GovernBest

Frameworks

---

There is no group in organizational life whose actions can so profoundly influence the survival, success and significance of an organization.

We find that boards govern best when they establish and maintain a set of "boundary conditions" that embody their vision and values, the goals that capture the imagination of stakeholders, their policies regarding key tradeoffs and a "working hypothesis" on the broad strategy for creating their "preferred future".

Boards also do well to establish "rules of engagement" among themselves and with staff regarding their working relationships. Such "rules" ensure alignment with management and promote fidelity to the interests of their stakeholders. Both these "conventions" are best developed against the backdrop of a collective "context map" reflecting the key attributes of their environment.

In our experience, boards can dramatically improve their effectiveness by systematically applying these "tools". The resulting clarity enables them to develop the competence of their members, the diversity of their membership and the capacity of their group to function as a high performing team prepared to apply their energies to guiding policies, alternative futures and enhanced distinctiveness among their peers.

Board development

• Overview
• Frameworks
• Assessment