The Board Pack Paradox: Why 'Accurate' Information Can Obscure Operational Reality

This article delves into the inherent challenges of board reporting, highlighting how information, though accurate at each stage of compilation, can become systematically partial and detached from operational reality by the time it reaches the board. For internal audit and assurance professionals, this underscores the critical need to scrutinize the entire information supply chain to the board, ensuring that the 'translation' process doesn't inadvertently mask crucial operational insights or risks. Understanding this dynamic is key to providing truly independent and valuable assurance on the quality and completeness of information used for strategic decision-making.