual author, include the author’s name and initials, the report title (italicized), the report number, the organization that published it, and the URL (if accessed online, e.g. as a PDF ).

Note that brochures are cited in a similar format. You can easily create accurate APA citations using our free Citation Generator.

Generate APA citations

Report with multiple authors, report with organization as author, where to find the report number, frequently asked questions about apa style citations.

When a report has multiple authors, up to 20 should be listed in the reference.

If the report has 21 or more authors, list the first 19, then an ellipsis, then the last listed author:

With in-text citations, list up to two authors. For three or more, list the first followed by “ et al. ”

Scribbr Citation Checker New

The AI-powered Citation Checker helps you avoid common mistakes such as:

Missing commas and periods
Incorrect usage of “et al.”
Ampersands (&) in narrative citations
Missing reference entries

how to write a report terms of reference

Sometimes, reports do not list individual authors, only the organization responsible. In these cases, list the organization in the author position.

This sometimes results in the name of the author and publisher being identical. Omit the second mention of the organization in this case.

Many reports are associated with a specific number. If a report has a number, it will typically be listed in the database where you found the report.

It will also generally appear on the cover or title page of the report itself.

A report number should always be included when available, but if a report doesn’t have one, you can just leave this part out.

When no individual author name is listed, but the source can clearly be attributed to a specific organization—e.g., a press release by a charity, a report by an agency, or a page from a company’s website—use the organization’s name as the author in the reference entry and APA in-text citations .

When no author at all can be determined—e.g. a collaboratively edited wiki or an online article published anonymously—use the title in place of the author. In the in-text citation, put the title in quotation marks if it appears in plain text in the reference list, and in italics if it appears in italics in the reference list. Shorten it if necessary.

The abbreviation “ et al. ” (meaning “and others”) is used to shorten APA in-text citations with three or more authors . Here’s how it works:

Only include the first author’s last name, followed by “et al.”, a comma and the year of publication, for example (Taylor et al., 2018).

You may include up to 20 authors in a reference list entry .

When an article has more than 20 authors, replace the names prior to the final listed author with an ellipsis, but do not omit the final author:

Davis, Y., Smith, J., Caulfield, F., Pullman, H., Carlisle, J., Donahue, S. D., James, F., O’Donnell, K., Singh, J., Johnson, L., Streefkerk, R., McCombes, S., Corrieri, L., Valck, X., Baldwin, F. M., Lorde, J., Wardell, K., Lao, W., Yang, P., . . . O’Brien, T. (2012).

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

Caulfield, J. (2022, June 17). How to Cite a Report in APA Style | Format & Examples. Scribbr. Retrieved November 8, 2023, from https://www.scribbr.com/apa-examples/report/

Is this article helpful?

Jack Caulfield

Other students also liked, beginner's guide to apa in-text citation, how to cite an interview in apa style, how to cite a patent in apa style, scribbr apa citation checker.

An innovative new tool that checks your APA citations with AI software. Say goodbye to inaccurate citations!

This site uses cookies to optimize functionality and give you the best possible experience. If you continue to navigate this website beyond this page, cookies will be placed on your browser. To learn more about cookies, click here .

The escalation of violence in Gaza and Israel is leaving people in Gaza in urgent need of humanitarian support. Please donate now .

Search across

Writing terms of reference for research.

3 documents

6 pages long

Languages: English, French, Spanish

Share on Twitter
Share on Facebook
Share on email

Development methods
Research methods

Available documents

English paper (236 KB)
Spanish guideline 2019 update (249 KB)
French guideline 2019 update (250 KB)

Oxfam strives to base its programmes on good quality research. Each year we devote significant resources to undertaking and commissioning research that will support and help to improve our work and that of our partners. Are we getting value for money in the research produced?

The clarity of the Terms of Reference (TOR) given to the researcher(s) is one of the most important factors determining the quality of a piece of research. These guidelines and the accompanying template present a format for writing a clear and effective TOR. The following sections mirror those in the Terms of Reference for Research template and should be used as a guide to completing this document.

Additional details

Cohen, Marc. and Walsh, Martin.

Publisher(s)

How to cite this resource

Citation styles vary so we recommend you check what is appropriate for your context. You may choose to cite Oxfam resources as follows:

Author(s)/Editor(s). (Year of publication). Title and sub-title . Place of publication: name of publisher. DOI (where available). URL

Our FAQs page has some examples of this approach.

Related resources

Here are similar items you might be interested in.

Terms of Reference for Research Template

7 pages long

Research Ethics: A practical guide

8 documents

16 pages long

Languages: Arabic, English, French, Spanish

Fragile contexts

How to Analyse Change Processes

1 documents

10 pages long

Languages: English

Power analysis
Social justice

COVID-19 information for APS employees
APSC Careers

Develop a terms of reference

Key objective.

Develop a terms of reference that clearly articulates your scope of work.

Common problems

Having a poorly drafted terms of reference that's vague, ambiguous and doesn't specify what the taskforce will do and how it will do it
Drafting a terms of reference without clarifying the problem first, leading to too broad a scope and uncertainty around objectives or deliverables
Starting work without having an agreed terms of reference in place, which may result in unfocused work and wasted effort
Preempting the work of the taskforce by locking it in to a set of solutions through the terms of reference which may not be the best course of action for the problem at hand.

Tips for success

Develop a terms of reference early – this defines your scope and informs your workplan, so early drafting and agreement will enable you to get started on work in a focused way; it should also rule things out of scope before you invest time and effort into them
Specify the issues the taskforce will consider and clearly outline deliverables so that expectations around the work of the taskforce are unambiguous and supported by decision-makers
Clarify how decisions will be made – the terms of reference should specify critical governance information like who the taskforce will report to on deliverables and any ministerial or cross-agency governance bodies it will work to.

Handy tools

Guide: Write a terms of reference in 60 minutes (DOCX - 89.08 KB)

Examples of well and poorly drafted terms of reference (PDF - 875.23 KB)

Terms of reference are important to set expectations and constrain scope

A terms of reference (ToR) is a document which articulates the scope of work for a taskforce and how the people identified in the ToR will work together in the pursuit of a shared goal.

A ToR should clarify the expectations of project sponsor(s) (the senior executive(s) with overall accountability for the project), key stakeholders and taskforce members about what will be delivered by when, and how work will proceed. It should also constrain the scope of the taskforce so that the highest value work follows – it’s better to have a well-defined scope that leads to a high impact policy outcome than a broad scope that yields little value in its deliverables.

The origins of taskforces vary and in some cases, a ToR may have been settled before a taskforce is established. If this is the case, problem definition is still an important step – the ToR is often high level and further clarity is often needed.

If you do have the opportunity to develop the terms of reference directly, the examples and guide on writing one in 60 minutes will help you with this process.

Best practice for terms of reference

Develop one early . A ToR should be developed, tested and agreed before a significant amount of work is undertaken. Where possible a ToR should be tested and refined with key stakeholders to build consensus about the key issues and end goals.

Specify clear deliverables . A ToR should outline the specific outputs the taskforce needs to deliver and the timeframe to undertake the work.

Clarify how decisions will be made . It is often necessary to distinguish between decision makers responsible for taking action versus those responsible for the day-to-day operations of a taskforce. Other people may contribute in an advisory capacity only.

Focus on key issues and expectations . A ToR should outline any specific expectations about the work of the taskforce. This may include key issues (or those out of scope), the nature of any problem solving processes, the people to be involved or the solutions to be explored. The scope of a ToR should reflect the quantum of resources available to deliver the work.

How to draft a ToR in 60 minutes

Get the right people in the room . Project sponsor, taskforce members, key stakeholders if possible.
Identify shared goals (10 minutes). Agree overarching goals and how the taskforce will contribute to them.
Discuss taskforce approach (20 minutes) . Discuss the key issues in and out of scope, work to be undertaken, people to be involved.
Agree deliverables (10 minutes) . Map out what the taskforce must deliver over the course of its life.
Write it up (20 minutes), then test it. Capture the outcomes of the discussion on a whiteboard, post-its or the template provided. Test it widely.

This website may not work correctly because your browser is out of date. Please update your browser .

Terms of reference

A Terms of Reference (ToR) document provides an important overview of what is expected in an evaluation.

Developing a well-specified Terms of Reference (ToR) is a vital step in managing a high-quality evaluation. In an external evaluation the ToR document provides the basis for a contractual arrangement between the commissioners of an evaluation and a consultant/evaluation team and establishes the parameters against which the success of an evaluation assignment can be assessed.

The specific content and format for a ToR will vary to some extent according to organisational requirements, local practices, and the type of assignment.

Common elements of a ToR include:

1. why and for whom the evaluation is being done.

Background knowledge about the evaluand including objective, strategy and progress to date
Purpose(s) of the evaluation
Primary intended users and uses
Key evaluation questions.

2. How it will be accomplished

Overall scope and approach
Evaluation methodology/evaluation plan (sometimes done as part of the ToR and sometimes done as part of the evaluation proposal or as the first deliverable in the evaluation project)

3. Who will undertake the evaluation and accountabilities

Professional qualifications, experience and expertise required for the evaluator or evaluation team.
Roles and responsibilities of the parties, including processes for signing off on the evaluation plan and reports

4. Milestones, deliverables and timelines

What deliverables are required and when - for example, detailed evaluation plan, inception report, progress report, interim report, draft final report, final report

5. What resources are available to conduct the evaluation

Budget (if organisation's policy allows this to be stated)
Existing data

This easy to use guide provides step by step guidance on preparing Evaluation ToR.

Suggestions on how to develop clear Terms of Reference (TOR) for reviews and evaluations and include examples of best practice in TOR, and a template to use in developing TOR.

This guide from the UNEG is a checklist designed to support UNEG members in the design and implementation of evaluations.

This template from the UK Department for International Development provides an overview of the minimum content required within Terms of Reference for development of an Evaluation Study.

ToR of a project implemented in Aceh designed to encourage non-violence and peaceful conflict resolution among youths.

ToR for an AusAID thematic evaluation.

ToR for an evaluation of programming.

ToR for the evaluation of a program in Bangladesh designed to address the issues contributing to vulnerabilities such as a lack of participation, social injustice, and discrimination that hold people back from leading healthy and productive lives.

