SBARAssignmentGuidelines.docx

SBAR Assignment Guidelines

Writing an SBAR with an Executive Summary

Background: When writing memos or reports for executives (CEOs, CFOs, CIOs, etc.), you need to be brief and impactful. One of the  approaches to analyzing an issue is an SBAR, which stands for Situation – Background – Assessment – Recommendation. Executives are typically short on time, so if they have to hunt for the information they need, your report will go unread or be thrown out. One approach to getting your point across quickly and still providing vital details is to place an executive summary before the report. An executive summary is a condensed version of the report, so that the reader can understand the scope in a short amount of time. An executive summary shouldn’t be an introduction; you should be able to be read it separately from the report as a stand-alone document.

Assignment Overview: You will be writing two SBARs with executive summary (one due May 3st and one due June 7th), which respond to one of the paired questions below. They should be 1-2 pages each and adhere to the following structure:

Structure

· Situation: Give a description of the problem or situation

· Background: Describe any context or background to the problem

· Analysis: Use the information presented in this class to provide a frame of reference to the issues and an approach to the proposal.

· Recommendation: Answer your question by offering specific solutions or recommendations

· To better write your situation, analysis, and recommendation, read Holly Weeks’ article, “The Best Memo You’ll Ever Write,” from the  Harvard Business Review.

· Executive summary paragraph (put this at the beginning): Write a brief statement of the topics you wrote about, only include details as they are critical to understanding them

·  A good article on this is Lynn Gaertner-Johnston’s “Write Better Executive Summaries.”

When writing, be sure to consider the following:

· Structure: Be organized. Use an outline. Plan before you write.

· Audience: Write to your audience, which is an executive. Assume a formal tone and avoid using hyperbole or slang.

· For an example of this, read “Find the Right Tone In Your Business Writing” by Richard Bierck.

· Language: Write for impact and get to the point. Be concise with your diction. Use active verbs instead of passive verbs, e.g., say, “The student writes the paper,” not “The paper is written by the student.”