Guidelines for the MQP Executive Summary

This is a general guideline for the executive summary. You are encouraged to consult with your project advisor to determine appropriate variations in the content that will result in an effective summary for your project. The executive summary should be no more than five pages in length.

To prepare an effective executive summary of your MQP, please be sure to include the following elements. An ideal MQP should be tied to the Department of Management’s mission. As such, an effective executive summary should also reflect how your project relates to the mission.

Title
- Provide the official title of your project. (For projects having a sponsor it is strongly suggested that the company’s name be included in the title of the project).
Author(s)
- List each author alphabetically with the major following the name.
Advisor’s name
Sponsor (if applicable)
Introduction/ Background
- Provide a background or setting for the problem so as to acquaint the reader with the general area in which the problem lies.
Problem statement
- Provide a succinct and complete statement of the problem being addressed.
- Establish the importance of the problem and provide logical reasons for the study/project.
Goals/Objectives of your project
- Define clearly the extent of the problem being investigated.
- State what the project endeavors to accomplish.
- Make sure to differentiate between your primary and secondary goals.
- For projects having a sponsor, here you should also define clearly how the project will help fulfill the goals of the organization.
Process/Methods
- Advise the reader of the sequence of steps followed during the project, or of the research design employed.
- What specific use did you make of background literature?
  - present a very brief history of studies related to the problem.
  - acquaint the reader of the current status of the problem.
- What specific use did you make of relevant theory?
  - provide ideas, theories, hypothesis that you have used which have relevance for the solution to the problem.
- What specific use did you make of factual information, data, etc.?
  - state what kind of data were used.
  - state the rationale for the kind of data used.
  - advise the reader of the sources of data.
  - for projects with a design focus, provide a description of the existing system.
- What specific techniques were used for analysis and design?
  - state what techniques were used.
  - state the rationale for the techniques used.
Results/Outcomes
- Describe the main results and outcomes of the project. (e.g., implementation outcomes, cost-benefit analysis, rate of return analysis).
- Mention about any assessment/evaluation indicating the significance of your work.
Conclusions and Recommendations
- Provide interpretation of your results and state your conclusions.
- State your main recommendations.

WPI Department of Management mission statement:

The Department of Management at WPI is committed to providing education, research, and outreach that focus on:

Leading and managing technology-based organizations;
Integrating technology into the workplace; and
Creating new processes, products, services, and organizations based on technology.

We emphasize:

Innovative and project-based education that integrates the theory and the practice of management, and prepares students to assume positions of leadership in an increasingly global business environment;
Basic scholarship, while also valuing the scholarship of application and the scholarship of instruction; and
Interaction with the business community focused primarily on technological entrepreneurship.

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Last modified: June 25, 2007 11:04:32