Developing effective executive summaries

Executive summaries turn complex design problems into straightforward business insights. They're often your only chance to grab attention from busy decision-makers who control resources for implementing your recommendations.

Here are a few more recommendations to consider:

• Problem-solution pairs: Pair each critical problem with a clear, actionable recommendation. Support your points with 2-3 compelling visual examples that instantly communicate significant issues.
• Hard numbers: Quantify the impact. "47% of users failed to complete checkout" resonates more than "users struggled with checkout."
• Strategic alignment: Place your findings within a strategic context by connecting them to existing business goals and initiatives.

Conclude with clear next steps, outlining immediate actions and longer-term recommendations with associated resource requirements. Remember that executives often share these summaries with others, so they should stand alone as comprehensible documents.