ToR for a project implemented in Swaziland designed to promote a greater understanding of human rights and knowledge of the Bill of Rights.

Department for International Development, Evaluation Department - Evaluation Study Terms of Reference Template

UNEG Quality Checklist for Evaluation Terms of Reference and Inception Reports

Expand to view all resources related to 'Terms of reference'

Evaluation Cost

'Terms of reference' is referenced in:

Utilisation-focused evaluation
52 weeks of BetterEvaluation: Using evaluability assessment to improve Terms of Reference
52 weeks of BetterEvaluation: Week 30: Manage an evaluation or evaluation system
BE FAQ: How do I prepare and distribute Request for Proposal and Terms of Reference documents?

Framework/Guide

Communication for Development (C4D) : C4D: Document management processes and agreements
Rainbow Framework : Document management processes and agreements
Manager's guide to evaluation : Terms of reference
Evaluation costing
Gender Analysis

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Informal Lab Reports, Short Memo or Letter Reports

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

This resource is an updated version of Muriel Harris’s handbook Report Formats: A Self-instruction Module on Writing Skills for Engineers , written in 1981. The primary resources for the editing process were Paul Anderson’s Technical Communication: A Reader-Centered Approach (6th ed.) and the existing OWL PowerPoint presentation, HATS: A Design Procedure for Routine Business Documents.

This resource provides guidance on reporting tests and experiments conducted in a variety of lab settings.

In Academic Settings

Short reports are written for teachers who want to evaluate the accuracy and completeness of your work. You may be asked to include some or all of these parts or others not included here:

Introduction: the purpose, problem, and scope
Apparatus: the equipment and/or tools used (This section is included only when needed because something beyond the usual apparatus is required.)
Procedures: the methods (These are described in detail only if asked for or if unusual.)
Body: the data obtained, discussed and evaluated
Conclusions and recommendations

In Industry and Government

Short reports are written for readers who need to know the results of your work so that they can make a decision. Include your conclusions and recommendations only if they are specifically asked for. Be as brief as possible, preferably one page or less.

Short Memo or Letter Reports

Use either stationery with the company letterhead or printed forms with standard headings such as To, From, Subject, Date, and other information that a company may wish to include, for example, reference numbers, names of people who receive carbon copies (cc:), and so on. State the subject clearly and concisely, and put the most important words at the beginning of the subject line in the heading.

Introductory statement:

State the general problem first to give the reader a context or “big picture.” Then explain the specific question or task arising from that problem that you will be dealing with. Finally, explain why the report is being submitted or what it is intended to do. This brief, but crucially important overview should usually be no longer than two or three sentences.

Findings or results:

Present your findings clearly and concisely, in whatever method is most appropriate (a list, a table, and so on, with adequate explanation). Arrange your results so that the ones most important to the project or the reader are placed first. Present the rest of your results in descending order of importance. Since your findings are usually the major reason for the memo, this section may be the longest part of the report.

Conclusions and recommendations:

Determine and present the most significant implications or recommendations for action. You may need to put this section before the findings, or you may not need to include this section at all unless it is requested. Company policy usually dictates whether or not this section is included.

Format considerations:

Use headings and mark your key points so that your readers can survey the contents and can quickly find what they want.
Place your strongest arguments first when your purpose is to persuade.

Evaluating a Short Memo Report

When evaluating a short memo, the writer should follow a very specific format to keep their document standard. This format includes questions that the writer should ask themselves, the different parts of the memo, headings that should be used as wells as arguments to add. These aspects allow the creation of a short memo to be easy as the formatting will eventually become second nature.

Listed below are the basic questions every report writer should ask himself or herself before writing the report:

Who will read the report?
What do they want to know?
How should the report be structured?

Heading : Lists information such as To, From, Subject, Date, and so on, and states the subject clearly and concisely with the most important words at the beginning of the subject line.

Is all the relevant information included?
Is the subject stated clearly and concisely?
Are the important words first?

Introductory Statement : States the general problem first, then explains the specific question or task being dealt with in the memo, and then explains why the report is being submitted or what it is intended to do.

Are all three parts of the introductory statement included and stated clearly?

Findings or Results : Presents the findings clearly and concisely with the most important results first. Tables and other information not needed by all readers are, of course, attached separately.

Are the findings or results clearly indicated and easy to locate on the page?

Conclusions and Recommendations : Presents the significant implications and recommendations for action (if—and only if—conclusions and recommendations have been asked for).

If the report contains conclusions and recommendations, are they clearly presented and easily located on the page?

Format Considerations: Make headings and mark your key points so that your readers can quickly survey the contents and find what they want.

Are the headings throughout the report adequate?
Are key points marked?
Are your strongest arguments first when writing a persuasive document?

Writing Terms of Reference

Try our AI Legal Assistant - it's free while in beta 🚀

Genie's AI Legal Assistant can draft, risk-review and negotiate 1000s of legal documents

Note: Want to skip the guide and go straight to the free templates? No problem - scroll to the bottom. Also note: This is not legal advice.

Introduction

Creating terms of reference for any business or transaction is essential to provide clarity and direction for all parties involved. Not only will it help to ensure that roles and responsibilities are understood, but it can also protect those involved from potential disputes and misunderstandings. Moreover, having a set of terms of reference can ensure that the objectives of all parties are clearly defined, helping to reduce confusion and increase the chances of success. Finally, by having clear terms of reference in place, all parties are able to remain compliant with applicable law throughout the process.

At Genie AI, we recognise how important these documents are; our team has developed the world’s largest open source legal template library – allowing anyone to draft high quality legal documents without needing the expertise or resources associated with engaging a lawyer. By leveraging millions of data points on market-standard terms of reference documents, our users can quickly create bespoke agreements tailored precisely to their requirements. We offer simple step-by-step guidance on how to access our template library today – no Genie AI account required - so you can start creating your own terms of reference without delay! Read on below for more information about how Genie AI’s library can help you create successful business transactions, confidently and conveniently.

Definitions (feel free to skip)

Stakeholder - A person or group with an interest in a particular project or outcome. Terms of Reference - A document that outlines the purpose, scope, roles and responsibilities, key performance indicators, timeline, budget, reporting mechanism, and process for resolving disputes for a project. Plain language - Clear, easy to understand language, without jargon or technical terms. Concise - Short and to the point. Ambiguity - Unclear or uncertain meaning. Scope - The range of a project, including tasks, timeline, and objectives. Roles and Responsibilities - The specific actions or duties that are assigned to each person or group involved in a project. Decision-making authority - The power to make decisions on behalf of the project. Key Performance Indicators - Metrics used to measure the performance of a project. Schedule - A timeline of deadlines necessary to complete a project. Budget - The amount of money allocated to a project. Reporting mechanism - The format and frequency of reports on the progress of a project. Resolving disputes - The process of resolving conflicts between stakeholders.

Establishing the Purpose of the Terms of Reference

Writing a clear statement of purpose, identifying who is involved, defining the scope of the terms of reference, outlining the tasks to be completed, identifying the timeline, identifying roles and responsibilities, assigning roles and responsibilities to individuals or groups, establishing decision-making authority, establishing key performance indicators, identifying the necessary criteria for successful completion, defining the metrics to measure performance, establishing a schedule, identifying the deadlines for each task, establishing a timeline for completion, establishing a budget, assessing the cost of the project, allocating resources, developing a reporting mechanism, defining the format and frequency of reports, identifying who should receive the reports, establishing a process for resolving disputes, identifying potential conflicts, establishing a mechanism for resolving conflicts, finalizing the terms of reference, reviewing and revising the terms of reference, obtaining sign-off from all relevant stakeholders, reviewing and revising the terms of reference as needed, scheduling regular reviews of the terms of reference, identifying changes to the terms of reference, implementing any necessary revisions, get started.

Identify the project or task the Terms of Reference refer to, and the desired outcome
Determine the scope of the project or task and who will be involved
Consider the objectives, deliverables, timeline and budget
Draft an overview of the project or task that outlines these elements
Check with relevant stakeholders to ensure the overview is complete and accurate

You’ll know you can check this step off your list when you have a comprehensive overview of the project or task that includes the desired outcome, scope, objectives, deliverables, timeline and budget.

Brainstorm the purpose of the Terms of Reference and write it down
Ask yourself questions such as: what is the purpose of this document, who is the intended audience, what are the expected outcomes and how will they be measured
Draft a statement of purpose that is concise and clear
Ensure that the statement of purpose is measurable and achievable
Check the statement of purpose against the list of questions used to brainstorm to make sure that all elements are covered
Once the statement of purpose is finalized, you can check this step off your list and move on to the next step.
Identify who will be responsible for creating the Terms of Reference
Identify who will be responsible for reviewing the Terms of Reference
Identify who will be responsible for approving the Terms of Reference
Ensure all parties are aware of their roles and responsibilities
When all roles and responsibilities have been identified and all parties have been made aware of their roles, this step is complete and you can move on to the next step of defining the scope of the Terms of Reference.
Identify the purpose and objectives of the project
Determine the expected outcomes of the project
Describe the geographic area, target population and any other relevant parameters of the project
Identify any assumptions that may impact the project
Describe the timeline for the project

You can check this step off your list when you have a clear description of the scope of the project that outlines the purpose, objectives, expected outcomes, parameters, assumptions and timeline of the project.

