White Papers?

[Dan Lupo <Dan_Lupo -at- CCMAIL -dot- US -dot- DELL -dot- COM>]

     I would like to know what YOU think a white paper is.  Is it a proposal? A
     recommendation report? A position paper? These are terms I've gotten in
     response to my question.

     But rather than naming it, perhaps a more useful response would include
     - what you think its purpose is (persuasive, transactional, both),
     - who its intended audience(s) is(are), and
     - what segments belong in the document (exec summary, purpose statement,
       issues/criteria, cost, org impact, etc.).

     I have a hunch that there will be no *right* answer, so please feel free to
     preface your comments with "where I work [or "in my discipline"], a white
     paper...."

     Thanks for your help, folks.


     Dan Lupo
     (my question, not Dell's)