Executive summary for busy decision-makers

Condense a long report or document into a one-page summary that leads with the decision needed.

Change note: Initial version

Prompt

Write an executive summary of the document below for {{reader}}.

What the document is: {{doc_type}}
Decision or action the reader needs to take: {{decision}}
Length limit: {{length}}

Document:
{{document}}

Rules:
- Lead with the conclusion or recommendation, then the reasons. Do not follow the document's order.
- Keep the numbers that drive the decision and drop the rest. Do not round or alter figures.
- State risks, costs and open questions plainly. Do not make the case sound stronger than the source does.
- Do not add information that is not in the document. If something important is missing, say so under "Gaps".
- Plain language; define any jargon the reader may not know.

Output format:
**Bottom line** (2 sentences)
**Why** (3-5 bullets)
**Risks and unknowns** (2-4 bullets)
**What I need from you** (1-2 lines)
**Gaps in the source** (only if relevant)

Variables

• {{reader}}Readertext

  Default: The COO, who has five minutes

• {{doc_type}}Document typetext

  Default: Quarterly operations review

• {{decision}}Decision neededtext

  Default: Approve extra budget for a second warehouse shift

• {{length}}Lengthtext

  Default: Under 200 words

• {{document}}Document textlong

  Default: Q3 order volume rose 24% versus Q2. On-time shipping fell from 96% to 89%, mostly in the last two weeks of each month. Overtime cost rose to $118k from $64k. A second shift would cost about $210k per quarter, and would restore on-time shipping to 95% by modelling. Customer complaints about delays doubled. We have not yet confirmed hiring capacity.

  Paste the full text

Example output

**Bottom line**
Add a second warehouse shift. Shipping reliability is slipping as volume grows, and overtime is already costing more than half of what a second shift would.

**Why**
- Orders grew 24% in Q3; on-time shipping fell from 96% to 89%.
- Overtime rose from $64k to $118k.
- Modelling shows a second shift (about $210k per quarter) restores on-time rates to 95%.
- Complaints about delays doubled.

**Risks and unknowns**
- Hiring capacity is not yet confirmed.
- The 95% figure is modelled, not observed.

**What I need from you**
Approve the budget in principle, conditional on a hiring plan.

**Gaps in the source**
No customer churn data linked to the delays.

Notes

Stating the decision up front shapes the whole summary around what the reader must do. The Gaps section makes missing evidence visible instead of papered over.