How to Write Effective Board Decision Papers

Board documents must be clear and concise, accompanied by high levels of insight. Only dig into operational detail when it is essential to make strategic decisions. Use graphs or charts to provide a summary of information or to show trends in data. The inclusion of a link to more technical information or statistics in an appendix can be helpful.

If the decision is a one-time or an ongoing matter the document should define the purpose of the Board document (information only or discussion, or seeking the Board’s approval) and provide an executive summary that specifies the recommendation. In the ideal scenario, the executive summary should be no greater than 4 – 5 lines.

The document www.boardroomofficial.com/practical-steps-for-getting-the-best-data-room-software should describe the most important issues and risks that are involved with the plan. If the risk is a significant one there should be a clear mitigation plan and the likely impact must be identified. Even if you believe the risk is low it’s important to consider the potential risks that might result if your plan is not fully implemented or is not achieved.

The paper should present a range of alternatives that were considered during the decision making process and provide a summary of pros/cons or highlight how the preferred option scored on the relevant decision criteria. It is essential to include an alternative analysis since it provides the Board several options to consider when carrying out their governance responsibilities. This helps ensure that they have considered all possible outcomes.