Executive
Summary Exercise Assignment Instructions
Overview
This assignment provides you with the
opportunity to apply what you have learned in class to a real-world application
in the field. This assignment should be a succinct overview of the concepts
developed throughout the course in leadership and how they can be applied to
help leaders make effective decisions.
Instructions
The
Executive Summary Exercise Assignment is written for high-level decision-makers
and those who may not have enough time to read a lengthy report in an
organization. The Executive Summary Exercise Assignment gives a thorough
snapshot of the purpose, implications, recommendations, and any other essential
information for a leader to make an informed decision.
Previously in class you completed a
major research paper in the form of a leadership training proposal. Your
Chief is impressed with the proposal and wishes to brief the City Manager and
City Council on this proposal. The Chief would like for you to produce an
executive summary for the City Manager/City Council presentation.
Your document will still have an APA
compliant cover page. No abstract is needed for this paper. If you have
references you will need a reference page.
· It is expected that your Executive Summary
Exercise Assignment main body will be one page up to 10% of the length of your
original report.
· This assignment is
required to be in current APA format.
· It is expected that there will be very few (if
any) references in this Executive Summary Exercise Assignment
· While sources are
not required, any research used should be scholarly research.
Here are some highlights of an executive summary:
· They
are short.
Executive summaries may run as much as 10% of the original length of the
original report. However, think in terms
of a typical executive summary of one to two pages.
· They
are self-contained. Executive summaries are presented
separate from the original report to a specific target audience. References to
material contained in the main report are not needed as the decision-maker may
not have the original report. However,
this must be mitigated if inherent danger or liability needing further
explanation is in the original report. In this case the executive summary
should point to original report specifics.
· They
are constructed in a series of connected paragraphs. Many executive summaries with multi-paragraph
sections often use sub-headings as a form of organization. The use of
sub-headings, even in a short executive summary, allow a decision-maker to find
key information.
· They
contain only the most important information about the project. Focusing on significance, findings,
strengths, weaknesses, drawbacks, measurements, and/or recommendations keeps
the summary pithy.
· They
are written at the technical level of the audience. If the audience is not familiar with jargon,
acronyms, and other technical terms, do not include the terms or better explain
the terms. Again, the focus is on the
decision-makers.
· They
are typically the last report to be written.
All the key points cannot be included if the original report is
incomplete.
· There
are many correct formats. As stated above, the page length may vary
from one to two pages up to 10% of the original report. The format may or may not have sub-section
headings. Remember the job is to create
a brief, informative, quick to review, document with all of eh salient points
of the project for the decision-maker.
·
Look at several methods of executive
summaries and the Executive Summary Exercise Grading Rubric. Then,
choose the most appropriate format.
Note: Your
assignment will be checked for originality via the Turnitin plagiarism tool.
