[eitally]

In my experience, the higher you go in an org, the more terse and direct the written communications is. At the IC & supervisor levels, folks tend to write books in email, often because they feel obligated to provide a complete justification for their decisions (or ideas). As you go up the decision-making ladder, the need to explain oneself shrinks (at least, this is the perception. Strong leaders will do it regardless.)

The other issue is that for folks low on the food chain, they often don't feel comfortable requesting face-to-face meetings with execs, and "manage up" by providing absolutely as much detail as possible to their direct management in hopes he/she will do it on their behalf. Again, an organizational deficiency, but a common one, and one that's easy to understand.

Concision & clarity of communication are critical tools in any employee's toolbox. As an aside, this is one reason it's pretty easy to find articles and blog posts endorsing the success many liberal arts majors have in the tech world.