List the tasks that need to be completed as part of the Terms of Reference
Consider any activities or deliverables that need to be included in the Terms of Reference
Ensure the tasks are achievable within the timeline and scope of the project
Identify any resources or personnel that need to be allocated in order to complete the tasks
When you have an accurate list of tasks, you can move on to the next step: Identifying the timeline.
Establish a timeline for the project that outlines key milestones, including a start date, major deliverables, and the projected end date.
Consult with stakeholders to determine the feasibility of the timeline and make any necessary adjustments.
Confirm the timeline with the project team and document it in the Terms of Reference.
Once the timeline is finalized, the Terms of Reference can be completed and distributed.
Identify the roles and responsibilities of each individual or group who will be involved in the project.
Describe each position, the tasks associated with that position, and any special qualifications that would be beneficial for the role.
Identify the roles and responsibilities of individuals or groups outside of the project, such as stakeholders, who may have a vested interested in the outcome of the project.
Outline the reporting structure for the project and specify who is responsible for providing progress reports and updates.
When all roles and responsibilities have been identified and assigned, the step is complete and the document can be checked off your list.
Assign specific roles and responsibilities to each individual or group
Create a list of tasks each individual or group needs to complete
Clearly define the scope of work and expectations for each individual or group
Ensure that all roles and responsibilities are agreed upon by all parties involved
Document the roles and responsibilities in the Terms of Reference
When all roles and responsibilities have been assigned, this step can be checked off the list.
Establish a decision-making authority for the project.
Consider who has the authority to make decisions during the project.
Write down the decision-making authority in the Terms of Reference.
Check that the decision-making authority is clear and unambiguous to all parties involved in the project.
Acknowledge that the decision-making authority has the right to make decisions that override the contribution of any other party.
Confirm that the decision-making authority is accepted by all parties involved in the project.
When the decision-making authority is established and accepted, you can check this off your list and move on to the next step of establishing Key Performance Indicators.
Define and agree upon the KPIs that need to be tracked to measure the success of the project
List out the performance indicators that need to be monitored on a regular basis
Identify the criteria that will be used to assess progress on each performance indicator
Develop a system for tracking and reporting on the performance indicators
Agree upon the frequency of reporting on the performance indicators
When the KPIs have been defined and agreed upon, the step has been completed and you can move on to the next step.
Brainstorm and identify the criteria that need to be met in order for the project or task to be considered successful
Consider any external factors or conditions that must be present for success
Identify the necessary resources required to complete the task
Develop a timeline for the completion of the task and any milestones within that timeline
Make a list of all the criteria that need to be met in order to ensure success
Once all criteria have been identified, review the list to ensure it is comprehensive and feasible
Once the criteria have been established and reviewed, you can move on to the next step: Defining the metrics to measure performance.
List out the performance metrics that will be used to measure the success of the project
Decide what the goals are for each metric, such as a target number to reach or an acceptable range of performance
Identify how the metrics will be measured and tracked
Test the measurements to make sure they are accurate and valid
When the metrics are established, the step can be checked off the list and the next step can be started.
Establish a timeline for the project, allowing for flexibility and adjustment as needed
Identify key milestones and deadlines for each task
Prioritize tasks and schedule them according to importance and urgency
Determine the resources needed for each task and the time required to complete it
Take into account external factors such as holidays, working hours, and other commitments
Consider the availability of the team members involved
Create a timeline for the project and assign tasks to each team member
Regularly update the timeline to ensure that tasks are completed on schedule
When the timeline is complete, you can check off this step and move on to the next.
Identify and document the timeline of tasks involved in the project.
Set realistic, achievable deadlines based on the scope of the project.
Ensure all stakeholders are aware of the deadlines and are in agreement with them.
Create a timeline document that can be shared with stakeholders to track progress.
Assign ownership of tasks and record the responsible party in the timeline document.
Monitor progress and adjust deadlines as needed.
Once all deadlines are set, check this off your list and move on to the next step.
Set out an overall timeline for the project, including when the project will start and finish
Map out the individual tasks that need to be completed and set out deadlines for each
Ensure that the timeline is realistic and achievable, taking into account the availability of resources
Agree on a timeline with the other stakeholders, and document the timeline in the Terms of Reference
Check off this step when the timeline has been agreed and documented in the Terms of Reference.
Estimate the budget for the project
Identify the resources available to complete the project within the given budget
Determine if the resources are sufficient to complete the project within the given timeline
Consider the need to hire additional resources, if necessary
Compare the project costs against the expected benefits
Once the budget is established, document it in the Terms of Reference
Make sure the budget is approved by all stakeholders
When the budget is approved and documented, this step is complete and you can move on to the next step.
Create an accurate estimate of the financial resources needed for the project
Consult with stakeholders and subject matter experts to determine the potential cost of the project
Take into account the cost of the personnel, materials, and other resources that will be necessary to complete the project
Identify any potential risks to the project and estimate the cost of risk mitigation
Establish a timeline with approximate costs associated with each milestone
When you have a comprehensive cost assessment, you can check this step off your list and move on to allocating resources.
Identify the resources needed for the project and determine the cost associated with each.
Consider recruiting additional staff, subcontracting, and/or outsourcing.
Create a budget for the project and confirm that it is approved by all parties.
Once the resources have been allocated, you can move on to developing a reporting mechanism.
Identify the information that needs to be reported and the stakeholders that need to receive it
Outline the format that the report should take and how regularly it should be issued
Establish the process for collecting, analyzing, and distributing the report
Ensure the report is compliant with any existing laws and regulations
Set up a timeline for delivering the report
Determine what data needs to be tracked and how it should be collected
When all the above steps have been completed, you can move on to the next step of defining the format and frequency of reports.
Determine how often reports should be generated (daily, weekly, monthly, etc.)
Decide the format of the reports (PDF, Word document, Excel spreadsheet, etc.)
Outline the specific information that needs to be included in each report
Establish a timeline and frequency for when reports should be generated
When all the decisions are made, document them in the Terms of Reference

Once all of the decisions are made and documented in the Terms of Reference, you can move on to the next step of Identifying who should receive the reports.

Identify the key stakeholders who should receive reports
Prepare a list of the stakeholders and their contact information
Confirm the list with the key stakeholders
Check off this step when all stakeholders agree to the list of those who will receive reports.
Establish a process for resolving disputes. This should include protocols for addressing potential conflicts, the methods of communication to be used, and the timescale for resolving any disputes.
Identify who should be included in the dispute resolution process, such as stakeholders and representatives of the parties involved.
Consider what methods should be used to communicate during the dispute resolution process, such as meetings and email.
Decide on a timeline for resolving any disputes, such as a set amount of time for each party to respond before a decision is made.
Draft a document outlining the dispute resolution process.
Once the document is drafted, review and revise as needed.
When the document is finalised, distribute it to all relevant parties.

You’ll know when you can check this off your list and move on to the next step when the document outlining the dispute resolution process has been reviewed, revised, and distributed to all relevant parties.

Review existing documents such as the charter, bylaws, and mission statement to identify any potential conflicts of interest
Brainstorm with the relevant stakeholders to identify any issues or potential conflicts that may arise
Consider the roles of each stakeholder and identify any areas of overlap between them that could lead to potential conflicts
When all potential conflicts have been identified, discuss and agree on how to handle them
Document the agreed upon plan for handling potential conflicts in the Terms of Reference
Once all potential conflicts have been identified and a plan is in place to handle them, this step can be marked as complete.
Agree on a process for resolving disputes, such as through negotiations or a third-party mediator
Decide how decisions regarding the resolution of conflicts will be made
Outline how the parties will keep informed of the process of resolving conflicts
Include possible consequences for failure to comply with the agreed resolution
Determine the process for modifying the mechanism for resolving conflicts
When all parties have agreed on the mechanism for resolving conflicts, this step can be checked off and the Terms of Reference can be finalized.
Carefully review the draft Terms of Reference
Ensure that all the necessary considerations have been taken into account
Make any necessary revisions and additions
Make sure all stakeholders agree on the content and format
Obtain the necessary approvals
Determine the final format for the document
Finalize the Terms of Reference
You will know you have completed this step when you have a finalized version of the Terms of Reference that has been approved by all stakeholders.
Review the Terms of Reference for accuracy and completeness
Ensure that all requirements, objectives, and deliverables are clearly stated
Ensure that all stakeholders are represented and their roles and responsibilities are adequately defined
Check that the deliverables and timelines are realistic
Ensure that the Terms of Reference is aligned with the overall project plan
Make any necessary revisions
Obtain sign off from all relevant stakeholders
Once all revisions are complete and the Terms of Reference are signed off, you can move on to the next step.
Identify all stakeholders who need to approve the document and make sure they are included in the review process
Contact each stakeholder and provide them with the Terms of Reference document
Explain the importance of their input and the role they play in the project
Follow up with each stakeholder to ensure they have received the document and understand their role
Request a signed approval of the Terms of Reference from each stakeholder
Once all stakeholders have signed off, you can move on to the next step.
Review the Terms of Reference document and ensure that all the requirements have been met
Consult with relevant stakeholders to identify any areas that need to be changed or updated
Revise the document as needed to reflect any changes
Once all changes have been made, you can check this step off the list and move on to the next step.
Set a timeline for reviews of the Terms of Reference with clear, realistic goals
Determine how often the Terms of Reference should be reviewed (eg. annually)
Assign responsibility for reviews to a specific individual or team
Make sure to set reminders or notifications to ensure that the Terms of Reference are reviewed on time
After each review, update the Terms of Reference, if needed
Once the timeline and responsibilities have been determined and set in place, you will know that you can move on to the next step.
Review the Terms of Reference regularly and identify any changes that need to be made.
Consider any feedback from stakeholders, the business requirements, any changes to the project scope or timeline, and any changes in the external environment that may have an impact on the project.
Create a list of changes that need to be made, if any.
Once you have identified the changes that need to be made, you can check this off your list and move on to the next step.
Review the changes to the Terms of Reference identified in the previous step
Decide whether the changes should be implemented or not
If changes should be implemented, make the necessary revisions to the Terms of Reference
Have other stakeholders review the revised Terms of Reference
Make any necessary modifications based on the review of the revised Terms of Reference
Once the revised Terms of Reference have been approved, finalize the document
You will know that you have completed this step when the revised Terms of Reference have been finalized and approved by all stakeholders.

Q: What is the difference between Terms of Reference and a contract?

Asked by Ariana on March 4th, 2022. A: A contract is legally binding document, whereas Terms of Reference (ToR) is a document providing details and directions for a project or an appointed body. A contract outlines obligations and expectations of each party, and what will happen in the event that one or both parties do not comply. On the other hand, ToR outlines the objectives, scope and outcomes of a project or body, and can be used as a tool to ensure that all stakeholders are on the same page.

Example dispute

Suing a company for breach of contract.

