When you’re proposing a project or pitching a new business plan or investment proposal, you need several documents to back up your presentation. An executive summary is a short overview that gives the elevator pitch that sums up the major points of larger documents. Executive summaries are critical for getting projects approved and off the ground. Download the ProjectManager executive summary template for Word to have a dynamic executive summary.
What Is an Executive Summary Template?
An executive summary template is simply a document that outlines the key points of a successful executive summary. This free executive summary for Word has the basic elements of a project executive summary. It can be customized to include other areas depending on the specific needs of your project.
When to Use This Executive Summary Template
You only have one chance to impress your sponsor or stakeholder. Chances are they’re not going to dig into the many supporting documents you have until you’ve sold them on the vision of the project.
It’s like a big show and your executive summary is the grand opening that grabs the audience’s attention and pulls them in. Once you’ve done that, they’re going to be more open to the prospect of green-lighting the project.
Who Should Use This Executive Summary Template?
This template can be used by anyone working on a project proposal, business plan, marketing plan, investment proposal or any other similar document that involves stakeholders or investors. This free executive summary template can help you better organize the key selling points of your project, business or investment so you can convince stakeholders of its value.
Why Use an Executive Summary Template?
With an executive summary template, you have a roadmap to make sure you’re engaging and offering the right amount of detail necessary to convince the sponsor or stakeholder that the project you’re proposing is worth their time and financial investment. An executive summary template is a way to hold your hand through the process of collecting those broad strokes you need to paint a winning picture.
Once you’ve used our project executive summary template, you’ll want to take it to the next level. ProjectManager has tools to add graphs and charts that are filtered to show only the needed information. If you’re interested in elevating your project management skills, read more and we’ll give you a special free trial to see how much more ProjectManager can do for you and your project.
How to Use This Free Executive Summary Template for Word
As stated above, the executive summary is a quick overview of the project, which is described in greater detail with the attached project plan. The ProjectManager executive summary template is a catchall for those general descriptions that will engage the target audience.
Our executive summary template Word document has a strong cover page to cover the main points.
- Authorship: On top, there’s a box that captures pertinent information such as the name of your company, the project being proposed, who prepared the project executive summary template and how to reach that person.
- Vision/Mission Statement: Underneath the heading on the cover page, you’ll want to grab their attention with more detailed info, so give them a snappy vision and mission statement. Keep it short and sweet.
- Introduction: On this page, take the general and make it a bit more specific, explaining the investment opportunity and why the project will generate a return on investment.
- Company’s Role and Strength: Explain why your company is uniquely positioned to take on the project with a brief history and list of skills and experience.
- Need/Problem: Identify the need or problem the project is addressing. Be sure to explain the target audience and why they’ll benefit.
- Unique Solution: Here’s your chance to show what your company can do and how the project exploits this need or problem for profit.
- Proof: Even if you’re sincere, they won’t take you at your word, so list the supporting documents you’ve collected while researching and doing the due diligence.
- Resources: List what resources are required to complete the project, from software and hardware to materials and equipment.
- Return on Investment: Justify the project by showing how it’s worth the time, effort and financial investment.
- Competition: Show that you’re aware of the existing landscape by noting your competition and why you’re different and positioned to succeed where they’re not.
- Marketing Strategy: Note how you’ll develop a sales, marketing and partnership plan.
- Budget: What is the expected financial commitment?
- Timeline: How long do you believe the project will take? Break your project timeline into milestones, but not too much detail.
- Team: Who do you need to complete the project? Summarize the team you envision, their experience and skillsets.
- Conclusion: This is your last chance to make an impression, so wrap up with a strong summary of the importance of the project and your crucial part in it.
What Other Free Project Management Templates Can Help You Write an Executive Summary?
ProjectManager is more than just the best project management tool available, it’s also a complete library of free project management templates, blogs, guides and eBooks to answer all your project management questions. Here are only some of them.
Business Case Template
Our free business case template helps project managers and business professionals explain to stakeholders and investors why their project or proposal is a sound investment.
Project Proposal Template
This project proposal template is a document that outlines a project plan and the benefits that it could bring to an organization. It’s a longer document that includes more information than an executive summary in case your stakeholders need more details.
Small Business Plan Template
This free small business plan template outlines the key points that any entrepreneur should include when first creating a business. It can be customized to add more details, depending on your business’s needs.
Related Content
Below are a few links to some of the content related to executive summaries. Take a look and then stay on the site to watch our hundreds of training videos and read from our extensive blog library.
- How to Write an Executive Summary: A Quick Guide
- How to Write a Business Case
- Project Proposal: A Beginner’s Guide
- How to Present a Project Proposal
- SWOT analysis
- Mission statement
- Vision statement
- Marketing plan
We’ve mentioned how much more you can do with ProjectManager, but that was solely related to making your executive summary more dynamic. Once you’ve secured the job, that’s when ProjectManager really comes into service. Our online project management software has the tools you need for every aspect of the project, from planning, executing, monitoring and reporting. ProjectManager turns project plans into project success. See for yourself by taking this free 30-day trial.