Preliminary document for evaluation of approach

White paper

White paper

A white paper is a report or guide that informs readers concisely about a complex issue and presents the issuing body's <a href="/en/Philosophy" title="Philosophy" class="wl">philosophy</a> on the matter. It is meant to help readers understand an issue, solve a problem, or make a decision. A white paper is the first document researchers should read to better understand a core concept or idea.

<div class="shortdescription nomobile noexcerpt noprint searchaux" style="display:none" about="#mwt1">Preliminary document for evaluation of approach</div>
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The term originated in the 1920s to mean a type of <a href="/en/Position_paper" title="Position paper" class="wl">position paper</a> or industry report published by some department of the UK government. 

Since the 1990s, this type of document has proliferated in business. Today, a <a href="/en/Business-to-business" title="Business-to-business" class="wl">business-to-business (B2B)</a> white paper is closer to a marketing presentation, a form of content meant to persuade customers and partners and promote a certain product or viewpoint.<a href="#cite_note-White_Paper_Guy-1" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 1;">[1]</a><a href="#cite_note-SearchSOA-2" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 2;">[2]</a><a href="#cite_note-3" style="counter-reset: mw-Ref 3;">[3]</a> That makes B2B white papers a type of <a href="/en/Grey_literature" title="Grey literature" class="wl">grey literature</a>.


A white paper is a report or guide that informs readers concisely about a complex issue and presents the issuing body's philosophy on the matter. It is meant to help readers understand an issue, solve a problem, or make a decision. A white paper is the first document researchers should read to better understand a core concept or idea. The term originated in the 1920s to mean a type of position paper or industry report published by some department of the UK government.  Since the 1990s, this type of document has proliferated in business. Today, a business-to-business white paper is closer to a marketing presentation, a form of content meant to persuade customers and partners and promote a certain product or viewpoint. That makes B2B white papers a type of grey literature. 