Identifying and citing the relevant terms of reference (TOR) in the contract
Establishing that the company has breached the agreement by not performing their obligations as defined by the TOR
Demonstrating the financial or other losses incurred by the plaintiff as a result of the breach
Seeking an injunction or other court order requiring the defendant to adhere to the TOR
Seeking damages or other financial remedies for the losses incurred by the plaintiff as a result of the breach
Seeking legal costs associated with bringing the suit and any appeals if necessary

Templates available (free to use)

Aim Terms Of Reference For Nomination Committee Aim Terms Of Reference For Remuneration Committee Audit And Risk Committee Terms Of Reference Aim Listed Company Audit Committee Terms Of Reference Aim Listed Company Executive Summary For Remuneration Committee Of Premium Listed Companies For Tax Year Before 2019 Terms Of Reference Executive Summary For The Audit Committee Of Premium Listed Companies For Tax Year 2019 And Beyond Terms Of Reference Executive Summary For The Nomination Committee Of Premium Listed Compaines Tax Year 2019 And Beyond Terms Of Reference Icc Arbitration 2012 2017 2021 Rules Terms Of Reference With Drafting Notes Renumeration Committee Executive Summary For Premium Listed Companies Terms Of Reference For Payment Risk Committee Terms Of Reference Aim Listed Company Risk Committee Terms Of Reference Premium Listed Company

Helpful? Not as helpful as you were hoping? Message me on Linkedin

Links to get you started

‍ Our AI Legal Assistant (free while in beta) Contract Template Library Legal Clause Library

Try the world's most advanced AI Legal Assistant, today

Adaptive Management
Humanitarian-Development-Peace Coherence
Monitoring and Evaluation
Social and Behavior Change
Resource Library
Communities
FSN Network
PRO-WASH & SCALE
Previous Awards

Writing Terms of Reference for an Evaluation: A How-To Guide

The terms of reference (ToR) document defines all aspects of how a consultant or a team will conduct an evaluation. It defines the objectives and the scope of the evaluation, outlines the responsibilities of the consultant or team, and provides a clear description of the resources available to conduct the study. Developing an accurate and well-specified ToR is a critical step in managing a high-quality evaluation. The evaluation ToR document serves as the basis for a contractual arrangement with one or more evaluators and sets the parameters against which the success of the assignment can be measured.

A quality checklist and some internet resources are included in this publication to foster good practice in writing ToRs for evaluations and reviews of projects and programs. The publication also provides references and resources for further information.

Related Resources

Making Evaluations Matter: A Practical Guide for Evaluators

2011 | Centre for Development Innovation, Wageningen University & Research centre

Preparing for the Evaluation

2006 | Catholic Relief Services (CRS) | American Red Cross

Preparing for an Evaluation: Guidelines and Tools

2008 | Catholic Relief Services (CRS) | American Red Cross

Submit A Resource

Share your food security resources, events, and communities with our growing network

Submit Content

Home / Guides / Citation Guides / APA Format / How to Cite a Report in APA

How to Cite a Report in APA

This guide will teach you how to cite a report in APA and create accurate references and text in-citations for various types of reports. That includes citations for government reports, annual reports, and reports made by both individuals, task forces, and organizations. The content of this guide is based on the 7th edition of the Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association (pp. 329-331).

Are you looking for information on how to cite a different kind of resource? Check out this EasyBib guide on creating an APA citation for a web page , or this one on formatting an APA book citation .

Guide Overview

What is gray literature, when the title doesn’t describe the literature type, when the author and publisher name are the same, how to cite a report from an organization or government agency, how to cite a report with listed author(s), how to cite a report that is part of a series, how to cite a report by a group, task force, or working group, how to cite an annual report, how to cite a press release, what you need.

To begin, let’s take a few moments to define what gray literature is.

Basically, gray literature includes any research or work that was produced by an individual or organization through non-traditional publishing routes.

A report is one example of gray literature. Reports are original research documents that are published by companies, organizations, or working groups that are intended to present the key findings of a specific research project. Since they are not distributed in a traditional way, reports are considered gray literature.

Though gray literature isn’t a traditional source type (like books, journals, newspapers, etc.), there can be a lot of value in gray literature.

Types include

Annual reports
Codes of ethics
Conference proceedings
Financial health reports
Government accountability reports
GrantsPeriodic reports
Issue briefs
Policy briefs
Pharmacological studies
Press releases
Technical reports
Unpublished clinical trials

In some cases, the type of gray literature that you are referencing may not be clear by the title alone, as is sometimes the case with policy briefs and press releases . In these instances, you should include a bracketed description of the gray literature immediately after the title.

Author last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Date published). Title of the work [Work description] (Associated number) . Publisher name. DOI or URL

To see an example of brackets in use, go down to the section on how to cite a press release .

According to the Publication Manual , when the author and publisher are the same, do not add the publisher element (329). To avoid redundancy in these references, you only need to use the name as the author.

Author last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Date published). Title of the work [Work description] (Associated number) . DOI or URL

In this example, the report has been both authored and published by the U.S. Department of the Interior. In cases such as these, provide the name of the organization or agency only once as the author element at the beginning of the reference.

U.S. Department of the Interior. (2016). Agency financial report FY 2016. https://www.doi.gov/sites/doi.gov/files/uploads/doi_fy_2016_afr.pdf

In-text citation example:

Parenthetical citation: (U.S. Department of the Interior, 2016)
Narrative citation: U.S. Department of the Interior (2016)

If you’re still a little unsure about how to cite a report, try our EasyBib citation form for reports .

If you are interested in learning more about how to cite gray literature, check out Section 10.4 of the Publication Manual .

Organization or Agency. (Year Published). Title of report or gray literature in sentence case (Associated number). Publisher Name. DOI or URL

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, National Institutes of Health. (2017). NIH Turning discovery into health. (NIH Publication No. 11-7634). https://www.nih.gov/sites/default/files/about-nih/discovery-into-health/nih-turning-discovery-into-health.pdf

Some government publications will have many departments listed as the author. According to the Publication Manual , you should choose the most detailed department and use that as the in-text citation author (Section 9.11).

Parenthetical citation: (National Institutes of Health, 2017)
Narrative citation: National Institutes of Health (2017)

If the report has a specific person or persons listed on the title page, then their names belong in the author position, and the organization belongs in the publisher position.

1st author last name, First initial. Middle initial., & 2nd Author last name, First initial, Middle initial. (Year Published). Title of report in sentence case (Associated number). Publisher Name. DOI or URL

Gerling, M., & Wilson, T. (2019). Evaluating the June area survey’s field enumerator training (RDD-19-01) . U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Statistics Service, Research and Development Division. https://www.nass.usda.gov/Education_and_Outreach/Reports,_Presentations_and_Conferences/reports/Evaluating_the_June_Area_Surveys_Field_Enumerator_Training.pdf

For this example, we have chosen a research report which utilizes the U.S. Research and Development Division’s own indexing system (RDD-19-01). If the report is presented with a report number like this, it is included in the reference within parentheses right after the title.

In addition, there are multiple government agencies responsible for the report in addition to the individual authors. In this case, the agencies are all included in the publisher position and separated by a comma.

In-text citation:

Parenthetical citation : (Gerling & Wilson, 2019)
Narrative citation : Gerling & Wilson (2019)

Here’s one more example reference:

Gorbunova, Y. (2013). Laws of attrition: Crackdown on Russia’s civil society after Putin’s return to the presidency . Human Rights Watch. https://www.hrw.org/report/2013/04/24/laws-attrition/crackdown-russias-civil-society-after-putins-return-presidency#page

Note: Since no report number was identified, it was not included in the citation.

Author last name, First initial. Middle initial., & Author 2 last name, First initial, Middle initial. (Year published). Title of report in sentence case (Series Name, Series Number). Publisher Name. DOI or URL

Robson, S.G., Heiny, J.S., Arnold, L.R. (2000). Geohydrology of the shallow aquifers in the Boulder-Longmont area, Colorado (Hydrologic Atlas, 746). https://doi.org/10.3133/ha746D

Parenthetical citation : (Robson et al., 2000)
Narrative citation : Robson et al. (2000)

Name of Group. (Year Published). Title of report in sentence case (Associated number) . Publisher Name. DOI or URL

International Space Station Independent Safety Task Force. (2007). Final report. National Aeronautics and Space Administration. https://www.nasa.gov/pdf/170368main_IIST_%20Final%20Report.pdf

Parenthetical citation: (International Space Station Independent Safety Task Force, 2007)
Narrative citation: International Space Station Independent Safety Task Force (2007)

Name of Organization or Company. (Year Published). Title of report in sentence case. URL

Yum! Brands. (2019). 2018 Annual Report. https://www.annualreports.com/HostedData/AnnualReports/PDF/NYSE_YUM_2018.pdf

Since annual reports are almost always published by the companies or organizations that commissioned them, the author and publisher name would be the same in a reference. To avoid this duplication, the organization name only needs to be listed once as the author; the publisher element can be left out.

Parenthetical citation : (Yum! Brands, 2019)
Narrative citation : Yum! Brands (2019)

Author Last Name, First Initial. Middle Initial. (Date published). Title of the work [Work description] (Associated number) . Publisher Name. DOI or URL

Chegg. (2019, June 6). Chegg reveals first of its kind equity plan to help its US employees pay off their student debt. https://investor.chegg.com/Press-Releases/press-release-details/2019/Chegg-reveals-first-of-its-kind-equity-plan-to-help-its-US-employees-pay-off-their-student-debt/default.aspx

Parenthetical citation : (Chegg, 2019)
Narrative citation : Chegg (2019)

A reference entry for a report, and other gray literature, will contain the the following source details:

Author name
Date published. Either year (2020) or year, month day (2020, February 14)
Title of the work (in sentence case)
Associated number (if applicable). Examples: Report No. 22, Project No. 567, Issue 101, etc.
Work description (if needed). Examples: [Grant], [Policy brief], [Press release]
Publisher name
DOI or URL (if applicable). DOi would be formatted as https://doi.org/xxxx

Here’s a basic structure for citing gray literature:

Author last name, First initial. Middle initial. (Date published). Title of the work (Associated number) . Publisher Name. DOI or URL

American Psychological Association. (2020a). Publication manual of the American Psychological Association (7th ed.). https://doi.org/10.1037/0000165-000

American Psychological Association. (2020b). Style-Grammar-Guidelines. https://apastyle.apa.org/style-grammar-guidelines/citations/basic-principles/parenthetical-versus-narrative

Published August 10, 2012. Updated March 24, 2020.

