Business Live News

Executive Summary — The 2 Pages your Boss’ Boss will read.

2008-04-01T09:16:00.019Z

You’ve been working on that RFQ or proposal for weeks. It’s 45 pages longs, with charts, diagrams, photos, facts, figures and lots of details. It was a tremendous effort, but it was worth it. This report will show the leaders of your company how valuable and important you are – if they read it.

That’s right. “If they read it.” Just because it’s important to YOU doesn’t meant that it’s important to THEM. You may be impressed with how thorough and detailed it is, but your boss just thinks it’s LONG (and probably boring!). How do you get him to read it?

Wouldn’t it be great if you could take out all the technical details & boring parts and just give him a simple summary that explains, “This is why you should care about my idea!” Well — you can, and you should. You are going to write something called an “Executive Summary” that explains all the important ideas quickly, clearly and simply.

Writing an Executive Summary

An Executive Summary is an independent “stand-alone” document that explains the business motivation supporting a larger proposal or report. It explains all the important business issues and conclusions contained in the complete report – but none of the technical details.

Think about a sales proposal for a new factory project. To cover all the necessary information and answer all the technical and financial questions, the report must be quite large and detailed. It will be used by a variety of people doing many different jobs within the company. Engineers, production people, marketers, salesmen, investors, contractors, and just about everyone else involved in the project. Sales proposals and other comprehensive project proposals are like a blueprint for a new business. They are extremely detailed and technical.

But does your boss – or HIS boss – really need to read all those technical details? Your company probably has a very simple business reason for considering this project. You either need to produce more things for less money, or you have a new investment opportunity, or you want to expand your market. Whatever the reason for doing this project, it can probably be described in a few simple sentences. That won’t tell whole story, of course, but it will tell the reader what you are writing about, and what your proposed solution is.

An executive summary is NOT an introduction to a long report. (You still have to write an introduction, so don’t forget it!) It is a separate document that can be read all by itself. A good executive summary uses graphs and charts to send a message quickly and clearly.

Imagine your company- or your client’s board of directors gave you 5 minutes of their time to explain why the company should invest ten million rmb in a new factory in Wuxi. What would you tell them? Well, if you are smart you’ll start by talking about how profitable it will be. Then you’ll talk about the costs and the schedule. Next you’ll explain about the benefits of this plan and the potential drawbacks. You’ll also describe the risks. If the new project involves any partners, you will of course describe who they are and what they will be contributing. 5 minutes goes by quickly, but if you can explain this basic information than the board will know all the main facts and can decide if it is worth their time to learn more.

An executive summary is the same thing, but written out. It should be brief – a maximum of two pages, though some people prefer one page. It should completely but briefly describe the important business points of the larger report and allow the reader to decide if he agrees with the idea or not.

Business Rationale only

This is the document that your boss’ boss will read – and probably the ONLY document – concerning this project. Focus only on the business reasons supporting your conclusion. What do the Big Bosses care about? Profit and loss. Expenses and schedules. What is supposed to happen – and what can go wrong. Tell them how much money they are going to make, how they are going to make it, when it will happen – and what may go wrong. If what you are saying makes sense, then they will read about the interesting methods and the cool technology you plan on using.

Show it first, Write it last

The executive summary should be the first part of your report that the reader sees (right after the table of contents). But it is not the first thing you write. When you are putting together a complicated proposal or report, your opinions may change as you uncover more and more detailed information. You will learn more about the subject and about the options that you are proposing and rejecting. If you try to write you executive summary first you will be building in many inaccurate assumptions. Wait until AFTER you have already developed the perfect plan that takes into account all possible contingencies and possibilities. Then sit down and summarize your findings into a persuasive executive summary.

Be Factual – But Persuasive

The people that you most need to convince are the ones least likely to read the entire report. Remember one of the uglier rules of large organizations – many people can say “NO”, but only a few can say “YES”.

If your executive summary is not convincing or persuasive, there is a good chance that the top people in your company will decide to save themselves a lot of time and effort by just saying no. Even if your summary is convincing and well-written, most readers will never go on to read your entire report.

The most common situation is that someone reads your executive summary and then goes to the part of the main report that applies to them. The COO will use the executive summary to get a general overview of the project, and then skip directly to the technical section. The CFO only cares about the financial parts.

