Writing an Executive Summary

An executive summary is a brief analysis, review, or summary of major or main ideas of a report. An effective executive summary is written as a stand-alone or independent part of the report that it summarizes. In other words, one should be able to read and understand the main ideas of the report without actually reading the whole report. 

Your professors, and at some point in your business career, your boss may require or ask you to write and submit an executive summary of a report. Therefore, it is essential to know how to write an effective summary of any report.  The length of an executive summary generally depends on the length of the report. The longer the report, the longer the executive summary should be. A good general rule of thumb is that an executive summary should be 10% of the report that it is summarizing.

Although there are small differences when writing executive summary depending on the type or kind of report, the following are three key basic components to address when preparing to write one.

The audience: It is important to keep in mind who will be reading your executive summary so that you can adjust and target your summary specifically to them.

·         The audience: it is important to keep in mind who will be reading your executive summary so that you can adjust and target your summary specifically to them.

·         The main thesis: it must clearly outline and justify the central ideas, points or theme

·         The purpose: it should include goals, methods & analysis, recommendations and conclusions.

Do you have an executive summary to write for a class or business report? For more information and help, please visit us at 3445 Schneider Hall, and we will be happy to assist you. You can also access our Executive Summary tips-sheet here @ http://www.wmich.edu/business/academics/communication/tips