Written and edited by Michele Kirschenbaum and Elise Barbeau. Michele Kirschenbaum is a school library media specialist and the in-house librarian at EasyBib.com. Elise Barbeau is the Citation Specialist at Chegg. She has worked in digital marketing, libraries, and publishing.

APA Formatting Guide

APA Formatting

Annotated Bibliography
Block Quotes
et al Usage
In-text Citations
Multiple Authors
Paraphrasing
Page Numbers
Parenthetical Citations
Reference Page
Sample Paper
APA 7 Updates
View APA Guide

Citation Examples

Book Chapter
Journal Article
Magazine Article
Newspaper Article
Website (no author)
View all APA Examples

How useful was this post?

Click on a star to rate it!

We are sorry that this post was not useful for you!

Let us improve this post!

Tell us how we can improve this post?

To cite a report in APA style, you need to have basic information including the name of the author/organization, publication year, title of the report, publisher, and/or URL. The templates for in-text citations and reference list entries for a report, along with examples, are given below.

In-text citation template and example:

Author Surname/Organization name (Publication Year)

Logan and Stults (2011)

Parenthetical:

(Author Surname/Organization name, Publication Year)

(Logan & Stults, 2011)

Reference list entry template and example:

Author or organization. (Year of publication). Title of the report (Report No. if applicable). Publisher. URL

Logan, J. R., & Stults, B. J. (2011). The persistence of segregation in the metropolis: New findings from the 2010 Census (Census Brief for Project US2010). American Communities Project, Brown University. www.s4.brown.edu/us2010/Data/Report/report2.pdf

The report title should be in sentence case and italics.

To cite a source with no title in APA style, it is important that you know some basic information such as the name of the author, date if possible, and other information depending upon the type of publication, such as journal article, book chapter, or map. The templates and examples for in-text citations and reference list entries for a source with no title are given below.

Author Surname (Publication Year)

Google (n.d.)

(Author Surname, Publication Year)

(Google, n.d.)

Author Surname, F. (Publication Year). [Description of the work]. Source. URL (if applicable)

Google. (n.d.). [Map of Google to travel by road from Chennai to New Delhi, India]. Retrieved August 21, 2021, from https://www.google.com/maps/dir/Chennai,+Tamil+Nadu/New+Delhi,+Delhi/@20.6384587,69.8777929,5z/data=!3m1!4b1!4m13!4m12!1m5!1m1!1s0x3a5265ea4f7d3361:0x6e61a70b6863d433!2m2!1d80.2707184!2d13.0826802!1m5!1m1!1s0x390cfd5b347eb62d:0x52c2b7494e204dce!2m2!1d77.2090212!2d28.6139391

Note that the “retrieved” date should only be included if the source is likely to change or become unavailable. Since the Google map cited in the example entry may be slightly different depending on the day (due to traffic conditions, road closures, etc.), the “retrieved” date is included.

APA Citation Examples

Writing Tools

Citation Generators

Other Citation Styles

Plagiarism Checker

Upload a paper to check for plagiarism against billions of sources and get advanced writing suggestions for clarity and style.

Get Started

Project Terms of Reference (ToR) Template: Writing Tips

by Eric Morkovich · March 16, 2012

Terms of Reference (ToR) provide a statement of the proposed project’s background, purpose, and objectives. A ToR template includes a range of criteria that are necessary for strategic project management decision-making. In addition, this document defines the activities, risks, budget, and expertise related to the project.

The following template provides an overview of the main sections of the Project Terms of Reference document. In this guide, I describe the definition and content of ToR. The template is available for free download as a .doc file.

Terms Of Reference Template Free Download (DOC file, 48Kb)

Terms of Reference: Definition and Purpose

In project management, the Terms of Reference is a strategy-level document that describes the expected deliverables, who is responsible for each deliverable, and the timeline in which they should be completed. The ToR states the planned activities, typical inputs and outputs, project budget, working schedules, and job descriptions. It is used to evaluate the performance of the project team, contractors, consultants, experts, and other project stakeholders.

The purpose of the ToR is to specify the amount and type of work to accomplish the project. In addition, it is a governance document that establishes and determines the relationships between all project stakeholders. The Terms of Reference document is developed once a project has been identified, defined, and planned.

The ToR of a project provides a clear description of the following critical information:

The rationale behind undertaking the project.
The proposed methodology of project management, along with work plans and activity schedules.
The expected resource requirements , primarily regarding personnel.
Reporting rules and requirements.

What’s Included in the ToR?

The development of Project Terms of Reference is required for making the decision on whether or not to allocate necessary funds to a proposed project. It is the result of the project proposal process, and TOR serves as the primary report of this process. TOR is usually required for:

Pre-feasibility and feasibility analyses
Appraisal activity
Implementation contracts designing and monitoring
Evaluation studies
Reporting and audit
Other advisory work required at any project stage

Considering the listed items, the content of Project Terms of Reference should include business-critical information necessary for starting, implementing and monitoring project activities. Meanwhile, the exact content of TOR varies from project to project and significantly depends upon the scope of a proposed project.

A generic content format of Project Terms of Reference is suggested below:

Project Background
Project Objectives
Issues to be explored and analyzed against certain criteria
Implementation Methodology to be applied
Expertise required
Reporting requirements
Work plan, including activity schedules

Please note these are the common sections of a TOR template. They can be changed or omitted, depending on the scope of a particular project. The following below description of the TOR sections is general and provided as an overview for guidance purposes. It means a particular project will require a deeper analysis of the content to be included in a TOR template. When you plan for your project, you must first analyze and define the work that needs to be contracted out, and then proceed with the development of Project Terms of Reference.

1. Background

The background of a project provides an overview of the history behind the project. It should clearly state why perform the project and refer to a programming context. The purpose is to provide the reader with a brief explanation of the need behind the project.

The Background section of a ToR template usually includes several paragraphs which address the following issues:

Describe the project in the context of a related business need
State the general role of stakeholders in doing project activities
Highlight a brief overview of the project to date

2. Objectives

The objectives of a project are those desired accomplishments that can be reasonably delivered upon project completion, with consumption of available resources and within an expected timeframe. They should clearly identify and define what is expected from the project and who the target audience is.

The Objectives section of a Terms of Reference template should describe desired achievements at different stages of project lifecycle . It should also state the primary objectives of the project, which must be achieved upon success project completion. Here’s an example of how it should look like.

Any project involves a number of issues and problematic areas that must be addressed in order for the project to be implemented smoothly. The issues are the points of discussion or dispute throughout the project lifecycle. They cover any concern, query, request for change, or anything else that requires a resolution during the project. Unresolved issues may cause project failure .

The Issues section of a TOR template should highlight key issues to be studied and disputed at every stage of the project lifecycle. Usually TOR includes a range of evaluation criteria to be used for issue analysis and solving. Here are generic issue evaluation criteria for most projects:

Efficiency – this criterion determines how well a given activity transforms available resources into desired outputs in terms of quantity, quality and time
Relevance – it help analyze whether a given activity is being performed with the desired benefits
Effectiveness – it concerns how far the project’s outputs have been utilized and whether the project’s purpose has been realized
Impact – this measure helps figure out the extent to which the project’s benefits received by the target audience have an overall effect on larger numbers of people concerned
Sustainability – this criterion identifies whether the project’s positive outcomes will continue after funding ends.

4. Methodology

The implementation methodology of a project provides a set of broad principles and rules from which specific procedures will be derived in order to define how to carry out the project in a cost-effective way. It describes the main methods of project implementation.

The Methodology section of a Project Terms of Reference template should therefore include a description of the following items:

Key phases of the project implementation process
The required level of stakeholder involvement that ensures smooth implementation
The content and duration of project activities and tasks
The information collection tools to be used throughout the project for monitoring purposes
Data analysis rules

5. Expertise

The expertise needed for doing a project defines a set of professional requirements for the individuals and teams involved in project implementation. It will be the basis for team building, including training and skill assessment.

The Expertise section of a Project Terms of Reference template should identify the following:

The type of work involved in the project
The type of skills and abilities required to do project work
The exact number of individuals involved, including a description of their qualifications, experience, and other professional attributes
The period of engagement of each team member
A description of the duties and responsibility per teammate
The relationship between the team members, including leadership roles

6. Reporting

Reports provide valued information about project performance over a certain period. Reporting is a process that starts once a project is launched and continues until the project is completed and its product is handed over. Reporting requirements will define how to write and submit project reports and what information to include.

The Reporting Requirements section of a Terms of Reference template should clearly specify the requirements for the reporting process, and might include the details of:

Table of contents for project reports
Rules for composing annexes
Report templates
The language to be used in reports
Computer software programmes to be used
Submission dates
People responsible for reporting and approving
Other sufficient information, such as number of copies to be created, responsibilities for report production and presentation, etc.

7. Work Plan

A work plan is a kind of strategy that aims to help solve problems throughout a project and boost employee drive and focus. It determines what actions need to be taken to start, implement, and complete the project within a specified time period and under defined budget. It is often used as a general guide for developing a project implementation plan .

The Work Plan section of a Project Terms of Reference template should set out the activities and necessary resources required for achieving the project’s results and purpose. It should therefore include a summary of the anticipated work and time schedule, which are based upon the following:

An analysis of the issues, in terms of the evaluation criteria
The proposed implementation methodology
The reporting requirements
The finance resources allocated to the project.

Wrapping Up

The Terms of Reference is one of the most important documents that should be considered during the project management process. It defines the purpose, scope, deliverables, and timelines for the project, and it holds the stakeholders accountable for their deliverables.

Tags: document implement template

Eric Morkovich

Eric is an enthusiastic project manager who has worked on various projects in the software industry for over ten years. He took on a variety of roles and responsibilities for projects and teams. Today Eric helps product companies review and improve their software definition, development, and implementation processes. Follow Eric on Twitter .

