Board decision papers are documents written for board members in order to fulfill their oversight responsibilities, and to make well-informed decisions on corporate matters. They must be concise and informative with a concise summary and annexes.
Considerations to help directors make the most effective decisions regarding specific issues could include a discussion of alternatives analysis (such as methods like Six Thinking Hats), an overview of the key metrics, research data or operational context and competitive insights that informed the decision-making process, or an illustration of the effects of each choice on the business. It is also helpful to show how management chose the best option. This could include a description of the various options analyzed or a brief summary of pros and cons for each one, as well as how the recommended approach was rated on various factors.
Board papers should be written in a formal business manner and free of jargon or legalese. This keeps the information current and easily accessible to all directors. Using charts and graphs helps to summarise information and data trends, and also break up dense blocks of text. It’s also a good idea to read the paper out loud to your colleagues or peers to evaluate clarity and make sure boardroomofficial.com that the key issues are communicated. If clarification is required, it’s ideal to invite questions, feedback or other perspectives from the board.