Executive Summary, Introductions & Conclusions – What’s the difference?
An executive summary is a brief statement which outlines the report in full; what was done, achieved, decided and concluded. The introduction is a section which states your aims and some required background knowledge. An introduction will also outline the body of the report (where you state what you will do). Don’t confuse the introduction with the executive summary or the conclusion; they are very different. Writers often confuse the main purpose behind writing an introduction and an executive summary. The common misconception is that one is simply a smaller version of the other (that the introduction is a rewritten, chopped-up version of the executive summary). However, this is not the case. The Executive Summary Most reports need an executive summary, they are generally used for reports over 3 pages long. • is a succinct passage which provides a brief outline on what was achieved/decided/concluded in the report. • is placed at the front of the report. • can be written last so that e
