Comprehensive Guide to Writing an Effective Executive Summary

This assignment delves into the expectations and format of an ideal executive summary, crucial for research papers. It defines an executive summary as a concise overview of the problem, literature, methodology, and findings, often serving as the paper's abstract. The summary should be clear, concise, and typically limited to one page, focusing on essential information without visuals, unless self-explanatory. It outlines the structure, including context, arguments, answers, and implications. Evaluation criteria emphasize stating the research statement, purpose, methodology, and findings accurately, avoiding lies and including recommendations and keywords. The document contrasts good and bad summaries, highlighting the importance of adhering to guidelines and avoiding repetition. It references several sources to support its claims and provides a clear understanding of what constitutes a well-written executive summary.

Expectations from an Ideal Executive Summary
An Executive Summary implies the summary of a paper that is written with respect to a
particular research paper. According to experts, a summary is expected to give a concise
overview of the problem, the literature, the methodology and the findings that were achieved at
the end of the paper. An executive summary is also known as the Abstract of a paper (Herman,
2012).
In accordance with another expert, it was understood that one topic or idea should be covered per
topic. The first line of the sentence must introduce the topic and the last line should summarize
the findings. Furthermore, the present tense is expected to be used for any executive summary
(DuWaldt, n.d.). The executive summary is expected to give glimpse of the research to the
readers and the crucial decision makers for whom the research has been conducted. Also, the
executive summary is not expected to contain visuals. In case, a researcher adds a visual, the
researcher must ensure that the visuals are self-explanatory and provide a concise view of the
entire paper. Lastly, the visuals cannot be added to the list of figures in the table of contents of
the paper (MIME Capstone Design, 2013).
Format
The Executive Summary is usually placed right after the title page and before the table of
contents. It is not expected to be included in the table of contents as well. Every executive
summary is expected to short, concise and crisp. It is usually limited to one page, that is, roughly
around 300 words. The summary is not expected to have pointers but paragraphs that explain the
entire paper briefly. In case, a longer executive summary is expected out of a student, it should

be divided into subsections to ensure that the message is clearly delivered. The structural
principles that have been offered by experts include:
a. Context and the question in focus
b. The critical arguments that had been given in support of the research statement
c. The answers that were supplied to make a mark
d. The implications of the research and how it is expected to assist in making conclusions
and recommendations (Mayer, 2009).
Evaluation Criteria
Taking a reference from a number of evaluation criteria that have been published by universities,
a number of pointers could be made to understand the evaluation criteria and expectations of
tutors when it comes to writing an ideal executive summary for a research paper. Some of the
most crucial pointers that have been identified to be common in marking criteria include:
a. The research statement should be stated along with the rationale as to why the topic had
been chosen for a particular research
b. The purpose of the research must be included in the next part
c. The research design and the methodology adopted must also be included in the next
paragraph of the executive summary
d. The findings from the research and the number of samples collected in case of primary
research can also be stated to give a clearer statement to the significance of the paper.
e. The executive summary must not include any lies and the truth should be stated only.

f. It may also state the recommendations that were derived in a brief manner along with the
future implications of the study and how it is expected to help future researchers to gain
an advantage with the paper.
g. It should be followed by keywords that can be later used by researchers to find the paper
and use it as a reference for future works.
Good Summary Vs. Bad Summary
A research on a Good Summary and a Bad Summary brought about a great insight into the best
examples of Executive Summaries that prove to be an asset to a paper. However, the examples of
bad executive summaries offered the understanding of the language that must not be used. A
good executive summary tends to summarize only facts and abides by the guidelines that are set
in. However, a bad executive summary may just explain the subject or the problem and may not
focus on the methodology or the findings from the research. It would definitely include a lot of
fluff and repetitive information that could be found in the introduction also (Grill, 2017).
According to experts, many researchers tend to get confused between the introduction and the
executive summary and tend to skip the basics. Hence, it has become imperative to understand
the need for writing a good executive summary and sticking to the basics and formats given.
Otherwise every summary written will be a bad one and would lead to reduction in grades.
References:
DuWaldt, B. (n.d.). How to Write Executive Summaries: Your Words Matter Series. The
University of Akron: College of Business Administration.

Grill, J. (2017). Learn more about How to Prepare an Executive Summary. Business Plans
Guide. Available at: http://www.business-plans-guide.com/executive-summary-
example.html#badexample (Last Accessed: 12th September 2017).
Herman, L. (2012). Executive Summary Guides: A Communications Program Workshop.
Harvard Kennedy School of Government.
Mayer, P. (2009). Guidelines for Writing an Executive Summary. Zurich-Basel Plant Science
Center.
MIME Capstone Design. (2013). Executive Summary Guidelines: Writing the Executive
Summary. MIME Capstone Design.
Sonnino, R. E. (2015). Writing an Effective Executive Summary. Vice Dean for Faculty Affairs
& Professional Development: Wayne State University School of Medicine.