Policy Governance System Archives - The Governance Coach

Change or Growth?

Posted by Jannice Moore
On May 13, 2021
Board Development, Board Leadership, Policy Governance System

Every now and then, I run into a board that has been using Policy Governance®, often for some time, and decides it wants a “change” – just to try something different. Almost always, this desire is precipitated by a significant turnover in board members, and a failure on the part of the board to have […]

Stakeholders’ Place in Governance

Posted by David Gray
On February 11, 2021
Owners and Ownership, Policy Governance System

A recent article on boardagenda.com caught my eye[1]. The thrust of the article is that, as a result of the pandemic, businesses are being compelled to “…adopt more of a ‘stakeholder’ approach to governance.” To this end, the article argues that businesses ought to have “…a special committee to represent stakeholder interests to the board […]

With Apologies to Julia Child – The Art of Governance through Mastery of First Principles

Posted by Rose Mercier
On January 13, 2021
Policy Governance System

Every once in while, I read something that produces an ‘eureka’ moment. That happened last week when an article about Julia Child was brought to my attention. If you knew how much I enjoy being creative in the kitchen, you might not be surprised I responded enthusiastically to the Farnham Street post.[1] But it wasn’t […]

Accountability: A Governance Imperative for Charities – and Others

Posted by Jannice Moore
On December 9, 2020
Accountability, Policy Governance System

The effects of the pandemic have created a significant hit on the bottom line for charities. As many businesses have scaled down or shut down, temporarily or permanently, resulting in job losses, an Angus Reid poll in Canada earlier this fall (even before the second COVID wave hit) indicated 37 per cent of those surveyed […]

Make a Real Strategic Difference: Stop Managing and Start Governing!

Posted by Paul Zilz
On September 9, 2020
Clear Delegation, Governance Improvement, Policy Governance System, Strategic Focus, Strategic Leadership

I recently observed a board meeting where the board discussed whether or not to renew a contract with one of the organization’s vendors. Clearly, a majority of board members and the Executive Director were frustrated by a perceived lack of responsiveness from this vendor, and alternatives had been explored. Inevitably, someone asked if a motion […]

The ‘Minister’ Question

Posted by David Gray
On April 1, 2020
Ends, Policy Governance System

One of the most powerful features of the Policy Governance® system is its relentless focus on effectiveness. I have a favourite question I like to ask the boards of the Māori organisations I work with, early in our relationship. (Māori are the indigenous people of New Zealand, which is where I live.) Here it is: […]

SO YOU’RE A POLICY GOVERNANCE CYNIC

Posted by Ted Hull
On January 29, 2020
Policy Governance System

I was in my rookie year of consulting to boards in the area of Policy Governance®. I knew the model well enough to present it with clarity and accuracy. What I had not faced were the objections to the model. “So tell me how this model is better than any other model,” a board member challenged. I […]

At What Point do I Begin?

Posted by Eric Phinney
On January 8, 2020
Board Development, Governance Improvement, Policy Governance System

I am always pleased when I am invited by an organization to come and help them with their board of directors. Then comes the fine tuning of the invitation. They have requested to see all the various “systems” of board governance and learn their advantages and disadvantages. Usually boards are using a process they have inherited that is based on tradition, an application of Robert’s Rules of […]

Policy Governance®: A Values-Based Model

Posted by David Gray
On September 11, 2019
Policy Governance System, Values

If you’ve had anything to do with the team here at The Governance Coach™, you’ll know that we are big fans of the Policy Governance® system first developed by John Carver back in the 1970s. And for good reason: over a period of 25 years, we’ve helped more than 500 boards work with the system, […]

Policy Governance® – One Size Fits All?

