Database Reference
In-Depth Information
Figure 12.8
Anatomy of an Executive Summary slide
Follow the key message with three major supporting points. Although Executive
Summary slides can have more than three major points, going beyond three ideas
makes it difficult for people to recall the main points, so it is important to ensure
that the ideas remain clear and limited to the few most impactful ideas the team
wants the audience to take away from the work that was done. If the author lists ten
key points, messages become diluted, and the audience may remember only one or
two main points.
In addition, because this is an analytics project, be sure to make one of the key
points related to if, and how well, the work will meet the sponsor's service level
agreement (SLA) or expectations. Traditionally, the SLA refers to an arrangement
between someone providing services, such as an information technology (IT)
department or a consulting firm, and an end user or customer. In this case, the SLA
refers to system performance, expected uptime of a system, and other constraints
that govern an agreement. This term has become less formal and many times
conveys system performance or expectations more generally related to
performance or timeliness. It is in this sense that SLA is being used here. Namely,
in this context, SLA refers to the expected performance of a system and the intent
that the models developed will not adversely impact the expected performance of
the system into which they are integrated.
Finally, although it's not required, it is often a good idea to support the main points
with a visual or graph. Visual imagery serves to make a visceral connection and
helps retain the main message with the reader.