That’s why it really is worth the effort to write a good summary. This is your only chance to sell the project, because if the executive summary doesn’t grab them, then they’ll never even look at the report. So take the time to consider the reader’s point of view and do everything you can to persuade him that this project benefits him. If the winning argument is in the executive summary, then you’ll win. If the winning argument shows up for the first time on page 23, you lose.

Source: http://bestpracticeschina.com

Macroswiss Collaborates on Future Soldier Program

2008-04-01T09:16:00.017Z

Macroswiss Teams Up With Singapore Technologies Engineering

Source: http://www.armedforces-int.com

Philippine National Bank books 83 pct jump in yr net income

2008-04-01T09:16:00.015Z

Philippine National Bank's (PNB) (PSE:PNB) audited net income jumped 83 per cent to P1.5 billion (US$35.9 million) in 2007 due to the 10 per cent increase in net interest income.

Source: http://www.antara.co.id

Apexindo`s net profit up to US$34.3 million

2008-04-01T09:16:00.013Z

Publicly listed oil drilling company PT Apexindo Pratama Duta Tbk last year posted a net profit of US$34.3 million, or up 8.9 percent from US$31.5 million a year earlier.

Source: http://www.antara.co.id

Indonesian shares sharply lower in afternoon trading after inflation data

2008-04-01T09:16:00.011Z

Indonesian shares were sharply lower in afternoon trading on Tuesday after the release of data showing annual consumer inflation rising at a faster than expected pace last month.

Source: http://www.antara.co.id

Indonesia`s March CPI up 8.17 pct from year earlier, more than forecast

2008-04-01T09:16:00.009Z

Indonesia's consumer price index (CPI) in March rose 0.95 percent from February and was up 8.17 percent from a year ago led by food prices, an official said Tuesday.

Source: http://www.antara.co.id

East Asia faces "testing times in 2008"

2008-04-01T09:16:00.007Z

Rising food and fuel prices are presenting East Asia with "testing times in 2008," the World Bank warned on Tuesday.

Source: http://www.antara.co.id

Indonesian trade surplus drops to $2.71 bln in Feb. as exports shrink

2008-04-01T09:16:00.005Z

Indonesia's trade surplus dropped to $2.71 billion in February from $3.48 billion in January as exports fell from their all-time high, Central Bureau of Statistics deputy head Ali Rosidi said

Source: http://www.antara.co.id

2007 was not ‘the year of mobile marketing'

2008-04-01T09:16:00.003Z

and 2008 won’t be either, says eMarketer’s John du Pre Gauntt, "text-message–based campaigns will dominate" and as "most mobile users are still paying for nearly all their data services, making them even less likely to welcome advertising on their phones" ...

via eMarketer

new report Mobile Advertising: After the Growing Pains

Addendum:
Why '08 Isn't Mobile's Year -- Again
by Alice Z. Cuneo on Ad Age

- Reach (or lack thereof)
- Measurement
- Complexity
- The misnomer of mobile as ad medium
- There's been no hallelujah moment

and how to fix that, maybe..

http://adage.com/digital/article?article_id=125977

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com

Martin Weigert's Zehn Thesen zur digitalen Zukunft

2008-04-01T09:16:00.001Z

und die Aufforderung seinen 10 Thesen zu widersprechen, zu diskutieren ...

1. Print als Massenmedium stirbt
Meines Erachtens falsch, jedenfalls nicht im 21. Jahrhundert. Print gibt Anteile und Segmente ab, was ja auch gut für die Umwelt ist, u.a. als Tages-, Morgen- und/oder Abendzeitung.

2. Social Networks werden Kommunikationstool für jedermann
Meine Meinung: Entlang soziale Netzwerke, in sozialen Netzwerken wird kommuniziert - Netzwerke sind keine Kommunikationstools

3. E-Mail verschwindet nicht
(Na, von Zeit zu Zeit verschwinden auch eMails), aber da stimme ich zu, eMail Kommunikation - eigentlich der digitale Transport Mails / Briefen - hat sich etabliert, wird aber in ihrer Bedeutung (gegenüber IM, Chat, Video-Messinging, Social Tools wie Wikis, etc) erheblich abnehmen.

