Governance Decision-Making Tool

Effectiveness and Resilience

The role of designated areas is often one of facilitating and initiating others to carry out actions that benefit the area, rather than always carrying out these actions themselves. This might include simply setting up meetings between different stakeholders, who would then work together on a particular project which benefits the area. Nonetheless there is a need to keep track of whether the area is doing what it set out to do, so there are decisions to be made around how to ensure that this happens. At the same time, any organisation will face changes, whether these are internal (such as changes to staff or board members) or external (such as changes to available funding). There is therefore a need to ensure that organisations are able to adapt to these changes, by regularly reviewing their strategies and governance structures.

Click in the following key questions to get information, practical examples and resources.

• How can we measure our performance against the aims of the area?

• How do we communicate our performance beyond our immediate board, particularly when we only have limited resource?

• What wider issues/areas of focus are likely to draw people in?

• How can we ensure that our governance system can absorb disruption and respond to changes?

• How long should terms be for board members?

• How often should the governance structure be evaluated?

• How often should our strategy be reviewed?