Ohio University College of Business Communication Standards

The Executive Summary
Executive Summary Structure
Executive Summary
Names of presenters
Purpose, direct overview and major
recommendation(s) of the document
being summarized.
Key evidence
Key evidence
Key evidence
Closing summary and reiteration of
major recommendation(s).
Executive Summary
Title
Only included if summary is not part of
a larger document
Remember...
General statement
of the major focus
Evidence
Closing
The Executive Summary should be short and as complete as
possible.
The suggested average length is one single-spaced page, but
the summary can extend to two pages.
References are never cited within the Executive Summary.
The reader should be able to make a decision based only on the
Executive Summary.
3-14
What is it and what does it do?
The Executive Summary is an overview of another
document or presentation.
It provides the executive (reader) with a clear enough
understanding to make a decision based only on the
Executive Summary.
It can stand alone, if necessary, in conveying key
points, recommendations, and conclusions.
How would I write an Executive
Summary?
Be familiar with the entire original.
Capture the main recommendation(s) in one or two sentences.
Capture key evidence, such as financial and marketing data that
supports your recommendations, as quickly and directly as
possible.
Use appropriate topic headings to guide the reader through the
document.
Follow the order of the original as closely as possible.
Reiterate the main idea.