Management consultants at firms like McKinsey, BCG, and Bain are renowned for their ability to present complex ideas in a clear, concise manner that is easy to digest and understand. A key component of this process is the executive summary slide – often presented as the first part of a presentation deck on a given topic or problem.
An executive summary aims to provide the audience with an overview of the subject at hand or a snapshot of the key points that will be discussed in greater depth. It should serve to quickly get the main messages and conclusions across and motivate audiences to dive deeper into the details.
In this post, we will outline the essential components of an effective executive summary using techniques from McKinsey, BCG, and Bain. We will also provide tips on how to craft a compelling executive summary in practice and give examples of best practices.
For a broader view on how to create consultant-style presentations take a look at our blog post 'How McKinsey Consultants Make PowerPoint Presentations'. Or deep-dive into other specific elements of creating best-in-class presentations, like our post on 'Mastering Risk Mitigation Slides: A Best Practice Guide with Examples'.
A good executive summary provides all the key information in one slide. The goal is to communicate as much information in as few words as possible.
To achieve this goal, you should focus on the following key components when crafting an executive summary slide:
This structure is similar to the SCQA (situation-complication-question-answer) framework.
Craft effective executive summaries for your consulting presentations.
Let's take a closer look at each component of the executive summary and how it can be used to craft an effective executive summary deck using the McKinsey/BCG/Bain methodology.
The objective of the executive summary should succinctly define the purpose of the presentation and why it is important for the audience to understand the key points.
To craft an effective objective, you should consider the following:
An effective objective should be brief, clear, and focused on the needs of the audience. It should be written to clearly communicate what the presentation will cover and why it matters.
Example: "This presentation will provide an overview of the current state of the industry and highlight key trends and opportunities for growth."
The background or situation section of the executive summary provides relevant context to the audience to help them better understand the problem or opportunity being addressed.
This section should include:
Some questions to ask when crafting the background section include:
An effective background section should be concise and focused on the most important information. It should provide enough context for the audience to understand the problem or situation being addressed without overwhelming them with unnecessary information.
Here are some examples from McKinsey and BCG:
The complication section of the executive summary clearly and concisely defines the reason the situation requires action, either because there is a serious problem or there is a good opportunity. This includes identifying the root cause of the problem or opportunity and its implications for the organization.
An effective complication section should be short and to-the-point, focusing on the most important aspects of the problem or opportunity. The root cause of the complication should be clearly identified, along with the most relevant data or evidence that supports this analysis. In addition, the implications of the problem or opportunity for the organization should be clearly articulated, highlighting why it is important for the audience to understand the problem/opportunity and its impact and why it requires action.
Enhance your proposal writing with our Consulting Proposal template, or explore our collection of 10 Real Consulting Proposals.
The resolution section of the executive summary presents the proposed solution or strategy for addressing the complication. This should include a brief overview of the approach and any relevant supporting information or evidence.
An effective resolution section should provide enough detail for the audience to understand what is being proposed and why without overwhelming them with unnecessary detail. The proposed approach and any relevant supporting information or evidence should be clearly outlined. In addition, the expected benefits or outcomes of the approach should be highlighted, as this helps to emphasize why it is important for the audience to understand and support the proposed solution.
The benefits section of the executive summary presents a brief overview of any expected benefits or outcomes from implementing the proposed solution. This section is optional, and sometimes included as a bullet point under the resolution section.
An effective benefits section should provide a clear and concise overview of any expected benefits or outcomes from implementing the proposed solution. The primary benefits should be highlighted, as well as any secondary benefits that are relevant to the audience. Emphasis should be on quantifiable benefits.
In addition, the impact of these benefits on the organization and its stakeholders should be emphasized, highlighting why it is important for the audience to understand and support the proposed solution.
Example: "The proposed approach will generate an incremental $10 million in revenue, reduce costs by 5%, and increase customer satisfaction by 10%. This will help to improve profitability, create new growth opportunities, and strengthen our competitive position in the sector."
The call to action section of the executive summary presents a brief overview of key proposed actions or decisions that need to be taken by the audience in order to implement the proposed solution. This section is also sometimes a bullet point under the resolution section.
An effective call to action/recommendation section should provide a clear and concise overview of any proposed actions or decisions that need to be taken by the audience. The proposed actions or decisions and who needs to take these actions or make these decisions should be clearly outlined.
In addition, the timeline for implementing the proposed solution should be highlighted, ensuring that the audience understands when and how these actions or decisions need to be taken.
Apply these summary techniques in your Business Strategy template.
Creating executive summary slides like a McKinsey consultant can have a significant impact on the success of your communication and decision-making efforts. Although it seems simple and many people treat the executive summary like an after-thought, it should in fact be one of the slides you spend the most time on in any presentation.
A well-crafted executive summary helps you structure your entire presentation by making you focus on the solution you are proposing and only keeping in analyses and arguments that help explain the why, what, and how of that solution.
By following the essential components and strategies outlined above you can create a clear, concise, and compelling executive summary that effectively communicates complex ideas and drives action.
What is an executive summary exactly?
A short summary of the key messages and conclusions in a longer presentation, focused on actionable solutions or recommendations. In McKinsey and BCG consulting presentations the executive summary is typically one or two slides, but sometimes executive summary can also refer to a short deck.
What does an executive summary include and how do I write one?
See our 'How to' guide in this post.
Does an executive summary come before or after the table of contents?
Typically before the table of contents, as the first (or one of the first) slides after a title page.
Is there a good executive summary slide example?
Yes, you can download some examples from McKinsey and BCG here. You can also see full presentations from BCG and McKinsey here and here.
Or take a look at our full Business Strategy template or our Business Case template for real-life client examples.
Should I include visuals?
Generally McKinsey and BCG executive summaries do not include visuals, except perhaps icons to make the summary more visually appealing.
What is the difference between an executive summary slide and a key takeaways slide?
An executive summary slide, a recommendations slide, and a key takeaways slide are all part of a trio of slides centered around conveying main messages. Typically, an executive summary slide contains the most important points of the entire project/presentation while a key takeaways slide is often used either at the start or end of sections of the presentation to sum up points, or at the end to sum up the main takeaways before ending in an actionable recommendations slide.
