Formal Usability Report vs. Quick Findings

Formal reports are the most common way of documenting usability studies, but informal reports are faster to produce and are often a better choice.
I recently asked 258 usability practitioners which methods they use to communicate findings from their studies:

42% produce a formal written test report with full details on the methodology
36% write a "quick findings" report
24% circulate an email that lists the study's top findings
15% disseminate a spreadsheet of the findings
14% enter usability findings into a bug-tracking database
21% conduct a meeting in which they offer a formal presentation of the findings
27% conduct an informal meeting or debriefing to discuss the findings
1% show full-length videos from the test sessions
4% show highlights videos from the test
3% create and display posters or other physical exhibits

There's no one best approach to reporting usability study findings. Most people use more than one method, depending on their corporate culture and usability lifecycle approach.

That said, the survey clearly found that formal and brief reports are the two dominant means of disseminating usability findings. Both approaches have their place. (Via Alertbox)