Spotlight on Skills: White PaperA white paper is an authoritative, informative guide or report that aims to identify a problem, propose a solution, or assist in decision making. In short, the purpose of a white paper is to inform and persuade. The intended audience of a white paper could be the general public or possibly an organization or group of organizations looking to address needs or find solutions to problems. The author’s main goal again is to be persuasive and to ensure that the needs of the audience are addressed.