It may feel like all work is done via quick email these days but there is still a need for longer memos and reports to get people up to speed on an issue, to induce action, or both. With longer writing it's critical to be well organized and structured, and to respect your reader's time. This means making it immediately clear what you want readers to learn about or do. Start by choosing a concise title or subject line that tells them the topic and why they should care. Begin your document by summarizing your main points and outlining the issue, your solution, and the reasoning behind it. Refer to this summary when drafting the body of the message. When you're done, check the summary one more time to make sure it reflects how the rest of the memo has evolved.
Source: Today's Management Tip was adapted from the HBR Guide to Better Business Writing.