Why good governance is so important for family businesses Family businesses are the backbone of our economy. They face their own set of problems and opportunities which are often exacerbated and amplified in the arena of a family. It can be hard to separate family and business life, leading to increased stress for everyone. The …
Good governance in non-profits Whether we’re buying a new car, booking a holiday, or building a strong board, we tend to conduct a cost-benefit analysis, with varying degrees of formality. In considering the cost of effective governance, we should also think long and hard about the potential costs of ineffective governance – a stressed Chief …
Last week Claire Keatinge, the Commissioner for Older People in Northern Ireland stated that criminal charges should be brought against care homes where staff repeatedly fail to meet standards. Her call came at the launch of a review into the regulation of care homes following a number of highly critical reports into several homes. We …
Surely improvements in residential care require a focus on governance? Read More »
A successful organisation uses the time of its board and staff wisely. Keeping meetings focussed on outcomes is an important way to ensure time is not wasted. This requires careful planning and management before, during and after meetings. What do I need to do to ensure meetings are effective? Given that the bulk of …
Have you ever had to chase staff for board papers, not received the papers in time to enable adequate preparation, or not had enough information to be able to ask the right questions at meetings? If you’ve answered yes to any of these, you’re not alone. Effective planning for meetings helps everyone to fulfil their …
Celebrating and improving governance The United Kingdom is regarded as a world-leader in good corporate governance. Sometimes we forget this, particularly when we are faced with press reports of a corporate scandal. However, the recent Financial Reporting Council (FRC) report on ‘Developments in Corporate Governance and Stewardship 2014’ highlights a generally strong corporate governance culture. …
Many organisations organise an annual retreat or away day for the board. While some have been criticised as being a frivolous luxury, an away day can be just what the doctor ordered to develop an agreed vision, encourage fresh thinking, build morale and promote positive relationships. So why do board away days have a bad …
The annual board away day – essential for board development, not a wasteful luxury Read More »
Did you ever think about speaking up in a board meeting and then decide not to because you didn’t want to be impolite or seem like a misfit? If so, you may have been a victim of “Groupthink”. Groupthink is a phenomenon that occurs when the desire for group consensus overrides people’s common sense desire …
The Nolan Principles 25 years on In 1994, the UK government established the Committee on Standards in Public Life. The committee was chaired by Lord Nolan, and was tasked with making recommendations to improve standards of behaviour in public life. The first report of the committee established the seven principles of public life, also known …
Embedding Good Governance When you hear the word ‘governance’, what do you think of? Value for money? Risk and compliance? Box ticking? If any of these spring to mind, you’re not alone. However, what good governance is really about, is developing a culture which allows your organisation to thrive. Well-governed organisations are a joy …
Embedding Good Governance in Organisational Culture – A Journey, Not a Destination Read More »