4. “The Winner takes it all”-Theorie behält Gültigkeit
In der Praxis lässt es sich aber auch im Long Tail und mit Innovationen ganz gut leben.

5. Personalisierte Werbung wird zum Standard
Personalisierte Werbung muss nichts “Anzeige(n)” - institutionalisierte Werbung verliert an Wert, 'entschwindet' der Aufmerksamkeit aktiver Consumers

6. E-Commerce steigt zu populärem Geschäftsmodell auf
eCommerce als Geschäftsmodell? populär? Das ist zu hoch für mich …

7. Bezahlte Inhalte erleben Renaissance
~~Kein Schwanz~~ Niemand bezahlt gerne für Inhalte … und an die Wiedergeburt glaube ich schon gar nicht. Wie wär es mit Aufbereitung, Verpackung, Komfort, Timing, Retrival, etc.

8. Marketing wird erheblich komplizierter
Marketing wird erheblich einfacher, weil man es jetzt direkt mit jedem seiner Kunden auskaspern kann

9. Physische Distribution von Musik und Film ist bald Geschichte
Ob die physische Distribution auf Zwischenträger geschichtswürdig ist/war? Immerhin kann man eine gut gemachte Verpackung ins “Bücherregal” stellen

10. Lineares Fernsehen wird sich (vorerst) behaupten
Nun es stirbt als Massenmedium genauso nicht, wie Print, wie Radio …

In der regen Diskussion verteidigt Martin Weigert seine Thesen dann auch schon einmal mit Zitaten von Honecker (Print=Mauer, statt Gorbaschow's 'Wer zu spät kommt ...') und innovativen Definitionen und Annahmen (Massenmedien, der Vernunft der Konsumenten). Wie andere auch, habe ich damit argumentiert, dass bisher jedenfalls, neue Massenmedien, alte Massenmedien nicht ersetzt haben, sondern sich alle irgendwie 'neu' eingerichtet, eingerüttelt haben.

Dabei habe ich noch einmal den 'The State of the Newsmedia 2004' (die neue Ausgabe ist gerade erschienen) ausgegraben. Dieser führt aus, dass (in USA) das Problem in den späten 40er Jahren begonnen hat. Seit dieser Zeit sank - mehr oder weniger kontinuierlich - der Anteil der Amerikaner eine Zeitung gelesen haben. Dass die absoluten Auflagen trotzdem gestiegen sind lag an der wachsenden Bevölkerung, in den 80ern waren dann die Auflagen stabil und ab 1990 dann, waren die Auflagen rückläufig.

Source: Editor and Publisher Yearbook data

Wie man aber aus diesem Chart sieht, hatte das neue Massenmedium TV ganz extreme Auswirkungen auf das alte Massenmedium 'zeitung' in der Erscheinungsform 'Abendzeitung' - denn da saß von nun an die Nation vor der Glotze .... (die Fortführung bis 2006, hier)

Source: Editor and Publisher Yearbook data

und die Anzahl der angebotenen, verfügbaren Zeitungen (die Fortführung bis 2006, hier)

Insofern stimme ich der These zu, dass die Verfügbarkeit und Nutzung von Internet & Mobile ganz erhebliche Auswirkungen auf Print hat und weiter haben wird. Ob aber, besser, wie aber Print überlebt liegt an dem Willen, der Klugheit und Geschicklichkeit der Anbieter von Print und ihrer Anpassungsfähigkeit an die Bedürfnisse und das verhalten ihres Klientels.

Frühere Einträge:
US Newspaper Anzeigenumsätze stürzen 2007 weiter ab: minus 9, 4 %

Why Big Newspapers Applaud Some Declines in Circulation

More about Newspaper on this Blog

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com

World Bank cuts East Asia growth forecast

2008-04-01T06:31:00.025Z

The World Bank said Tuesday it was cutting its 2008 growth forecast for East Asia, which it said faces "testing times" as the global fallout from the US financial crisis deepens.

Source: http://www.antara.co.id

World Bank cuts Indonesia 2008 growth forecast to 6 pct due to global slowdown

2008-04-01T06:31:00.023Z

Jakarta (ANTARA News) = The World Bank said on Tuesday it has revised down its growth forecast for Indonesia to 6 percent this year from 6.4 percent forecast earlier as Indonesian exports are likely to slow down due to a weaker global economy.

