Any Reasonable Interpretation Archives

Word Smith & Word Smart

Posted by Rose Mercier
On March 3, 2022
Any Reasonable Interpretation, Policy Development

I draft a lot of documents – reports, articles like this one, policies, memos, letters, bylaws, social media posts, etc. If you write a lot, it is easy to get caught up in trying to find the precise words to say what you mean. The dictionary defines ‘wordsmith’ as “an expert in the use of […]

Why the Board Chair Should Not Interpret the Board’s Directives to the CEO?

Posted by Richard Stringham
On January 13, 2022
Any Reasonable Interpretation, Board Chair Role, Board Communication, One Voice

When I first began governance consulting, I often ran into a misconception that the Board Chair was the CEO’s boss. I don’t encounter that nearly so often these days; but an odd remnant of that view still pops up – some think that the Chair should be the board’s spokesperson to the CEO. If I […]

Where is Mr. Spock When You Need Him?

Posted by Richard Stringham
On June 24, 2021
Any Reasonable Interpretation

In previous careers, I have worked for several CEOs of non-profit organizations in which the respective boards weren’t using Policy Governance®. Meetings of the board were always intriguing from the perspective of understanding what the board was thinking. Prior to a meeting, as we put proposals together for the board’s consideration (yes, these were reactive […]

Monitoring as Measurement

Posted by David Gray
On August 27, 2020
Accountability, Any Reasonable Interpretation, Monitoring

I’ve had occasion in recent times to observe a number of boards undertaking monitoring activities. A couple of takeaways have stuck in my mind as a result of these experiences, one of which I’ll describe below and the other I’ll describe in a subsequent blog. One characteristic common to each of the monitoring processes I […]

Why shouldn’t a board approve the CEO’s plans?

Posted by Rose Mercier
On February 26, 2020
Accountability, Any Reasonable Interpretation, Board Role

One of the changes a board experiences when it begins to use Policy Governance® is a move away from a more traditional decision-making process where the CEO requires the board’s approval before proceeding with any plan. Instead, it delegates authority to the CEO to achieve its policies (reasonably interpreted, of course) using whatever plans the CEO determines are necessary. First the board must determine the benefits to be produced, who is to benefit, and the worth of producing those […]

The Blame Game

Posted by Rose Mercier
On October 23, 2019
Accountability, Any Reasonable Interpretation, Monitoring

I read a series of reports in my local paper chronicling the hand-wringing of the board of a local municipal agency about what it could do about credit card expenses that had been submitted by a previous CEO – two years since departed. The board was not happy about what it had discovered. The local exotic dancing venue seemed to have been a favourite venue for entertaining prospective businesses or partners…One can perhaps understand the board’s discomfort. The […]

Should the Board Approve CEO Interpretations in Policy Governance®?

Posted by Jannice Moore
On June 25, 2019
Any Reasonable Interpretation, Monitoring

I’m often asked what the board should or should not “approve” in Policy Governance. This is an area that sometimes results in confusion because it requires a shift in mindset from traditional governance practices. Traditionally governed boards “approve” (or adopt, or accept) all manner of operational decisions. I am going to limit this blog to […]

The Challenges of the Reasonable Interpretation

Posted by Ted Hull
On May 15, 2018
Any Reasonable Interpretation

If you have any familiarity with Policy Governance®, you will have heard the term any reasonable interpretation. It is the Policy Governance principle that in my experience is the one most often misunderstood. If you are not familiar with this principle, let me briefly explain it. A Policy Governance board will develop a variety of […]

Board To The Rescue…Or Not

Posted by Rose Mercier
On July 4, 2017
Any Reasonable Interpretation, Clear Delegation

From time to time I hear from a board chair who says something like this, “We have a crisis that needs to be dealt with and we’re not sure where it goes on the agenda.” Inevitably, the image of a sea rescue helicopter comes to mind. I picture the board climbing down the ladder and […]

Word Smith & Word Smart

Posted by Rose Mercier
On February 14, 2017
Any Reasonable Interpretation, Policy Development

Where is Mr. Spock When You Need Him?

Posted by Richard Stringham
On January 24, 2017
Any Reasonable Interpretation

In previous careers, I have worked for a few CEOs of non-profit organizations in which the respective boards weren’t using Policy Governance®. Meetings of the board were always intriguing from the perspective of understanding what the board was thinking. Prior to a meeting, as we put proposals together for the board’s consideration (yes, these were […]