Disscussion: Importance of Board Orientation and Training
Board Governance & Volunteer Management
DUE THURSDAY 9PM NEW YORK TIME. APA FORMAT 1-2 PAGES
The capacity of a board to govern effectively is greatly influenced by the ability of its members to work together. Proper orientation allows new board members to feel comfortable at and contribute productively to their very first board meeting. Ongoing education for new and returning board members ensures that all members have the same information and provides a forum for meeting other needs as well.
As you review this week’s readings, you may notice that board leadership and governance are contingent upon a knowledge and understanding of organizational issues. The key is to identify those that are most important and to create a way to orient and educate board members about them.
To prepare for this Discussion:
- Review the course media, “Orientation and Training,” with Simone Joyaux. Pay close attention to the reasons why board orientation and education are important.
- Consider how board orientation and training might improve the functioning of the board.
- Review the article, “Building Better Boards,” and think about how orientation and training needs are identified and addressed.
- Reflect on what you have learned in past weeks about boards and their functioning. Consider topics that you believe are important for board members to know about, and other needs of theirs that should be met, that might be included in an orientation or training.
With these thoughts in mind:
Post Thursday 9pm New York Time two reasons why board orientation and training are important. Use specific examples. Then, post two specific topic areas that all board members (new and returning) must know about, and/or needs that need to be met, and why they are important. Explain, for each, whether it should be a part of an orientation, a training, or both, and why.
Readings
- Course Text: Extraordinary Board Leadership
- Chapter 4, “Board Self-Management” (pp. 88-92)
- Article: Nadler, D. (2004). Building better boards. Harvard Business Review, 82(5), 102-111.
Use the Business Source Premier database, and search using the article’s title.
- Article: Stratton, S. (2005). Board orientation and board culture. Corporate Board, 26(154), 21-25.
Use the Business Source Premier database, and search using the article’s title.
Media
Video: Laureate Education, Inc. (Executive Producer). (2009). Board governance and volunteer management: Orientation and training. Baltimore: Author. http://youtu.be/viLaV-qj2eY
Be sure to support your postings and responses with specific references to the Learning Resources.
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