Discuss when it would be appropriate to write a report as a manuscript, and when a report should be written as a white paper

What will be an ideal response?

Answer: Although it incorporates some design features, such as headings and bullet points, it does not use more elaborate elements such as borders, multiple columns, call-out boxes, or contrasting fonts. Manuscript-style reports are common in conservative fields, such as banking and accounting. You will also see manuscript style used for internal company reports. Although internal reports must be easy to read, with effective headings and paragraphing, they do not have to be eye-catching. The audience of internal reports typically needs the content and is motivated to read the information.
By contrast, reports that are written for a broader external audience tend to use more design features to motivate the audience to read the report. For example, many organizations produce reports called white papers, which serve as marketing or sales tools. A white paper is a report intended to educate the audience—often potential customers—on a topic that is central to a company's business. Companies publish white papers to build credibility, to establish themselves as experts on a topic, and often to interest the audience in the company's products or services. Because no one is required to read a white paper, the document must entice the audience by the quality of both the content and the visual design.