Next story Feasibility Study Template: How to Assess Project Viability
Previous story Project Activity Schedule Template

Project Life-Cycle Template – Key Phases of the Generic Model

November 17, 2011

IoT project implementation - benefits and barries for tech startups

IoT Project Implementation: the Benefits and Barriers for Tech Companies

July 8, 2019

Stakeholder Engagement Planning – Two Steps for Engaging Stakeholders in Project Implementation

March 29, 2011

Worth Reading

Agile PM Methodologies for Software Development

August 2, 2010

Steps to Developing a Project Quality Plan Template

March 30, 2011

Learn how to get profitable traffic for your new website.

How to Grow Website Traffic at a Start-Up

May 29, 2019

IT Outsourcing Service for Project Management

December 28, 2010

Top Challenges of Translation in Business

February 17, 2021

#ezw_tco-3 .ez-toc-widget-container ul.ez-toc-list li.active{ background-color: #ededed; } Table of Contents Toggle

Business & Finance / Marketing & SEO

4 Effective Ways to Promote Your New Business Website

5 Tips for Effective Communication for Project Managers

Top 5 Communication Tips for Effective Project Managers

Project initiation stage – Project Initiation Document (PID). Duties of project owner and project team

Organizing Procurement and Purchasing Activities in a Project

Two Common Mistakes in Project Procurement Contracts

project sponsor: definition, types, role, respomsibilities

Project Sponsor – The Role and Responsibilities

APA 7th referencing style

About APA 7th
Printing this guide
In-text references
Direct quotations
Reference list
Author information
Additional referencing information
Using headings
Book chapter
Brochure and pamphlets
ChatGPT and other generative AI tools
Conferences
Dictionary or encyclopaedia
Government legislation
Journal article
Lecture notes and slides
Legal sources
Newspaper or magazine article
Other web sources
Patents and standards
Personal communication
Press (media) release

Abbreviating groups as authors

Government report, industry/corporate report.

Secondary source (indirect citation)
Social media
Software and mobile apps
Specialised health information
Television program
Works in non-English languages
Works in non-English scripts, such as Arabic or Chinese
Group authors can be an organisation, professional association, company, government department
Include the full name of the group the first time it is used. The abbreviation is included in square brackets.
If the abbreviation is well known, it can be included for subsequent uses.

In-text Example:

United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund ([UNICEF], 2018)

(United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund [UNICEF], 2018)

The full group name should be used in the reference list.
<< Previous: Press (media) release
Next: Secondary source (indirect citation) >>
Last Updated: Oct 23, 2023 1:52 PM
URL: https://guides.library.uq.edu.au/referencing/apa7

Contract Management

Supplier Management

Savings Management

Data & Security

FAQ’s

oboloo Articles

What is terms of reference definition.

What is Terms Of Reference? In business, this refers to the agreed upon statement that outlines the specific deliverables and work required from a contractor or supplier. A Terms of Reference document is usually generated during the Request for Proposal (RFP) process. It’s important to have a clear understanding of the scope of work being contracted out, in order to avoid any scope creep or surprises down the road. In this blog post, we will explore what goes into a Terms of Reference document, so that you can be better prepared for your next business venture.

What is Terms Of Reference?

A Terms of Reference (ToR) document defines the purpose and structure of a project, committee, meeting, or negotiation .

It is used to set out the roles and responsibilities of those involved, as well as to provide guidance on how the work will be undertaken and reported .

ToRs can be used for internal projects or those that involve external stakeholders . They are often developed by project managers in consultation with team members and other key stakeholders.

When writing ToRs, it is important to be clear and concise. The document should be tailored to the specific project or initiative, and should be reviewed and updated as required.

The Different Types of Terms Of Reference

1. Introduction 2. What are Terms of Reference? 3. Different Types of Terms of Reference 3.1 Formal Terms of Reference 3.2 Informal Terms of Reference 4. Conclusion

1. Introduction: In this blog article, we will be discussing the definition, different types and purposes of terms of reference (ToR). 2. What are Terms of Reference? Terms of reference refers to a document that outlines the parameters and objectives of a project or initiative . This includes defining the roles and responsibilities of those involved, as well as the timeline and deliverables for the project. 3. Different Types of Terms of Reference: There are two main types of terms of reference- formal and informal ToRs. 3.1 Formal Terms of Reference: Formal terms of reference are usually found in more complex projects or initiatives that require a higher level of coordination between participants. These ToRs tend to be more detailed and specific than informal ones in order to provide clear guidance on what is expected from each party involved in the project. 3.2 Informal Terms Of Reference: In contrast, informal ToRs are often used in less complex projects where there is already a high level understanding between those involved in the project about their roles and responsibilities. As such, these ToRs tend to be shorter documents that provide broad overviews rather than specific details about the project parameters. 4. Conclusion: In conclusion, ToRs play

Pros and Cons of Terms Of Reference

Assuming you would like a pro and con list for the blog article “What is Terms Of Reference? Definition”:

PRO: – Prevents scope creep – Gives all parties a clear understanding of the project parameters – Makes it easier to hold people accountable – Facilitates better communication between team members

CON: – Can be time consuming to develop – Requires buy in from all stakeholders – If not well written, can be more trouble than they’re worth

What are the implications of Terms Of Reference?

There are a few key implications of Terms Of Reference that are important to understand. First, they provide clarity to the project team on what is expected of them and what deliverables are required. Secondly, they ensure that all stakeholders are aware of their roles and responsibilities within the project . Lastly, Terms Of Reference help to establish groundrules for communication and decision-making amongst the team, which can avoid potential conflict later on.

How can Terms Of Reference be used effectively?

In order to use Terms Of Reference effectively, it is important to understand what they are and how they can be used. Terms Of Reference are a tool that can be used to define the scope and purpose of a project or initiative . They can also be used to establish expectations and responsibilities for all parties involved .

When creating Terms Of Reference, it is important to be clear and concise. The more specific the Terms Of Reference are, the easier it will be for everyone involved to understand their roles and objectives. It is also important to ensure that all stakeholders agree to the Terms Of Reference before moving forward with a project or initiative.

If you’re not sure where to start when creating your own Terms Of Reference, there are plenty of templates and examples available online. Once you have a good understanding of what Terms Of Reference are and how they can be used, you’ll be able to create your own customised version that will fit the needs of your specific project or initiative .

In conclusion, a Terms of Reference is a document that outlines the parameters of a specific project or task . It is important to have a TOR when starting any new project so that all stakeholders are clear on what is expected and what the boundaries are. A TOR can be as simple or as detailed as necessary, depending on the scope of the project . Having a TOR in place from the outset will help to ensure that everyone involved knows what is required and can work together to achieve the desired outcome.

Want to find out more about procurement?

Access more blogs, articles and FAQ's relating to procurement

The smarter way to have full visibility & control of your suppliers

Contract Management

Partnerships

Charities/Non-Profits

Service Status

Release Notes

Feel free to contact us here. Our support team will get back to you as soon as possible

Sustainability

Equality, Diversity & Inclusion

Modern Slavery

Mobile Menu Overlay

The White House 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW Washington, DC 20500

FACT SHEET: President Biden Issues Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence

Today, President Biden is issuing a landmark Executive Order to ensure that America leads the way in seizing the promise and managing the risks of artificial intelligence (AI). The Executive Order establishes new standards for AI safety and security, protects Americans’ privacy, advances equity and civil rights, stands up for consumers and workers, promotes innovation and competition, advances American leadership around the world, and more. As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s comprehensive strategy for responsible innovation, the Executive Order builds on previous actions the President has taken, including work that led to voluntary commitments from 15 leading companies to drive safe, secure, and trustworthy development of AI. The Executive Order directs the following actions: New Standards for AI Safety and Security

As AI’s capabilities grow, so do its implications for Americans’ safety and security. With this Executive Order, the President directs the most sweeping actions ever taken to protect Americans from the potential risks of AI systems :

Require that developers of the most powerful AI systems share their safety test results and other critical information with the U.S. government. In accordance with the Defense Production Act, the Order will require that companies developing any foundation model that poses a serious risk to national security, national economic security, or national public health and safety must notify the federal government when training the model, and must share the results of all red-team safety tests. These measures will ensure AI systems are safe, secure, and trustworthy before companies make them public.
Develop standards, tools, and tests to help ensure that AI systems are safe, secure, and trustworthy. The National Institute of Standards and Technology will set the rigorous standards for extensive red-team testing to ensure safety before public release. The Department of Homeland Security will apply those standards to critical infrastructure sectors and establish the AI Safety and Security Board. The Departments of Energy and Homeland Security will also address AI systems’ threats to critical infrastructure, as well as chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and cybersecurity risks. Together, these are the most significant actions ever taken by any government to advance the field of AI safety.
Protect against the risks of using AI to engineer dangerous biological materials by developing strong new standards for biological synthesis screening. Agencies that fund life-science projects will establish these standards as a condition of federal funding, creating powerful incentives to ensure appropriate screening and manage risks potentially made worse by AI.
Protect Americans from AI-enabled fraud and deception by establishing standards and best practices for detecting AI-generated content and authenticating official content . The Department of Commerce will develop guidance for content authentication and watermarking to clearly label AI-generated content. Federal agencies will use these tools to make it easy for Americans to know that the communications they receive from their government are authentic—and set an example for the private sector and governments around the world.
Establish an advanced cybersecurity program to develop AI tools to find and fix vulnerabilities in critical software, building on the Biden-Harris Administration’s ongoing AI Cyber Challenge. Together, these efforts will harness AI’s potentially game-changing cyber capabilities to make software and networks more secure.
Order the development of a National Security Memorandum that directs further actions on AI and security, to be developed by the National Security Council and White House Chief of Staff. This document will ensure that the United States military and intelligence community use AI safely, ethically, and effectively in their missions, and will direct actions to counter adversaries’ military use of AI.

