write-a-short-executive-summary

name	write-a-short-executive-summary
category	write
description	Write a short executive summary that presents the decision, evidence, implications, options, recommendation, risk, and next action. Use when leaders need to understand a longer document quickly.

write-a-short-executive-summary

Lead with the decision or conclusion, not the document's chronology.

When to use

• Use for proposals, reviews, reports, incidents, plans, audits, or research.
• Do not hide material uncertainty, dissent, risk, or evidence limitations to make the summary decisive.

Procedure

1. Identify audience, decision, deadline, source document, authority, and maximum length.
2. Extract purpose, current state, material evidence, conclusion, options, recommendation, risks, and requested action.
3. Lead with the decision and why it matters.
4. Use a small number of quantified facts with source context, units, dates, and uncertainty.
5. State alternatives and consequence of delay where decision-relevant.
6. Include ownership, timing, conditions, and unresolved issues.
7. Compare every statement to the source and remove detail that does not change the decision.

Done

• An executive summary document records decision, evidence, implications, options, recommendation, risks, actions, owner, and source
• Claim, number, date, uncertainty, alternative, limitation, length, and decision-owner checks verify fidelity