New laws and regulations have put more responsibility on boards and committees. Experts advise these four strategies for management to best help the board fulfill its role. To find out about Wdesk for board reporting, go to https://www.workiva.com/products/board-reporting.

1. workiva.com
Four strategies
for better
board reporting

2. workiva.com
Board members need candor
and insight from management
on the challenges they face.

3. workiva.com
New laws, regulations,
and stock exchange requirements
have put more responsibility
on boards and committees.

4. workiva.com
Experts advise these four strategies
for management to best help
the board fulfill its role.

5. workiva.com
The time needed to compile board books often means they're outdated
by the time board meetings occur.
Go paperless1.

6. workiva.com
The time needed to compile board books often means they're outdated
by the time board meetings occur.
Ensuring the board has current information is key to good conversations.
Go paperless1.

7. workiva.com
The time needed to compile board books often means they're outdated
by the time board meetings occur.
The move to digital technology allows executives to distribute up-to-the-minute
information at any time.
Ensuring the board has current information is key to good conversations.
Go paperless1.

8. workiva.com
The time needed to compile board books often means they're outdated
by the time board meetings occur.
Go paperless1.
It allows board members to quickly understand what is happening and offer
more meaningful advice.
The move to digital technology allows executives to distribute up-to-the-minute
information at any time.
Ensuring the board has current information is key to good conversations.

9. workiva.com
Setting an effective agenda should be a partnership between senior management
and the board.
Get on the same page2.

10. workiva.com
Setting an effective agenda should be a partnership between senior management
and the board.
Understanding senior management’s perspective benefits the board and allows
for more effective oversight.
Get on the same page2.

11. workiva.com
Setting an effective agenda should be a partnership between senior management
and the board.
Important developments and key issues that management sees should be built
into the conversation.
Understanding senior management’s perspective benefits the board and allows
for more effective oversight.
Get on the same page2.

12. workiva.com
Setting an effective agenda should be a partnership between senior management
and the board.
Awareness of current and future challenges and opportunities can increase the board’s
confidence in management.
Important developments and key issues that management sees should be built
into the conversation.
Understanding senior management’s perspective benefits the board and allows
for more effective oversight.
Get on the same page2.

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To tell the complete story of a portfolio, there must be consistent methodology,
objectives, and reporting against those objectives.
Be complete and consistent3.

14. workiva.com
To tell the complete story of a portfolio, there must be consistent methodology,
objectives, and reporting against those objectives.
Metrics for the whole business should roll up for analysis. If they don’t make sense,
it should be discussed.
Be complete and consistent3.

15. workiva.com
To tell the complete story of a portfolio, there must be consistent methodology,
objectives, and reporting against those objectives.
Sparking the conversation around the right topics results in better meetings and
overall position of the company.
Metrics for the whole business should roll up for analysis. If they don’t make sense,
it should be discussed.
Be complete and consistent3.

16. workiva.com
To tell the complete story of a portfolio, there must be consistent methodology,
objectives, and reporting against those objectives.
A board book is a catalyst for discussion. Without a complete picture, you can't have
the right discussion.
Sparking the conversation around the right topics results in better meetings and
overall position of the company.
Metrics for the whole business should roll up for analysis. If they don’t make sense,
it should be discussed.
Be complete and consistent3.

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Just providing the board with financial statements is not enough—what really matters
is how you got there.
Create analysis that informs4.

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Just providing the board with financial statements is not enough—what really matters
is how you got there.
Beyond strategy and metrics, the board wants to know:
What has happened? What were the key value drivers? What were the sensitivities?
Create analysis that informs4.

19. workiva.com
Just providing the board with financial statements is not enough—what really matters
is how you got there.
In addition to financial information, soft information should be top of mind
and addressed by management.
Beyond strategy and metrics, the board wants to know:
What has happened? What were the key value drivers? What were the sensitivities?
Create analysis that informs4.

20. workiva.com
Just providing the board with financial statements is not enough—what really matters
is how you got there.
Soft information includes hiring rates, turnover, productivity, employee morale, and culture.
In addition to financial information, soft information should be top of mind
and addressed by management.
Beyond strategy and metrics, the board wants to know:
What has happened? What were the key value drivers? What were the sensitivities?
Create analysis that informs4.

21. workiva.com
To fulfill its oversight role properly, a board must understand the critical information
available to management and the process that management goes through
to make key decisions.
Here's the bottom line

22. workiva.com
To fulfill its oversight role properly, a board must understand the critical information
available to management and the process that management goes through
to make key decisions.
Management must help the board understand:
• What’s driving current performance
• What key performance indicators will help predict future financial performance
Here's the bottom line

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To learn more about these
strategies, view our white paper:
Board Reporting Trends and
Best Practices in the Digital Age.