Protecting Americans’ Privacy

Without safeguards, AI can put Americans’ privacy further at risk. AI not only makes it easier to extract, identify, and exploit personal data, but it also heightens incentives to do so because companies use data to train AI systems. To better protect Americans’ privacy, including from the risks posed by AI, the President calls on Congress to pass bipartisan data privacy legislation to protect all Americans, especially kids, and directs the following actions:

Protect Americans’ privacy by prioritizing federal support for accelerating the development and use of privacy-preserving techniques— including ones that use cutting-edge AI and that let AI systems be trained while preserving the privacy of the training data.
Strengthen privacy-preserving research and technologies, such as cryptographic tools that preserve individuals’ privacy, by funding a Research Coordination Network to advance rapid breakthroughs and development. The National Science Foundation will also work with this network to promote the adoption of leading-edge privacy-preserving technologies by federal agencies.
Evaluate how agencies collect and use commercially available information —including information they procure from data brokers—and strengthen privacy guidance for federal agencies to account for AI risks. This work will focus in particular on commercially available information containing personally identifiable data.
Develop guidelines for federal agencies to evaluate the effectiveness of privacy-preserving techniques, including those used in AI systems. These guidelines will advance agency efforts to protect Americans’ data.

Advancing Equity and Civil Rights

Irresponsible uses of AI can lead to and deepen discrimination, bias, and other abuses in justice, healthcare, and housing. The Biden-Harris Administration has already taken action by publishing the Blueprint for an AI Bill of Rights and issuing an Executive Order directing agencies to combat algorithmic discrimination , while enforcing existing authorities to protect people’s rights and safety. To ensure that AI advances equity and civil rights, the President directs the following additional actions:

Provide clear guidance to landlords, Federal benefits programs, and federal contractors to keep AI algorithms from being used to exacerbate discrimination.
Address algorithmic discrimination through training, technical assistance, and coordination between the Department of Justice and Federal civil rights offices on best practices for investigating and prosecuting civil rights violations related to AI.
Ensure fairness throughout the criminal justice system by developing best practices on the use of AI in sentencing, parole and probation, pretrial release and detention, risk assessments, surveillance, crime forecasting and predictive policing, and forensic analysis.

Standing Up for Consumers, Patients, and Students

AI can bring real benefits to consumers—for example, by making products better, cheaper, and more widely available. But AI also raises the risk of injuring, misleading, or otherwise harming Americans. To protect consumers while ensuring that AI can make Americans better off, the President directs the following actions:

Advance the responsible use of AI in healthcare and the development of affordable and life-saving drugs. The Department of Health and Human Services will also establish a safety program to receive reports of—and act to remedy – harms or unsafe healthcare practices involving AI.
Shape AI’s potential to transform education by creating resources to support educators deploying AI-enabled educational tools, such as personalized tutoring in schools.

Supporting Workers

AI is changing America’s jobs and workplaces, offering both the promise of improved productivity but also the dangers of increased workplace surveillance, bias, and job displacement. To mitigate these risks, support workers’ ability to bargain collectively, and invest in workforce training and development that is accessible to all, the President directs the following actions:

Develop principles and best practices to mitigate the harms and maximize the benefits of AI for workers by addressing job displacement; labor standards; workplace equity, health, and safety; and data collection. These principles and best practices will benefit workers by providing guidance to prevent employers from undercompensating workers, evaluating job applications unfairly, or impinging on workers’ ability to organize.
Produce a report on AI’s potential labor-market impacts , and study and identify options for strengthening federal support for workers facing labor disruptions , including from AI.

Promoting Innovation and Competition

America already leads in AI innovation—more AI startups raised first-time capital in the United States last year than in the next seven countries combined. The Executive Order ensures that we continue to lead the way in innovation and competition through the following actions:

Catalyze AI research across the United States through a pilot of the National AI Research Resource—a tool that will provide AI researchers and students access to key AI resources and data—and expanded grants for AI research in vital areas like healthcare and climate change.
Promote a fair, open, and competitive AI ecosystem by providing small developers and entrepreneurs access to technical assistance and resources, helping small businesses commercialize AI breakthroughs, and encouraging the Federal Trade Commission to exercise its authorities.
Use existing authorities to expand the ability of highly skilled immigrants and nonimmigrants with expertise in critical areas to study, stay, and work in the United States by modernizing and streamlining visa criteria, interviews, and reviews.

Advancing American Leadership Abroad

AI’s challenges and opportunities are global. The Biden-Harris Administration will continue working with other nations to support safe, secure, and trustworthy deployment and use of AI worldwide. To that end, the President directs the following actions:

Expand bilateral, multilateral, and multistakeholder engagements to collaborate on AI . The State Department, in collaboration, with the Commerce Department will lead an effort to establish robust international frameworks for harnessing AI’s benefits and managing its risks and ensuring safety. In addition, this week, Vice President Harris will speak at the UK Summit on AI Safety, hosted by Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.
Accelerate development and implementation of vital AI standards with international partners and in standards organizations, ensuring that the technology is safe, secure, trustworthy, and interoperable.
Promote the safe, responsible, and rights-affirming development and deployment of AI abroad to solve global challenges, such as advancing sustainable development and mitigating dangers to critical infrastructure.

Ensuring Responsible and Effective Government Use of AI

AI can help government deliver better results for the American people. It can expand agencies’ capacity to regulate, govern, and disburse benefits, and it can cut costs and enhance the security of government systems. However, use of AI can pose risks, such as discrimination and unsafe decisions. To ensure the responsible government deployment of AI and modernize federal AI infrastructure, the President directs the following actions:

Issue guidance for agencies’ use of AI, including clear standards to protect rights and safety, improve AI procurement, and strengthen AI deployment.
Help agencies acquire specified AI products and services faster, more cheaply, and more effectively through more rapid and efficient contracting.
Accelerate the rapid hiring of AI professionals as part of a government-wide AI talent surge led by the Office of Personnel Management, U.S. Digital Service, U.S. Digital Corps, and Presidential Innovation Fellowship. Agencies will provide AI training for employees at all levels in relevant fields.

As we advance this agenda at home, the Administration will work with allies and partners abroad on a strong international framework to govern the development and use of AI. The Administration has already consulted widely on AI governance frameworks over the past several months—engaging with Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, the European Union, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Kenya, Mexico, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Nigeria, the Philippines, Singapore, South Korea, the UAE, and the UK. The actions taken today support and complement Japan’s leadership of the G-7 Hiroshima Process, the UK Summit on AI Safety, India’s leadership as Chair of the Global Partnership on AI, and ongoing discussions at the United Nations. The actions that President Biden directed today are vital steps forward in the U.S.’s approach on safe, secure, and trustworthy AI. More action will be required, and the Administration will continue to work with Congress to pursue bipartisan legislation to help America lead the way in responsible innovation. For more on the Biden-Harris Administration’s work to advance AI, and for opportunities to join the Federal AI workforce, visit AI.gov .

Stay Connected

We'll be in touch with the latest information on how President Biden and his administration are working for the American people, as well as ways you can get involved and help our country build back better.

Opt in to send and receive text messages from President Biden.

Election 2023 results and analysis: Democrats excel in Kentucky, Ohio, Virginia

Republican Gov. Tate Reeves is projected to win reelection in Mississippi.

Nov. 7, 2023, was Election Day in at least 37 states, and Americans cast their votes on everything from governorships to local referenda. When the dust settled, it was a solid night for Democrats and their allies: According to ABC News projections, Democratic Gov. Andy Beshear won reelection in Kentucky, and Ohio voters passed Issue 1 to codify abortion rights in the state constitution. The AP also projected that Democrats won both chambers of the Virginia legislature and an open seat on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. However, there were a few bright spots for Republicans: ABC News projected that Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves beat back a strong challenge from Democrat Brandon Presley.

As results came in, 538 analysts were breaking them down in real time with live updates, analysis and commentary. Read our full live blog below.

Latest headlines:

Reeves projected to win reelection in Mississippi's gubernatorial race
Democrats pad their majority on the Pennsylvania Supreme Court
Democrats capture Virginia's legislature
Ohio votes to enshrine abortion rights in state constitution
Beshear projected to win reelection in Kentucky

Wrapping things up

That's a wrap! In the key races of the night, both parties held serve with Democratic Gov. Beshear's win in Kentucky and Republican Gov. Reeves's win in Mississippi. Other than that race, most of the headliners went to Democrats. In Virginia, they staved off the threat of a GOP trifecta by taking control of both chambers of the state legislature. In Ohio, both liberal ballot measures succeeded with near supermajorities. And in Pennsylvania, Democrats won a vacant seat to secure a 5-2 majority on the state Supreme Court.

Thanks for joining us! We'll see you in 2024 ... but we'll all get some sleep first.

— Tia Yang, 538

Final thought: Democrats did great, but this is not the 2024 electorate

The 2023 elections were unambiguously good for Democrats, and liberals. Despite fierce national political headwinds and a better competitor than his 2019 matchup, Andy Beshear expanded his vote margin and held the governorship in deep-red Kentucky. In Virginia, Democrats have won control of the state legislature, flipping the House of Delegates and holding their thin majority in the Senate. Their win is a rebuke, in part, of an anti-abortion push by Republican Governor Glenn Youngkin that saturated airwaves in the final weeks of the race. Democrats won a House special election in Rhode Island by about the same margin Biden did in 2020. And a near supermajority of Ohioans voted in favor of constitutional protections for abortion and to legalize cannabis for recreational use. That's a lot of "D" W's!

But the population of Americans who cast ballots in today's races will not be the same population that turns out next year. There is strong reason to suspect it will be more Republican-leaning than voters today. Because higher levels of education are correlated with political engagement (i.e., turnout) and, increasingly, the likelihood of voting for Democrats, off-year voters have become more reliably Democratic in recent years. But in presidential years, when more voters turn out, outcomes revert to the mean. "Low-engagement" voters, who are on average less educated and more Republican, show up. Per ABC News's exit polls, 46 percent of people who voted in Ohio today said they voted for Biden in 2020, versus 43 percent for Trump. That's an 11 point swing from 2020 just because of the types of people who cast ballots. As another example, Democrats did not perform nearly as well in Rhode Island's congressional special election today, with moderate turnout, as they have been in recent special elections , where turnout has been lower.

That's not to say that 2024 will be bad for Democrats. Maybe the demographic and political composition of voters will perfectly match the breakdown in 2020 and they'll be even more Democratic-leaning. That's a possibility! But it is not likely. The fact is that America's current educational divide makes it likely that the population of 2024 voters — ephemeral as it inherently is, spontaneously existing for a day and then disappearing into the ether — will be more favorable for Republicans than today's was. Democrats should celebrate their victories tonight, but they should not use them to dismiss other indicators of a close race next year .