Source: http://www.antara.co.id

Malaysia Airlines to buy 55 Boeing planes for US$4.2 bln

2008-04-01T06:31:00.021Z

Malaysia Airlines (MAS) (KLSE:3786) is buying up to 55 Boeing 737-800 aircraft for US$4.2 billion as the national flag carrier steps up its narrowbody fleet acquisition to fly to new destinations.

Source: http://www.antara.co.id

China reports railway coaches worth US$568 mln to Middle East

2008-04-01T06:31:00.019Z

China Northern Locomotive Rolling Stock Industry (Group) Corporation (CNR) has signed a contract to export 455 metro cars and 160 double-deck coaches valued at 360 million euros (US$568 million) to the Middle East.

Source: http://www.antara.co.id

Vinachem to build US$694 mln fertiliser plant in Ninh Binh

2008-04-01T06:31:00.017Z

The Vietnam National Chemical Corporation (Vinachem) plans to begin construction of a coal-fuelled nitrogenous fertiliser plant in the northern province of Ninh Binh in April.

Source: http://www.antara.co.id

Australian engineering firm WorleyParsons buys US co INTEC

2008-04-01T06:31:00.015Z

Australia's biggest engineering company, WorleyParsons Ltd (ASX:WOR) bought US-based deepwater oil and gas engineering specialist INTEC for US$108.5 million ($A118.49 million) to take advantage of the growth in offshore energy exploration.

Source: http://www.antara.co.id

S Korea`s Kyungbang to build textile material plant in Vietnam

2008-04-01T06:31:00.013Z

South Korea's Kyungbang Corporation will build a plant in southern Binh Duong province to produce thread and textile material.

Source: http://www.antara.co.id

InterContinental Hotels Group to open 20 hotels in India

2008-04-01T06:31:00.011Z

UK-based InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG) on Monday said it plans to open 20 hotels in India with over 5,000 rooms under its different brands, including the InterContinental, Crowne Plaza and Holiday Inn, as a part of its strategy to strengthen presence in the country.

Source: http://www.antara.co.id

South Korean builders` overseas orders jump in q1

2008-04-01T06:31:00.009Z

South Korean builders' overseas orders grew more than 50 per cent in the first quarter of this year thanks to increased demand from the Middle East and Asian markets, a government report showed today.

Source: http://www.antara.co.id

Australia`s Central Bank leaves rates unchanged at 7.25 pct

2008-04-01T06:31:00.007Z

The Reserve Bank of Australia (RBA) has left official interest rates on hold following its monthly board meeting. The RBA announced today that the cash rate would stay unchanged at 7.25 per cent, in a decision widely expected by economists.

Source: http://www.antara.co.id

PT Timah reports 755 pct increase in net profit

2008-04-01T06:31:00.005Z

Indonesian tin mining company PT Timah reported a 755.36 per cent increase in net profit to Rp1.78 trillion (US$194 million) last year from Rp208.1 billion in the previous year.

Source: http://www.antara.co.id

Japan corporate sentiment at 4-year low (AP)

2008-04-01T06:31:00.003Z

AP - Confidence at major Japanese manufacturers fell to its lowest level in more than four years as the plunging dollar, soaring fuel prices and fears of a U.S. slowdown weighed on the economy.

Source: http://rss.news.yahoo.com

Martin Weigert's Zehn Thesen zur digitalen Zukunft

2008-04-01T06:31:00.001Z

und die Aufforderung seinen 10 Thesen zu widersprechen, zu diskutieren ...

1. Print als Massenmedium stirbt
Meines Erachtens falsch, jedenfalls nicht im 21. Jahrhundert. Print gibt Anteile und Segmente ab, was ja auch gut für die Umwelt ist, u.a. als Tages-, Morgen- und/oder Abendzeitung.

