White paper
A
white paper is an authoritative report; a government report outlining policy; or a document whose purpose is to educate industry customers or collect leads for a company. White papers are used to help people make decisions.
In modern British or Irish terminology, a White Paper is a statement of government policy. It is called
white paper because originally these were thin documents quickly bound in white paper without a formal cover, as opposed to the blue bindings of most government reports.
In the
Commonwealth of Nations, "white paper" is an informal name for a parliamentary paper; in the
United Kingdom these are issued as "
Command papers". White papers are issued by the government and lay out policy, or proposed action, on a topic of current concern. Although a white paper may occasion consultation as to the details of new legislation, it does signify a clear intention on the part of a government to pass new law. By contrast,
green papers, also known as consultation documents, which are issued much more frequently, are more open-ended and may merely propose a strategy to be implemented in the details of other legislation or set out proposals on which the Government wishes to obtain public views and opinion.
White papers published by the
European Commission are documents containing proposals for
European Union action in a specific area. They sometimes follow a
green paper released to launch a public consultation process.
e.g.
British White Paper of 1922 - Churchill White Paper (10 June 1922, United Kingdom )
e.g.
Advancing the National Interest (2003, Commonwealth of Australia)
More recently, the term white paper has also come to refer to documents that argue non-governmental positions as well. For example, many white papers today espouse the benefits of particular
technologies and
products. These types of white papers are almost always
marketing communications documents and are designed to promote a specific company's solutions or products as it relates to the issue or topic examined. As a marketing tool, it is important to note that these papers will always highlight information favorable to the company authoring or sponsoring the paper while minimizing any negative aspects related to the company's involvement with the issue, product or technology. Today the commercial white paper is the most common type of white paper. Such white papers are used to collect leads, establish thought leadership or close sales - this is quite different from the original use of white papers.
e.g.
Windows 2000 Kerberos Authentication (9 July 1999, Microsoft)
e.g.
Motorola Push-to-Talk (22 April 2004, Motorola)
Because of their persuasive nature, white papers should be carefully crafted to avoid the perception of salesmanship. This can be easily accomplished by inserting key educational content that is relevant to the intended readers. White papers should begin by focusing on the needs of readers, rather than the specific solution suggested by the paper's sponsor. The book
Writing White Papers explains, "leading with problems or needs early in your white paper is a very powerful method to gain the interest of your readers."
Typical content for a white paper might include:
* Market Drivers
* Problem Development
* Historical Overviews
* A Generic Introduction to the Solution
* Benefits
* What to Look for in an Ideal Solution
In Place of Strife (
1969)
*The White Paper to abolish the
Indian Act in Canada and recognize
First Nations as the same as other minorities in Canada, rather than a distinct group (
1969, cancelled in
1971)
White Paper of 1939 calling for the creation of a unified Palestinian State with limited Jewish immigration and limited ability to purchase land. Affirmed the British promise for a Jewish center, but not an official state for its people.
If Japan can... Why can't we? (
1980), introducing the methods of
W. Edwards Deming to American managers.
*
1966 Defence White Paper - cancelled new British aircraft carriers and the
BAC TSR-2 aircraft
*
White paper EU glossary
*
Stelzner's White Paper on White Papers*
Green paper