Posted by Rose Mercier
On August 21, 2019
Policy Governance System

The Value of a Robust System Regarding Risk

Posted by Jannice Moore
On August 7, 2019
Executive Limitations, Policy Governance System, Risk

A recent Governance Briefing from Davis Polk* details an interesting decision from the Delaware Supreme Court on the importance of boards exercising oversight of risk. The case revolved around a listeria outbreak at an ice cream production facility, which resulted in devastating losses, including several deaths. To quote from the article, “the case tells us […]

New Ways of doing things

Posted by Eric Phinney
On April 9, 2019
Policy Governance System

As we continue our cruise up the coast of North America in the Intracoastal Waterway, we have visited many cities and towns. We have embraced many new ideas and come to understand that there are many ways of doing things. Today, as we went ashore in Charleston, SC to get some groceries, we saw two […]

Policy Governance® for the Generations

Posted by Rose Mercier
On May 8, 2018
Board Recruitment, Policy Governance System

I coach an organization that, like many other organizations, is wondering how changing population demographics will affect them. They have been proactively trying to understand how their association will be relevant in the future to the various generations – Baby Boomers, Generation X, Generation Y (Millennials), and Generation Z. Their Governance Committee recently spent several […]

What’s The Plan?

Posted by Dee Incoronato
On April 17, 2018
Policy Governance System

We’ve all been asked, “What’s the plan?” At home, at work, with friends and family everyone asks about the plan. Who is making the plan and who is in charge of the plan? Plans can be short or long depending upon their purpose. If I plan to make dinner tonight, I need a place to […]

Is Your Board Sprouting Suckers?

Posted by Jannice Moore
On November 28, 2017
Policy Governance System

I recently had an old lilac tree removed from my yard and had someone come to grind out the main stump. Then I decided it would be a good place to create a new garden bed, but there was a lot of work to be done to prepare the bed. Since my approach to life […]

Evolving Governance Practices or new Governance Technology?

Posted by Richard Stringham
On October 24, 2017
Governance Best Practices, Owners and Ownership, Policy Governance System

These days, we have come to expect remarkable changes in our lives based on technological innovations. Could such innovations apply to governance? In his informative and charming video lectures, Professor Bob Tricker explains how corporate governance has evolved over centuries. One turning point in particular was the revolutionary concept of the joint-stock, limited liability company. […]

Make a Real Strategic Difference: Stop Managing and Start Governing!

Posted by Paul Zilz
On October 10, 2017
Clear Delegation, Governance Improvement, Policy Governance System, Strategic Focus, Strategic Leadership

Kinda’ Doing Policy Governance®

Posted by Ted Hull
On October 3, 2017
Policy Governance System

You are likely reading this blog because you have some familiarity with a board which professes to be using Policy Governance®. Maybe your board has been using the “Carver model” for years or it is using a hybrid model of Policy Governance. I was hardly aware of Policy Governance when I was serving with an […]

What’s so Great About Policy Governance®?

Posted by Jannice Moore
On July 18, 2017
Policy Governance System

Wave After Wave After Wave…

Posted by Andrew Bergen
On February 21, 2017
Objections to Policy Governance, Policy Governance System

My wife and I recently had the pleasure of a vacation on the coast of Mexico. We were even upgraded to a suite on the 4th floor overlooking the beach and the ocean. We spent many hours watching the waves, breathing the fresh air, and lapping up the environment. My mind became consumed with two […]

Don’t Resolve – Commit!

Posted by Jannice Moore
On January 3, 2017
Policy Governance Implementation, Policy Governance System

Did your board make any New Year’s Resolutions? (I don’t mean the kind that say, “RESOLVED: to accept the budget.”) I’m here to suggest that your board NOT make resolutions. Too often, resolutions end up being wishful thinking. Unless they are truly a COMMITMENT, nothing changes. So why not make a few meaningful board commitments […]

Everything is NOT Fine

Posted by Dee Incoronato
On December 5, 2016
CEO Evaluation, Monitoring, Policy Governance System

A non-profit behavioral health organization I work with has an awareness campaign entitled “Everything is Not Fine.” Their clientele are children, youth and families. We all know this story. A loved one walks in the front door and you ask, “How was school? How was your day?” The typical answer: “Fine.” In spite of what […]

Soap Doesn’t Work

Posted by Jannice Moore
On November 21, 2016
Policy Governance System

You may have heard the story of two men walking down the street who spied a little boy with a very dirty face. One turned to the other and said, “Look at that dirty child! It’s clear that soap doesn’t work.” I am reminded of that story frequently when I read news articles referring to […]