Board decision papers are written materials for board members to fulfill their oversight responsibilities, and to make informed decisions about company matters. They should be informative and concise and include a clear overview and annexes.
Directors can be assisted in make the right decisions by discussing alternatives analysis and a review of the most important metrics and research findings and an operating context which influenced their views. They could also consider the effects of different choices on the business. It’s also helpful to illustrate how management came to the choice – this could mean describing the various options that were considered or summarising pros/cons of each, as well as how the recommended approach scored against criteria.
Board papers should be free from legalese and jargon. They should also have virtual board meeting software a formal business writing style being used throughout to keep the content relevant and accessible to every director. Charts and graphs can be used to simplify information and data trends, as well as break up long blocks of text. It’s recommended to read the paper out loud or to peers to evaluate clarity and make sure that the most important points are made clear. If you’re trying to clarify something, you should seek feedback or opinions from the board.