Board decision papers are documents written for board members to perform their oversight responsibilities and make informed decisions on company matters. They should be short but informative and include an executive summary that is clear and concise, as well as an appendix to support it.
Directors can be guided to make the right decisions through an analysis of alternatives or a review of important metrics, research or competitive insights and an operating context that has informed their view. They could also consider the effects of different choices on the business. It's also helpful to explain how management made the decision to choose the best decision - this might involve explaining the various options considered or a summary of the pros and cons of each, including how the recommended method performed against the criteria.
Board papers should be free from jargon and legalese, with formal business i loved this writing style being used throughout to keep the information relevant and easily accessible for every director. The use of graphs and charts can help to organize information and trends, and also break up large blocks of text. It's also a good idea to read the paper in public or with peers to ensure that the key points are made clear. If further clarification is needed, it's better to ask questions, feedback or other perspectives from the board.