White paper
Encyclopedia
A white paper is an authoritative report or guide that helps solve a problem. White papers are used to educate readers and help people make decisions
, and are often requested and used in politics, policy, business, and technical fields. In commercial use, the term has also come to refer to documents used by businesses as a marketing
or sales
tool. Policy makers frequently request white papers from universities or academic personnel to assist policy developers with expert opinions or relevant research.
, "white paper" is an informal name for a parliamentary paper enunciating government policy; in the United Kingdom these are mostly issued as "command paper
s". 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 on occasion be a consultation as to the details of new legislation, it does signify a clear intention on the part of a government to pass new law. White Papers are a " ... tool of participatory democracy ... not [an] unalterable policy commitment. "White Papers have tried to perform the dual role of presenting firm government policies while at the same time inviting opinions upon them."
In Canada
, a white paper "is considered to be a policy document, approved by Cabinet, tabled in the House of Commons and made available to the general public." The "provision of policy information through the use of white and green papers can help to create an awareness of policy issues among parliamentarians and the public and to encourage an exchange of information and analysis. They can also serve as educational techniques".
"White Papers are used as a means of presenting government policy preferences prior to the introduction of legislation"; as such, the "publication of a White Paper serves to test the climate of public opinion regarding a controversial policy issue and enables the government to gauge its probable impact".
By contrast, green paper
s, which are issued much more frequently, are more open-ended. Also known as consultation documents, green papers may merely propose a strategy to be implemented in the details of other legislation or they may 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. White papers refer to audits to British officials (Viceroy) in India who were making personal fortunes and where involved in corruption, today white papers may also refer to audit papers on an administration leaving office.
Examples of governmental white papers include Russia No 1. A Collection of Reports on Bolshevism in Russia, April 1919, White Paper on Full Employment, and the 1966 Defence White Paper
.
, product
or methodology
are superior for solving a specific problem. They may also present research findings, list a set of questions or tips about a certain business issue, or highlight a particular product or service from a vendor.
Commercial white papers are marketing communications
documents designed to promote the products or services from a specific company. As a marketing tool, these papers use selected facts and logical arguments to build a case favorable to the company sponsoring the document. Commercial white papers are often used to generate sales leads, establish thought leader
ship, make a business case, or educate customers, channel partners, or investors.
While some list dozens of different types, there are three main types of commercial white papers:
There are now far more commercial white papers being produced for vendors than political white papers being produced for governments.
Decision making
Decision making can be regarded as the mental processes resulting in the selection of a course of action among several alternative scenarios. Every decision making process produces a final choice. The output can be an action or an opinion of choice.- Overview :Human performance in decision terms...
, and are often requested and used in politics, policy, business, and technical fields. In commercial use, the term has also come to refer to documents used by businesses as a marketing
Marketing
Marketing is the process used to determine what products or services may be of interest to customers, and the strategy to use in sales, communications and business development. It generates the strategy that underlies sales techniques, business communication, and business developments...
or sales
Sales
A sale is the act of selling a product or service in return for money or other compensation. It is an act of completion of a commercial activity....
tool. Policy makers frequently request white papers from universities or academic personnel to assist policy developers with expert opinions or relevant research.
Government white papers
In the Commonwealth of NationsCommonwealth of Nations
The Commonwealth of Nations, normally referred to as the Commonwealth and formerly known as the British Commonwealth, is an intergovernmental organisation of fifty-four independent member states...
, "white paper" is an informal name for a parliamentary paper enunciating government policy; in the United Kingdom these are mostly issued as "command paper
Command paper
A command paper is a document issued by the British government and presented to Parliament. White papers, green papers, treaties, reports from Royal Commissions and various government bodies can all be released as command papers, so-called because they are presented to Parliament formally 'By Her...
s". 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 on occasion be a consultation as to the details of new legislation, it does signify a clear intention on the part of a government to pass new law. White Papers are a " ... tool of participatory democracy ... not [an] unalterable policy commitment. "White Papers have tried to perform the dual role of presenting firm government policies while at the same time inviting opinions upon them."
In Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
, a white paper "is considered to be a policy document, approved by Cabinet, tabled in the House of Commons and made available to the general public." The "provision of policy information through the use of white and green papers can help to create an awareness of policy issues among parliamentarians and the public and to encourage an exchange of information and analysis. They can also serve as educational techniques".
"White Papers are used as a means of presenting government policy preferences prior to the introduction of legislation"; as such, the "publication of a White Paper serves to test the climate of public opinion regarding a controversial policy issue and enables the government to gauge its probable impact".
By contrast, green paper
Green paper
In the Commonwealth, the Republic of Ireland and the United States a green paper is a tentative government report of a proposal without any commitment to action; the first step in changing the law...
s, which are issued much more frequently, are more open-ended. Also known as consultation documents, green papers may merely propose a strategy to be implemented in the details of other legislation or they may set out proposals on which the government wishes to obtain public views and opinion.
White papers published by the European Commission
European Commission
The European Commission is the executive body of the European Union. The body is responsible for proposing legislation, implementing decisions, upholding the Union's treaties and the general day-to-day running of the Union....
are documents containing proposals for European Union
European Union
The European Union is an economic and political union of 27 independent member states which are located primarily in Europe. The EU traces its origins from the European Coal and Steel Community and the European Economic Community , formed by six countries in 1958...
action in a specific area. They sometimes follow a green paper
Green paper
In the Commonwealth, the Republic of Ireland and the United States a green paper is a tentative government report of a proposal without any commitment to action; the first step in changing the law...
released to launch a public consultation process. White papers refer to audits to British officials (Viceroy) in India who were making personal fortunes and where involved in corruption, today white papers may also refer to audit papers on an administration leaving office.
Examples of governmental white papers include Russia No 1. A Collection of Reports on Bolshevism in Russia, April 1919, White Paper on Full Employment, and the 1966 Defence White Paper
1966 Defence White Paper
The 1966 Defence White Paper was a major review of the United Kingdom's defence policy brought about by the Labour Party government under the Prime Minister Harold Wilson. The main author was the then Secretary of State for Defence, Denis Healey...
.
Commercial white papers
Since the early 1990s, the term white paper has come to refer to documents used as marketing or sales tools. Commercial white papers generally argue that the benefits of a particular technologyTechnology
Technology is the making, usage, and knowledge of tools, machines, techniques, crafts, systems or methods of organization in order to solve a problem or perform a specific function. It can also refer to the collection of such tools, machinery, and procedures. The word technology comes ;...
, product
Product (business)
In general, the product is defined as a "thing produced by labor or effort" or the "result of an act or a process", and stems from the verb produce, from the Latin prōdūce ' lead or bring forth'. Since 1575, the word "product" has referred to anything produced...
or methodology
Methodology
Methodology is generally a guideline for solving a problem, with specificcomponents such as phases, tasks, methods, techniques and tools . It can be defined also as follows:...
are superior for solving a specific problem. They may also present research findings, list a set of questions or tips about a certain business issue, or highlight a particular product or service from a vendor.
Commercial white papers are marketing communications
Marketing communications
Marketing Communications are messages and related media used to communicate with a market...
documents designed to promote the products or services from a specific company. As a marketing tool, these papers use selected facts and logical arguments to build a case favorable to the company sponsoring the document. Commercial white papers are often used to generate sales leads, establish thought leader
Thought leader
Thought leader is business jargon for an entity that is recognized for having innovative ideas.The term was coined in 1994 by Joel Kurtzman, editor-in-chief of the Booz Allen Hamilton magazine, Strategy & Business. "Thought leader" was used to designate interview subjects for that magazine who had...
ship, make a business case, or educate customers, channel partners, or investors.
While some list dozens of different types, there are three main types of commercial white papers:
- Business benefits: Makes a business case for a certain technology or methodology.
- Technical: Describes how a certain technology works.
- Hybrid: Combines business benefits with technical details in a single document.
There are now far more commercial white papers being produced for vendors than political white papers being produced for governments.