Organize and Synthesize Information

Utilizing Outlines

Another way of organizing information is to create an outline. An outline arranges materials hierarchically and sequentially by identifying main topics, subtopics, and details under the subtopics. For example, marketing plans are organized and framed in a certain way to present specific and crucial information:

• Executive summary
• Table of contents
• Company situation
• Sales/revenues
• Income statements, balance sheets, ratios, growth data
• Environment
• Target markets
• Objectives
• Strategy
• Action plans
• Anticipated results
• Contingency plans
• Appendices