—G. Elliott Morris, 538

Final thought: Consider tonight’s results on their own terms, not 2024's

Tonight largely went down as I — and the polls — expected. Democrats won the Kentucky governorship but fell just short in Mississippi. Virginia was close, but Democrats eked out a win. Ohio’s two liberal ballot measures passed easily. Overall, Democrats should be quite happy with these results.

But I think a lot of Democrats will be tempted to say that these results bode well for them in 2024, and I just don’t buy that. I don’t think anyone expects Biden to perform as well as Beshear nationwide next year. Ohio’s election was a ballot measure, not a Democrat-versus-Republican race. And Virginia’s legislative elections have historically not been very predictive of the following year’s election. (Remember, in 2021, Republicans had a good off-year election, but Democrats ended up having a pretty decent midterm after the Dobbs decision came down and changed the national environment.)

So my recommendation is not to read too much into what these results mean for the future , but rather just to appreciate their importance in the present. The 2023 elections will have tons of policy implications, and that’s a big enough deal on their own without tying them to the presidential race! Democrats had a good Election Day today, no matter what happens in 2024.

—Nathaniel Rakich, 538

Final thought: Biden's struggles didn't seem to cause trouble for Democrats

I think it’s fair to say that we’re in uncharted territory in the world of modern-day elections. There are two possible options that account for Democrats’ success tonight: One, the races that took place were so localized and dependent on individual candidates that it’s no reflection at all of the national political environment, since voters regularly differentiate between state and federal elections. The other possibility is that voters are disentangling the presidency from their political preferences writ large, and the Democratic Party hasn’t taken a hit even though its standard-bearer, President Joe Biden, has an average approval rating below 40 percent : “Tonight feels a lot like 2022, when Democrats won in spite of Biden, not because of him. In 2024, we'll see if Biden can win in spite of Biden.”

—Leah Askarinam, 538

We've detected unusual activity from your computer network

To continue, please click the box below to let us know you're not a robot.

Why did this happen?

Please make sure your browser supports JavaScript and cookies and that you are not blocking them from loading. For more information you can review our Terms of Service and Cookie Policy .

For inquiries related to this message please contact our support team and provide the reference ID below.

IMAGES

Terms of Reference (Template)
How to write a recommendation report. Tips on how to write conclusions
Format and Style Guide for Laboratory Reports
Writing Terms of Reference For Research
Terms of Reference and Report Form
UREC Terms of Reference

VIDEO

Report Writing Format ✍️ #shorts #rajslearningcorner
🤔How to Write Report Writing in English || Report Writing on Independence day #Geeta_Chauban #study
Report Writing || how to write report || #class11 #class12 #ssc #class10 #sablesir #reportwriting
How to write Report writing in english
How to write Report writing in english
HOW TO WRITE DEFINITION OF TERMS? || BINISAYA NGA PAGKADISCUSS ||

COMMENTS

How to write a terms of reference with template & examples
Start the ToR document for your project with some brief introductory text about what the project is all about. Summarize what this Terms of Reference covers. This is likely to be either the remit of a single group i.e. your Steering Group or a workstream of work. Explain what this involves. For example:
How to Write a Powerful Terms of Reference
How to Write a Powerful Terms of Reference April 30, 2019 by Jon Hartney Leave a Comment The Terms of Reference (TOR) is a description of the technical work involved in a project, or part of a project. Specifically, it is used to specify the work required by an external consultant, contractor, or supplier.
PDF Writing Terms of Reference for Research
of the Terms of Reference (TOR) given to the researcher(s) is one of the most important factors determining the quality of a piece of research. These guidelines and the accompanying template present a format for writing a clear and effective TOR. The following sections mirror those in the Terms of Reference for Research template and should be
Writing terms of reference for an evaluation: A how to guide
Writing terms of reference for an evaluation: A how to guide This resource, developed by the Independent Evaluation Group of The World Bank, provides a detailed description on how to prepare an evaluation Terms of Reference (ToR) and includes a checklist at the end to help users. Excerpt
How to Cite a Report in APA Style
To reference a report with an individual author, include the author's name and initials, the report title (italicized), the report number, the organization that published it, and the URL (if accessed online, e.g. as a PDF ). Note that brochures are cited in a similar format.
Writing Terms of Reference for an Evaluation : A How-to Guide
SUBSCRIBE TO EMAIL ALERTS. The terms of reference (ToR) document defines all aspects of how a consultant or a team will conduct an evaluation. It defines the objectivesand the scope of the .
Terms of reference
The GeneraTOR is an interactive tool that helps people to write a Terms of Reference (ToR) or Request for Proposal (RFP) document. The GeneraTOR guides users to write different sections of a ToR and generates an editable document that can be downloaded and shared with others.
Writing Terms of Reference for Research
978-1-78077-217-2 How to cite this resource Citation styles vary so we recommend you check what is appropriate for your context. You may choose to cite Oxfam resources as follows: Author (s)/Editor (s). (Year of publication). Title and sub-title. Place of publication: name of publisher. DOI (where available). URL
PDF World Bank Document
Writing Terms of Reference for an Evaluation: A How-To Guide The terms of reference (ToR) document defines all aspects of how a consultant or a team will conduct an evaluation. It defines the objectives and the scope of the evaluation, outlines the responsibilities of the consultant or team, and provides a clear description of the resources
Develop a terms of reference
Develop a terms of reference Published 16 February 2021 Print Having a poorly drafted terms of reference that's vague, ambiguous and doesn't specify what the taskforce will do and how it will do it Drafting a terms of reference without clarifying the problem first, leading to too broad a scope and uncertainty around objectives or deliverables
References
Consistency in reference formatting allows readers to focus on the content of your reference list, discerning both the types of works you consulted and the important reference elements (who, when, what, and where) with ease.
Terms of reference
ToR. A Terms of Reference (ToR) document provides an important overview of what is expected in an evaluation. Developing a well-specified Terms of Reference (ToR) is a vital step in managing a high-quality evaluation. In an external evaluation the ToR document provides the basis for a contractual arrangement between the commissioners of an ...
Reports and Memos
Short reports are written for teachers who want to evaluate the accuracy and completeness of your work. You may be asked to include some or all of these parts or others not included here: Introduction: the purpose, problem, and scope. Apparatus: the equipment and/or tools used (This section is included only when needed because something beyond ...
How to Write a Report: A Guide
How to Write a Report: A Guide Matt Ellis Updated on May 10, 2023 Students A report is a nonfiction account that presents and/or summarizes the facts about a particular event, topic, or issue. The idea is that people who are unfamiliar with the subject can find everything they need to know from a good report.
Terms of reference
[1] [2] Terms of reference show how the object in question will be defined, developed, and verified. They should also provide a documented basis for making future decisions and for confirming or developing a common understanding of the scope among stakeholders. In order to meet these criteria, success factors/risks and constraints are fundamental.
Writing Terms of Reference
Terms of Reference - A document that outlines the purpose, scope, roles and responsibilities, key performance indicators, timeline, budget, reporting mechanism, and process for resolving disputes for a project. Plain language - Clear, easy to understand language, without jargon or technical terms. Concise - Short and to the point.
Writing Terms of Reference for an Evaluation: A How-To Guide
The terms of reference (ToR) document defines all aspects of how a consultant or a team will conduct an evaluation. It defines the objectives and the scope of the evaluation, outlines the responsibilities of the consultant or team, and provides a clear description of the resources available to conduct the study. Developing an accurate and well-specified ToR is a critical step in managing a ...
How to Cite a Report in APA
To cite a report in APA style, you need to have basic information including the name of the author/organization, publication year, title of the report, publisher, and/or URL. The templates for in-text citations and reference list entries for a report, along with examples, are given below. Author or organization.
Project Management Terms of Reference (ToR) Template
Terms of Reference (ToR) provide a statement of the proposed project's background, purpose, and objectives. A ToR template includes a range of criteria that are necessary for strategic project management decision-making. In addition, this document defines the activities, risks, budget, and expertise related to the project.
PDF Terms of Reference : Consultant for Report Writing
Terms of Reference | Baseline and KAP Study | PAGE3 2. Objectives of the Final Evaluation Search is looking to recruit a consultant to conduct the report writing phase of this study. The goal of the KAP & Baseline study is to help us refine our understanding of security, civilian protection, impunity and civil-military relations.
Report
Industry/Corporate report. Elements of the reference. Author (s) - last name, initial (s) or company name - use & for multiple authors. (Year). Title of report - italicised (Report number - if available). Publisher - include if different to author . Web address - if available. In-text reference.
What is Terms Of Reference? Definition
Terms of reference refers to a document that outlines the parameters and objectives of a project or initiative. This includes defining the roles and responsibilities of those involved, as well as the timeline and deliverables for the project. 3. Different Types of Terms of Reference: There are two main types of terms of reference- formal and ...
Guides: How to reference a Report in APA style
The citation for a report should include the name of the author or the organization who produced the report, the title of the report, publisher, year of publication, and the URL. See below for a template and example for how to create a reference list entry for a report in APA style. Template. Author's Last Name, First Initial/Organization Name.
Get Professional References That Can Get The Job Done
College. "It's who you know." "You are the company you keep.". These sayings are folk wisdom for a reason: they often ring true. Part of getting ahead in the job market is knowing the right people. Maintaining a robust network of peers, former co-workers & employers, and mentors can yield rewarding dividends for your career.
FACT SHEET: President
Produce a report on AI's potential labor-market impacts, and study and identify options for strengthening federal support for workers facing labor disruptions, including from AI. Promoting ...
Election Day 2023: Live results and analysis
Link Share to Facebook Share to Twitter Email this article. That's a wrap! In the key races of the night, both parties held serve with Democratic Gov. Beshear's win in Kentucky and Republican Gov ...
Harvard, Yale Warned by Top Law Firms About Antisemitism
4:03. More than two dozen top US law firms sent a letter to more than 100 law school deans telling them to take an "unequivocal stance" against antisemitic harassment on their campuses. The ...