ECE 100 Executive Summary Frequently Asked Questions

1.	Do I need to include a header similar to the Pre-Lab/Post-Lab reports?
No, the only information that we need is your full name and the title of the assignment, “ECE 100 Executive Summary”.

2.	Can I use a spacing format other than single-spacing?
No, single spacing is required for your Executive Summary.

3.	How many pages am I allowed to use?
Your Executive Summary is limited to one page.

4.	Should I include section headers (Problem Statement, etc)?
No, the Executive Summary is an essay without section headers.

5.	Should I include flowcharts?
No, flowcharts and code should not be included in your Executive Summary.

6.	Do I have to include all the sections (research, alternatives, etc.)?
You should include a high-level overview of each section within the format of the Executive Summary described in the “ECE 100 Executive Summary evaluation sheet”.  For example, if you evaluated several alternatives, then you should briefly describe them.  Focus on the distinguishing features.

7.	Do I need to describe my team’s results in Round 0?
Yes, your performance in Round 0 and your future plan are both critical to the persuasiveness of your argument.  You are not permitted to distort, embellish, fake or otherwise lie about your Round 0 results. Beware of the temptation to gloss over bad news or otherwise alter the facts.  You need to explain exactly what has happened so far, and how you plan to be successful in the future, regardless of the setbacks that you may have faced in your maze navigation trials.

8.	What is the purpose of an Executive Summary?
An Executive Summary is a brief, succinct document that presents the highlights (and lowlights) of a much more detailed study.  Senior management may make decisions based on the strength or weakness of an Executive Summary without digging into the technical details presented in the rest of a lengthy report.  Therefore, an Executive Summary should summarize the most important information contained in the report.  If a detailed technical report is meant to persuade senior management to fund additional work, then the Executive Summary must persuade senior management in far fewer words.

9.	How can I link my team’s LEGO robot experiences to a real-world application?
Consider the various applications of mobile robots.  For example, mobile robots are used in games, as personal assistants, in hazardous environments, in tedious yet high-precision activities, in search and rescue missions, and perhaps eventually in autonomous vehicle navigation.  In fact, with the exception of two brief periods during a commercial airline flight, namely take-off and landing, an “auto-pilot” monitor/control algorithm “flies” the plane.

10.	I only have a single page, so can I tell the reader to refer to the detailed discussion and results in the report?
No, you need to summarize the details found in the report.

11.	How should I include citations to other people’s work?
Citations are not typically used in an Executive Summary, but if you absolutely need to cite someone else’s work, then use a footnote.

12.	Should I focus on maze navigation or tape path following?
For this draft of your Executive Summary, you should focus on maze navigation with touch sensors.  For your Final Design Portfolio, you will include all of the sensor technologies and all of the competitions.

13.	Can I use first-person or second-person in my Executive Summary?
No, it’s a technical report, so you need to use third-person.