How to Write an Executive Summary
As it reflects from its name, an executive summary summarizes the details your full report has covered on a given topic. An executive summary should give an overview of your report in plain and simplistic terms so that even a layman understands and convinced to buy your report, if it is a market-based analysis about a product, service or even an industry. Although you cannot cover all the technical information and financial analysis data in the summary but give some basic information about all the chapters or topics that your report contains. An executive summary is sometimes a sales pitch for your report. Therefore, do not try to become too conservative in giving information in your summary and avoid discussing vague issues. It has to be in declarative words. Also, summary should discuss some basis questions of the report that if a reader finds interesting and looks for more information he can buy your report. However, it is not necessary that you are involved in a commercial research of market intelligence reports, even a school project has a summary to describe what is inside it. For any report, which goes beyond four pages as minimum should have an executive summary up to one-tenth length of the report or project.
Instructions
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1
Plan Summary At End of Report
Soon after you are finished with your report or project, write executive summary straightway. It is likely that you can better give all information in the summary because the entire report facts and details are fresh in your mind. -
2
List Topics/Chapter Headlines
You should provide each chapter headline in a declarative manner and then write description in one or more than one paragraphs. This will help you better approach to your summary project. -
3
Include All Support Details
Avoid giving vague details or discussing matters halfway through. You have to write your sentences and paragraphs that make a sense to reader. Summary is not something bases on a sentence here and there, all information should make sense. -
4
Formatting and Errors
An executive summary formatting is as important as formatting of the entire report. You can follow a certain template or pattern but format it properly. Also check for errors in the language etc. -
5
Seek Advice
You can ask some one senior in your office to have a go at the summary, and then work out on shortcomings in the light of their advice. They can even spot some minor mistakes and recommend you changes needed. -
6
Be Sure of Your Work
Read the summary after completion and see if it makes sense to you. If you are convinced that the summary provides all the information that a fresh reader would like to know about the report then should think your effort was worth made.
