How to Write Effective Board Decision Papers

Board documents must be clear and concise, with an excellent level of information. Drilling down to operational detail should only be done where it’s required to make a strategic decision. Using graphs or charts to present information or trends is a great way of delivering insight at a lower level. A link to additional data or technical information in an appendix can be beneficial.

The paper should clearly state the reason for the paper (information or discussion, or seeking a resolution) and include a short executive summary that outlines the recommendation. The executive summary should not exceed more than 4 – 5 lines.

The document should address the major risks and issues associated with the proposal. If the risk is significant there should be a clear mitigation plan and the impact should be identified. Even if you think that the risk isn’t too high it’s important to consider the potential risks that may occur if the plan is not fully implemented or is not met.

The paper should present a range of options that were considered in the decision making process and provide a summary of pros/cons or explain how the most preferred option virtual board meeting software scored against the relevant decision criteria. Including an alternatives analysis is important because it provides the Board with more than one option to think about in their governance responsibilities and helps ensure that all possible outcomes have been taken into consideration.