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18th December 2008

Good governance; developing and managing an effective board

Just Debbie facilitating today…..

Jane Jenkins joins us later to share her board experiences.

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Learning ObjectivesMany, but mostly…….

To have the confidence and information to start to determine a plan for governance development for your organisation

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Action Learning task: how was it for you?

Produce a one page plan for developing and/or reviewing the artistic vision, mission and objectives of your organisation. Include a short description on how you might respond to the issues raised by the ACE consultation document on self assessment and peer review.

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How are we currently governed?

What do you perceive as being effective governance? What is the ideal?

How far are our organisations from that ideal? What issues do our Boards have?

What are the things our boards are good at? What are their strengths? What opportunities do they bring?

What are the challenges and issues we face currently regarding governance? (eg in the structures, the constitution, the skills and knowledge of the board, the commitment, the engagement etc)

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Governance structures: roles and responsibilities 25 minutes to consider the

role and responsibilities of the board and the senior staff (prepare to share with the whole group)

Group 1: Tim, Ralph, Roz, Pippa, Lesley, Rani, Derek, Martyn

Group 2: Sarah, David, Nikki, Kate Tyrell, Liz, Marilyn, Kate Morgan, Ruth Staple

Group 3: Erica, Mary, Neal, Ruth Cohen, Paul, Dee, Fahmida

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Role of the Board To approve policies and procedure Provide leadership, support and

encouragement To contribute to and approve

medium and long term plans for the organisation

To monitor the implementation of policy

To ensure compliance with the law To be responsible employers To appoint the CEO(s)

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Role of the Board... Continued

To ensure the financial solvency of the company

To act as ambassadors and advocates

Provide leadership, support and encouragement

Ensure the board is effective, including succession planning

Ensure the fulfillment of the objectives of the organisation

Provide an overview.

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Role of the CEO/senior staff Developing the

artistic/organisational programme for approval

Effective leadership Day to day management Drafting policies and procedures Producing medium/long term plans

for approval Monitoring all aspects of plan

implementation Ensuring compliance with the law

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Role of the senior staff .. Continued

Implementing employment policy and procedures

Appointing staff managing financial performance Acting as spokesperson and

ambassador for the organisation Reporting to and communicating

with the board to ensure its effectiveness

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Tea break

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Making structural choices

What structures do you currently have?

Are they working for you?

Have you considered structural change? Why?

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Jane Jenkins: How to make governance work. The experiences of a board member and chair

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Lunch

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How Standards can help: Analysing the board skills you need and want

Unit 1: Safeguard and promote the values and mission of the organisation

Unit 2: Determine the strategy and structure of the organisation

Unit 3: Ensure the organisation operates in an effective, responsible and accountable manner

Unit 4: Ensure the effective functioning of the Board

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Working in organisational groups…

Skills and performance analysis of your board:

Does your board collectively meet the standards in the 4 units? Concentrate on the unit(s) that presents the greatest challenge to your organisation

What additional skills does your Board need/want to meet the Standard?

Prepare to feedback key points to the group

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Feedback

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Mapping the roles…

What’s the role of the Chair?

Treasurer?

Company Secretary?

How do we ensure that governance and management don’t overlap?

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Recruitment, induction and succession planning

Does your Board have a succession plan?

How does your organisation recruit and select board members?

What is your induction process for board members?

Can these be improved?

How can we manage the board as a team?

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Tea break

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Mixed group taskWhere do we find the good ones?

How do we get rid of the superfluous ones?

1.Sarah, Martyn, Neal, Marilyn, Derek

2.Erica, Roz, Pippa, Paul, Ruth

3.Tim, Nikki, Liz, Rani, Fahmida

4.David, Mary, Lesley, Dee

5.Ralph, Kate Tyrrell, Ruth, Kate Morgan

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Feedback

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Action learning task

Produce a 1 page plan for governance development for your organisation and upload on the wiki by 10th January

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User group: we want your input

Next session: teleconference shift from 15th to 14th January

Have a good break, happy holidays and here’s to 2009

Housekeeping

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How to be a strategic board Think long term – the big picture Contribute to planning process – be

aware of external environment Clear delegation – trust the staff to

make day to day decisions Ensure have necessary policies and

procedures – and review regularly Understand how the organisation

works Respect line management Avoid the trivial – focus on key issues Draw lessons from monitoring, rather

than concentrating on detail Provide leadership – be committed

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Delegating with clarity Clear decisions and minutes Written limits to authority Clear processes, policies and

procedures Communications – always check

clarity Understanding own responsibilities Clear job descriptions – for Board and

CEO(s) Business plans with detailed action

plans Board clarity in relation to retained

authority Agenda setting – avoid day to day

management issues