executive-summary-generator

Executive Summary Generator

When to use

• A detailed analysis needs to be condensed to 1–2 pages for a senior audience
• An executive asks "what's the bottom line?" and a full report won't be read
• Preparing a board deck section that summarises a longer analytical workstream
• A recurring report needs to lead with the key message rather than data tables
• A decision needs to be made by end of day and the executive has 10 minutes

Process

1. Extract the top 3–5 insights — go through the full analysis and identify only the findings that change or reinforce a decision. Filter out interesting-but-not-actionable findings. If you have more than 5 insights, you haven't prioritised yet.
2. Quantify the business impact of each insight — every insight must carry a number: revenue at risk, cost saving, users affected, time to payback. Vague impact ("significant") does not belong in an executive summary. See references/executive_communication.md.
3. Write a one-paragraph situation statement — explain why this analysis was done, what the question was, and why the timing matters. One paragraph, no jargon.
4. Apply the pyramid principle — lead each insight with the conclusion ("Mobile churn is causing $800K ARR loss"), then the evidence, then the supporting detail. Never bury the finding at the end of a paragraph.
5. State recommendations as specific actions — each recommendation must name what to do, who is responsible, what the expected outcome is, and by when. "Improve the app" is not a recommendation.
6. Write the decision block — the final section names the explicit decision or approval the executive needs to give, the investment or resource required, the expected return, and the deadline. Use assets/executive_summary_template.md to assemble the document.

Inputs the skill needs

• The full analysis or report to be summarised
• Knowledge of the executive audience (role, priorities, decisions they're responsible for)
• Quantified business impact for each major finding
• Recommended actions already identified
• Format constraints (one page, two pages, specific slide count)

Output

• references/pyramid_principle_guide.md — answer-first structure, BLUF writing, how to edit a bottom-up draft into top-down
• references/executive_communication.md — adapting tone, removing jargon, quantifying everything, avoiding hedge language
• assets/executive_summary_template.md — 1–2 page template: situation, key insights (with impact), recommendations (with outcomes), decision needed