Executive Summary
Every formal report, proposal, or business plan includes an Executive summary. In almost every case, readers will review the Executive summary and decide whether to read the report or not based on the strength of this short document. It is the most important component of your report. It is also the last thing that should be written.
Guidelines:
In addition:
• Executive summaries are never longer than 10 percent of the total document. Your current Executive summary may not exceed one page.
• Executive summaries are standalone reports. They should make complete sense without reference to any outside source, including the original source.
• Executive summaries do not contain quotations, references, or examples. They merely present the key concepts of the argument made in the original source.
• Short Executive summaries do not need titles in the body of the text.
• Executive summaries must be flawless. They impress the reader by presenting no visual or conceptual barriers in the document.
Format:
• Use your own words; do not copy text.
• Do not write a memo or a letter.
• Center a heading at the top: Executive Summary: Topic
• In left or right top margin type your name and a date.
• Use one-inch margins and size-12, serif-type fonts (Times New Roman, Palatino, etc.)
• Do not left indent; do not right justify your margin; leave 1 blank line between paragraphs.
• Spell check and proofread your work carefully.
• Write in the 3rd person.
• Avoid references to yourself.
• Length: 1 page only.
GUIDELINES FOR WRITING AN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
An executive summary is a concise summary of a business report. It restates the purpose of the report, it highlights the major points of the report, and it describes any results, conclusions, or recommendations from the report.
Moreover, an executive summary should be aimed at a particular audience, one that is interested in and wants to learn more about the purpose—or message—of the main report.
Also, the audience should be able to acquire the information it needs without having to read the whole report.
An Executive Summary Should…
• Be presented as a document that can stand on its own;
• Be written in a formal tone, avoiding the use of first person pronouns (I, we, our, etc.)
When Writing an Executive Summary, Refer to These Guidelines:
• Clearly state the purpose of the report. Remember that your audience may not have much time, so they should know this information immediately.
• Present the major points in the same order they are written in the report. Organization is key for communicating your message. Also, avoid introducing information that is not addressed in the report;
• Summarize the results, conclusions, or recommendations made in the report. Inform your audience quickly and thoroughly instead of having them guess;
• Use headings as needed, but phrase them differently from those in the report. This will keep your summary organized while avoiding redundant language;
• Format the summary in the same way as the report;
• Reread the summary carefully and ask yourself, "Is my message clear? Did I include key recommendations? Could my audience peruse this without missing the main point? Would I be interested in the full report based on this summary?"
• Proofread and edit;
• Have a non–business person read the summary—a friend, relative, spouse. How did she/he react? What parts were confusing or unclear? Her/his reaction might be like that of a business person. Revise as necessary.
Sample Solution