31 Jan Research Project Step 4: Executive Briefing

Research Project Step 4: Executive Briefing

UNIVERSITY OF MARYLAND UNIVERSITY COLLEGE

WRITING AN EXECUTIVE BRIEFING

Introduction: At some point during your career you will be asked to brief an executive audience on some work-related issue or project. The briefing may be in writing, in person (e.g. a live or oral presentation), or both. Below are some guidelines for executive briefings that may help you be more successful.

The Purpose of an Executive Briefing

You may be asked to give an executive briefing that is purely informational in nature. It is much more likely, however, that the purpose of your briefing will be to obtain something from the executive audience. You might seek to obtain:

· permission to carry out a project or a policy/process change;

· the resources needed to carry out a project or action; or

· something else that only the executives of your organization can provide.

What do we mean by Executive?

Executives are persons who possess the highest level of decision-making authority in an organization. Executives typically set organizational missions and goals; decide major policy initiatives; and have the final say in allocating the organization’s resources.

In the private sector, an organization’s executives (sometimes referred to as “executive officers”) will include the President/CEO (Chief Executive Officer), the Senior Vice Presidents, and such persons as the CFO (Chief Financial Officer). In the public sector, executives may have similar titles; they may also have different titles depending upon the nature and structure of the organization. For example, in a local law enforcement organization the Sheriff or Police Chief is certainly an executive officer, as are any senior offices to whom the Sheriff or Chief has delegated a high level of decision-making authority.

Characteristics of an Executive Audience

In preparing a briefing for an executive audience, keep in mind that executives have certain characteristics that influence various aspects of your briefing.

1. Executives are very busy people with a lot of demands on their time.

2. Executives are used to thinking strategically (the “Big Picture” rather than the localized operational details).

3. Executives tend to evaluate ideas and actions as they relate to the Vision, Mission, and Strategic Plans of the organization.

4. Executives have a bottom-line orientation.