Re: Resources for Writing White Papers

[Phillip Wilkerson <phillipw -at- ALLENSYSGROUP -dot- COM>]

----------
Becca Price <rp51 -at- CHRYSLER -dot- COM> asked:
> To: TECHWR-L -at- LISTSERV -dot- OKSTATE -dot- EDU
> This leads me to a question: what exactly *is* a "white paper" and why
> are they called that?

The formal definition may vary depending on the company, but a white paper is a
marketing document that briefly presents a technology (new or existing) as the
solution to a specific problem (usually common to the industry in question).
The paper outlines the technological approach company XYZ takes to solving the
problem, explains a little about why that approach is most beneficial, and some
reasons why company XYZ's approach is the one to follow. There is usually also
some verbiage about trends and company XYZ's vision of how they expect the
current trends in solving the problem will play out.

It's basically a brief way for a company to say, follow us, we are on the right
track, and here's why.

Phil Wilkerson
phillipw -at- allensysgroup -dot- com

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