Abstract vs Executive Summary

Abstract Definition

An Abstract is an abbreviated summary of a research article, thesis, review, conference proceeding or

any in-depth analysis of a particular subject or discipline, and is often used to help the reader quickly
ascertain the paper's purpose.

When used, an abstract always appears at the beginning of a manuscript, acting as the point-of-entry
for any given scientific paper or patent application.

Executive Summary Definition

An Executive Summary is, basically, anything but a product presentation, and nothing but a
persuasive sales pitch. Far more than an abstract merely presenting the rest of the document, it's
your unique opportunity to convince the reader that your proposal provides the best value proposition:
the best benefit at the lowest cost.

The more technical your proposal, the more critical the executive summary is likely to be, because,
unlike the abstract, the executive summary forbids technicalities to instead concentrate on
substantiating the benefits for the customer.

Question:
Are executive summary and abstract the same?

Answer:
If you think so, you have just lost your chance to persuade first hand.

Advice:
Make your unique selling point (USP) from your executive summary.

Abstract vs Executive Summary:

The Dilemma

This is the "executive summary vs abstract summary" battle. All so-called experts say that you should
write the executive summary when the rest of your proposal is written. Because this part is called the
summary of the whole document, logic dictates that you should write the document first in order to be
able to summarize it.

There is a significant difference between an executive summary and an abstract.

You said Executive Summary, not Abstract
And that's exactly the pitfall to avoid when writing an executive summary for your proposal: the
executive summary is not an abstract. We may even say, paradoxically, that the executive summary,
unlike the abstract, is not a summary, it's your value proposition, your best, unique opportunity to sell
your solution!
 These are the differences between Abstract vs Executive Summary:

Abstract Executive Summary

Nature Abbreviated summary Unique selling point (USP)

Audience Specialized (researchers), or mere Decision makers,

readers e.g. corporate managers

Scope Informational, academic, Solicited or unsolicited sales proposals and

administrative, and other general bids (P&B) Job résumés fit in this case!
documents (thesis, articles, patents)

Purpose Give information. Call for action.

Ascertain the purpose of the whole Persuade readers to buy on the recommended
document, give an overview or solution addressing the problem, namely,
preview of its content. make your unique selling point (USP).

Content Mainly technical: Mainly managerial (The 4 rules of persuasion):

1. Present the problem and scope;
2. Expose the used methodology;
3. Report observations and results;
4. Draw conclusions and
recommendations.
1. State outcomes and benefits;
2. Substantiate benefits with proofs of concept;
3. Apply benefits to the reader's particular;
context (win themes);
4. Recommend a solution to address the
problem.

Length Short. Short.

Shorter than the executive Longer than the abstract
summary.

Style Technical, static, and more academic. Managerial, dynamic, and more enthusiastic.

As revealed by the side-by-side comparison above, the key difference between an abstract and an
executive summary resides on their antipodal purpose, and consequently on the format used to
achieve this goal.

Indeed, while the abstract aims at convincing the reader to go through the whole document in order to
quash his thirst of information, the executive summary, at the opposite, aims at persuading the
reader, who is supposed to be a decision maker, to take of forgo an action, whether usually buying a
product, or approving another action.