HOW TO WRITE AN

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CoB Center for Professional
What Is an Executive
Summary?
An executive summary previews the
main points of an in-depth report
It is written for nontechnical people who
don't have time to read the main report
It contains enough information for a
reader to get familiarized with what is
discussed in the full report without
having to read it
What an Executive Summary
Should Do
Provide an overview of another
document or presentation with a clear
enough understanding that the reader
may make a decision based only on the
Executive Summary.
It can stand alone, if necessary, in
conveying key points and conclusions.
How would I go about writing
an Executive Summary?

Be familiar with the entire original document.

Capture the purpose and the main
recommendation(s) in one or two sentences.
Provide key evidence (usually a short
paragraph for each major point) as quickly
and directly as possible. Follow the order of
the original.
Close with a brief summary and reiteration of
the main idea.
The Seven Step Creation
Process
1. Plan to create a summary each time you
write a business report exceeding four
pages. Write the summary after you write
the main report, and make sure it is no more
than 1/10 the length of the main report.
2. List the main points the summary will cover
in the same order they appear in the main
report.
3. Write a simple declarative sentence for each
of the main points.
The Seven Step Creation
Process
4. Add supporting or explanatory sentences
as needed, avoiding unnecessary
technical material and jargon.
5. Read the summary slowly and critically,
making sure it conveys your purpose,
message and key recommendations. You
want readers to be able to skim the
summary without missing the point of
the main report.
The Seven Step Creation
Process
6. Check for errors of style, spelling,
grammar and punctuation. Ask a fellow
writer to proofread and edit the
document.
7. Ask a nontechnical person to read the
document. If it confuses or bores them,
the summary probably will have the
same effect on other nontechnical
readers.
Executive Summary
Structure
Title

Intro
Paragraph

Statement of main
topic and
explanation

Statement of main
topic and
explanation

Concluding
Paragraph
A few tips--
The Executive Summary is all about getting
critical information into a bosss hands so s/he
can make a decision. Keep it short and as
complete as possible.
Keep your main points in mind as you write the
summary. You do not need to include every
point in the summary, but ensure that the
major ideas are covered succinctly.
No need to cite references, but if you are
summarizing another work, introduce the
document in the opening paragraph. Provide
enough reference information for your reader to
easily find the original document.
Remember--
The most important outcome of an
Executive Summary is that the reader
would be able to make a decision based
exclusively on the information presented
in the Executive Summary.
HOW TO WRITE AN
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY