Board & Organizational Governance

Board governance is a deciding component of organizational effectiveness and a crucial part of the functioning life of non-profit and public sector organizations. Good governance ensures objectives are realized, resources are well managed, and the interests of stakeholders are protected and reflected in key decisions. After closer scrutiny of their internal governance, organizations often realize that their boards function in a less than ideal way, and more and more they are seeing the need to bring their governance up to contemporary standards.

The Institute provides a range of services specifically designed to strengthen the governance of public-purpose organizations, including crown corporations, schools, professional associations, and a wide range of NGOs. We look at both the theory and practice of getting to better board governance. Our aim is not to provide universal solutions but facilitate the process by which organizations can tailor their own governance solutions.

How we can help you

The Institute’s multidisciplinary team is able to provide assistance in the following areas:

Board Governance Assessments

Contemporary governance standards and practices are being updated constantly. Is your organization’s governance up to the mark?

One way to secure an answer is to conduct a 'do-it-yourself' review. This approach can sometimes run into difficulties, however, due to factors such as the pressure of other priorities, internal politics, or lack of expertise or time. An alternative is to contract for an independent assessment or evaluation.

The Institute's specialty is the governance of "public purpose" organizations -- that is, organizations whose mission is to serve the public interest and governments.  Our clients have included government institutions at the federal, provincial and territorial levels, universities, hospitals, crown corporations, health care and social service agencies, recreational or cultural non-profits, foundations, national associations, professional bodies, schools and many others.

The IOG has worked with these types of organizations for years. We understand them, and the people who work in them. We know that they are different from business corporations, and why, and we appreciate the values that they represent.

Using a customized approach, we evaluate the effectiveness of your governance system in addressing complex challenges and conflicting interests. Evaluations usually include a review of formal documents/bylaws, and interviews with the key people in your organization.

Advice on strengthening governance

Many organizations try to improve their governance structures and practices only to find their efforts frustrated. Some organizations we know of have attempted reform three or four times, without achieving the desired results. What gets in the way? There are often many hurdles to overcome, including: tradition; politics; personalities; time constraints; organizational culture; inertia; disincentives; and inexperienced leadership.

Governance reform is typically 20 - 25 % substance and 75 - 80% process. How you go about change determines the outcome. Many organizations try to move too quickly, without fully appreciating the complexity of this kind of change. Leadership, consultation, communication, analysis, incentives and technology can all contribute to a successful result. The Institute can help you to determine a strategy that's likely to work given your particular objectives, history, stakeholders, personalities and culture.

Customized training and facilitation

Organizations work better when all parties have a common understanding of the key success factors for governance, the roles and responsibilities, and accountabilities of each other.  This is true in the context of Boards of Directors, in the management of a committee, in project management groups or many other contexts.  The Institute specializes in improving organizational governance through training and group facilitation. 

Our clients give us consistently high ratings on workshops, board retreats, and similar events we have designed and run for this purpose. Customized to suit the organization's circumstances and needs, these events provide both board and staff members with fresh insights into what "good governance" means in practice. Directors develop a common understanding of governance, and come to appreciate the importance of teamwork. We encourage boards to foster a culture of inquiry and provide suggestions about how to do this.

Board and staff work more harmoniously in the wake of these workshops, which typically include the collaborative development of an action plan for governance improvement.

Research

The Institute can draw on both its in-house expertise and a broad network of outside experts from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds to provide governance-oriented research to public sector and non-governmental sector organizations.  Our work focuses particularly on the governance of public-purpose organizations, and has included specific subjects such as:

• the governance of regulatory organizations;
• the transition from an informal, small board to a more formal one;
• the governance of professional organizations;
• shared governance among different levels of government;
• networks and their governance challenges;
• the role of board chairs;
• Aboriginal governance.

To find out more about the services outlined above, please contact us.