Board documents should be clear and concise, accompanied by the highest level of understanding. Only dig into the operational details when necessary for strategic decisions. Utilize charts or graphs to provide a summary of data or information trends. In an appendix, it is beneficial to include a link for more technical information or statistics.
The document should outline the purpose (information or discussion or seeking a resolution) and include a short executive summary that provides the recommendations. The executive summary should not exceed 4 to 5 lines.
The paper should detail the main risks and issues that are associated with the proposed plan. If the risk is substantial there should be a clear mitigation plan and its impact must be determined. Even if you believe the risk is low it’s important to consider the potential risks that might arise if your plan is not implemented fully or is not achieved.
The report should outline the various options that were considered in the decision-making process and provide a summary of pros/cons or provide a summary of how the preferred option scored against the relevant decision criteria. Included is an analysis of alternatives. This is essential as it gives the Board with more than one option to think about in their governance responsibilities and helps https://boardroomofficial.com/what-do-you-think-about-virtual-board-meeting-software/ to ensure that all possible outcomes have been considered.