White paper overview and strategic applications

¶ … government policy reports: documents that would define a problem, outline its parameters, and offer a set of possible solutions. The paper represented official government opinion and proposed policy initiatives usually related to international conflicts and other global conundrums. Therefore, most government policy reports are white papers, and most government-issued white papers are policy papers. Smith (2002) defines a white paper as "an article that states an organization's position or philosophy about a social, political, or other subject." The white paper is not, however, legislation. A white paper rarely offers detailed descriptions of how the proposed policy will be carried through or enacted in law. White papers "advocate that a certain position is the best way to go or that a certain solution is best for a particular problem," (Sakamuro 2006). As a type of policy paper, the white paper lays the groundwork for further action and future legislation.

However, not all white papers are policy papers. White papers have evolved into the realm of business where they retain their educational function but usually do not represent a company's policy on ethical or other issues. Therefore, business is where white papers and policy papers diverge in content, purpose, and probably style. In the business sector, a white paper serves as a marketing tool or at least means to educate the public about a firm's products and services. The white paper in the business sector could address consumers or it may also explain how a new technology or product functions (Smith 2002). White papers may be used to attract funding for a newly developed technology.

Unlike policy papers, white papers can be business-to-consumer or business-to-business marketing media used to thoroughly describe products and services. White papers used in business educate the public or any group outside the organization, just as a policy paper would educate the general public or external organizations. Both white papers and policy papers encourage sound decision-making.

Position papers are more similar to government-issued white papers than to business white papers. In fact, most policy papers imply a position and most position papers imply policy even though the two may be mutually exclusive. The authors of position papers take an opinionated stance on specific issue. However, a position paper does not necessarily include policy issues. A position paper is more opinionated and persuasive in tone and content than a policy paper. Position papers, policy papers, and white papers vary in length and in their inclusion of relevant research data.

A position paper can be expanded into a white paper by changing its tone, format, content, and style. The white paper may be narrower in focus than the position paper, or it may expand some of the issues raised in that position paper. The writer's position becomes a more objective presentation of facts, and opinions become proposals for change.

Some position papers are too open-ended to become white papers because position paper can mean "We believe x," and nothing else. A white paper means "We believe x and therefore we recommend y and z." A writer would transform an open-ended position paper into a white paper by clearly proposing policies or actions. Based on the data included in the position paper, the writer would take the work one step further toward creating possible solutions.

The field of nursing should utilize white papers in the upcoming election process. Nursing professionals can refer to government-issued white papers on health care issues when planning professional intervention programs in their community. Similarly, nursing professionals can use business-issued white papers to prepare for upcoming technological or medical changes or changes to preferred therapeutic interventions. The field of nursing can also use white papers to gauge changes to official health care policy that would result from an administration change. When determining which candidate would best serve the health care community and its clients, nursing professionals may rely on the white papers issued by each candidate or party. Those white papers may illustrate deficiencies in one or the other party's knowledge of specific health care issues, ranging from insurance to the prevention of disease.