How to Write Effective Board Decision Papers

Board documents should be concise and clear, with high-level understanding. The ability to drill down to operational details should only be done when it is necessary to make strategic decisions. Use charts or graphs to provide a summary of data or information trends. A link to additional data or technical information in an appendix is helpful.

If the decision is a one-time or ongoing the document should define the purpose of the Board document (information only discussion, or seeking a decision) and include here are the findings an executive summary that specifies the recommendation. The executive summary should not exceed more than four to five lines.

The paper should focus on the main issues and risks related to the proposal. If the risk is substantial there should be a clear mitigation plan and impact should be identified. Even if you believe the risk is not significant, it’s important to consider the risks that could occur if the plan is not fully implemented or isn’t achieved.

The document should provide a description of the different options that were considered in the decision-making process and give a summary of pros and cons or describe how the preferred option scored on the relevant decision criteria. Including an alternatives analysis is crucial as it gives the Board with a range of option to consider in their governance responsibilities, and helps ensure that all possible outcomes have been taken into consideration.