What is a direct outcome of performing trend analysis?

Performing trend analysis primarily involves examining historical data to identify patterns, trends, and relationships over time. This process allows analysts to discern how certain variables are correlated and how they may change in the future based on past performance. As a result, one of the key outcomes of conducting trend analysis is the ability to make informed forecasts regarding future data points or behaviors. This predictive capability helps organizations in strategic planning and decision-making by providing insights that are grounded in historical data.

In contrast, the other options do not directly stem from the performance of trend analysis. While a complete dataset transformation focuses on converting data into a different format or structure, it is not inherently linked to discovering trends. Similarly, developing new data entry methods is about improving data quality and accuracy rather than analyzing existing trends. Lastly, creating static reports for distribution pertains to the presentation of data, which can include trends but does not encapsulate the analytical process of identifying patterns and forecasts. Therefore, identifying patterns and making informed forecasts is the essence of what trend analysis aims to achieve.