2. Social Networks werden Kommunikationstool für jedermann
Meine Meinung: Entlang soziale Netzwerke, in sozialen Netzwerken wird kommuniziert - Netzwerke sind keine Kommunikationstools

3. E-Mail verschwindet nicht
(Na, von Zeit zu Zeit verschwinden auch eMails), aber da stimme ich zu, eMail Kommunikation - eigentlich der digitale Transport Mails / Briefen - hat sich etabliert, wird aber in ihrer Bedeutung (gegenüber IM, Chat, Video-Messinging, Social Tools wie Wikis, etc) erheblich abnehmen.

4. “The Winner takes it all”-Theorie behält Gültigkeit
In der Praxis lässt es sich aber auch im Long Tail und mit Innovationen ganz gut leben.

5. Personalisierte Werbung wird zum Standard
Personalisierte Werbung muss nichts “Anzeige(n)” - institutionalisierte Werbung verliert an Wert, 'entschwindet' der Aufmerksamkeit aktiver Consumers

6. E-Commerce steigt zu populärem Geschäftsmodell auf
eCommerce als Geschäftsmodell? populär? Das ist zu hoch für mich …

7. Bezahlte Inhalte erleben Renaissance
Kein Schwanz bezahlt für Inhalte … und an die Wiedergeburt glaube ich schon gar nicht

8. Marketing wird erheblich komplizierter
Marketing wird erheblich einfacher, weil man es jetzt direkt mit jedem seiner Kunden auskaspern kann

9. Physische Distribution von Musik und Film ist bald Geschichte
Ob die physische Distribution auf Zwischenträger geschichtswürdig ist/war? Immerhin kann man eine gut gemachte Verpackung ins “Bücherregal” stellen

10. Lineares Fernsehen wird sich (vorerst) behaupten
Nun es stirbt als Massenmedium genauso nicht, wie Print, wie Radio …

In der regen Diskussion verteidigt Martin Weigert seine Thesen dann auch schon einmal mit Zitaten von Honnecker (Print=Mauer) und innovativen Definitionen und Annahmen (Massenmedien, der Vernunft der Konsumenten). Wie andere auch, habe ich damit argumentiert, dass bisher jedenfalls, neue Massenmedien, alte Massenmedien nicht ersetzt haben, sondern sich alle irgendwie 'neu' eingerichtet, eingerüttelt haben.

Dabei habe ich noch einmal den 'The State of the Newsmedia 2004' (die neue Ausgabe ist gerade erschienen) ausgegraben. Dieser führt aus, dass (in USA) das Problem in den späten 40er Jahren begonnen hat. Seit dieser Zeit sank - mehr oder weniger kontinuierlich - der Anteil der Amerikaner eine Zeitung gelesen haben. Dass die absoluten Auflagen trotzdem gestiegen sind lag an der wachsenden Bevölkerung, in den 80ern waren dann die Auflagen stabil und ab 1990 dann, waren die Auflagen rückläufig.

Source: Editor and Publisher Yearbook data

Wie man aber aus diesem Chart sieht, hatte das neue Massenmedium TV ganz extreme Auswirkungen auf das alte Massenmedium 'zeitung' in der Erscheinungsform 'Abendzeitung' - denn da saß von nun an die Nation vor der Glotze .... (die Fortfühung bis 2006, hier)

Source: Editor and Publisher Yearbook data

und die Anzahl der angebotenen, verfügbaren Zeitungen (die Fortführung bis 2006, hier)

Insofern stimme ich der These zu, dass die Verfügbarkeit und Nutzung von Internet & Mobile ganz erhebliche Auswirkungen auf Print hat und weiter haben wird. Ob aber, besser, wie aber Print überlebt liegt an dem Willen, der Klugheit und Geschicklichkeit der Anbieter von Print und ihrer Anpassungsfähigkeit an die Bedürfnisse und das verhalten ihres Klientels.

Source: http://feeds.feedburner.com

Indonesian shares outlook - Flat ahead of inflation data

2008-04-01T03:46:00.011Z

Indonesian shares are expected to open flat on Tuesday as investors nervously wait for the inflation data due out this afternoon.

Source: http://www.antara.co.id

Indonesia inflation expected to rise in March; BI to keep rate on hold

2008-04-01T03:46:00.009Z

Indonesia's annual inflation is expected to have accelerated in March which should prompt the central bank to keep its key interest rate on hold, economists said.

Source: http://www.antara.co.id