rapportage

Rapportage is a Dutch term for the process and product of systematic reporting and documentation. It encompasses the collection, analysis, and presentation of information in a structured format, designed to inform decisions, demonstrate accountability, and promote transparency. The word combines rapport (a report or relationship) with the suffix -age, indicating a process or result.

Rapportage is used across sectors, including business, government, healthcare, education, and project management. In organizations, regular rapportages provide management and supervisory bodies with updates on performance, risks, compliance, and outcomes. A reportage may be monthly, weekly, or tied to specific events such as incidents or audits.

Typical content includes the purpose, scope, data sources, methods, findings, conclusions, and recommendations. Many rapportages include an executive summary and an appendix or data appendix. In some contexts, there is a distinction between a living rapportage (ongoing documentation) and a finished report.

Formats and tools vary: written reports, dashboards, or slide decks, supplemented by tables, charts, and annexes. Common tools are spreadsheets, document management systems, and business intelligence platforms.

Quality considerations emphasize accuracy, completeness, timeliness, consistency, and confidentiality. Data governance, version control, and clear authoring responsibilities help ensure reliability.

Terminology: in Dutch, rapportage is distinct from verslag (a formal report) and emphasizes ongoing monitoring or compilation rather than a single document.