Organizational Skills and Management

ORGANIZATIONAL GOVERNANCE

Overview

The purpose of this module is to support the effective facilitation of a discussion about board governance among individuals who express an interest in economic development. Roles within boards are covered, in addition to committee functions, useful partnerships, learning how to develop a practical approach to applying good governance practices, and protocol for the purpose of achieving individual and organizational success.

As an all-in-one approach to learning about roles within community development, Organizational Governance takes information from areas such as risk management and legal liability to provide applicable tips and suggestions.

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BOARD ORIENTATION

Overview

As an introduction to the principles, practices, and processes of economic development, this module is intended to orientate participants to the expectations, roles and responsibilities of board governance and membership.

The information is designed to apply broadly to those who may already be involved with a board, who are seeking to understand their “fit”, in economic development, or who are simply trying to further their knowledge and apply such learning to their own situations. Some of the issues presented are the organizational structure and operations of boards, a brief understanding of board roles, and dealing with change.

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MEETING MANAGEMENT

Overview

This module provides a comprehensive look at what makes a meeting efficient and how to apply these principles to one’s team. There are four broad dimensions to Meeting Management: planning and preparation, the efficient disposal of business, open participation with adherence to the rules of parliamentary procedure, and the assignment of responsibility with effective follow-up on decisions.

Briefly covered is the concept of virtual meetings. As an emerging trend for organizational interaction, the information provided will help bridge the gap between the effectiveness of real-life vs. virtual gatherings.

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LEADERSHIP AND MOTIVATION

Overview

Performance within organizations depends on two main factors: the type of leadership that exists and individual motivation. Since both concepts are primarily internal in nature, this module looks at them through a psychological framework which allows for flexible application to real-life situations.

Motivation uses classic theories, such as Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, to determine an organization’s role in fulfilling intrinsic and extrinsic desires. The concept of leadership brings forward the qualities of successful leaders and the importance of considering the interplay between leader and situation in determining the best style to use.

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INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS

Overview

This session primarily deals with the type of communication that occurs in and around organizations; between employees/volunteers, directors, public bodies, etc. Interpersonal Communications analyzes the classic sender, message, and receiver model while exploring complications that may arise in terms of the type of channel used, inevitable barriers (e.g. ineffective listening), and other factors such as culture or nonverbal cues.

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COMMUNICATIONS PLANNING

Overview

This session deals with communication as a strategic tool, whether in the form of public relations, marketing, advertising, or promotion. The main goal of this section is to develop understandings of the target audience and how to reach them effectively, whether it is through traditional or social media. Highlights include how to prepare for interviews and considering the use of websites and news releases.

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RISK MANAGEMENT (COMING SOON)

Overview

This session focuses on developing an understanding of how to assess and manage risk within existing/planned activities and programs, defining risk management, and providing an overview of the steps to take to develop a risk management plan.

In focusing on assessing risks, the module outlines the importance of context, strategies such as risk avoidance and sharing, the role of insurance, and the value of the Composite Risk Index. There is also a walkthrough of integrating the Risk Matrix as another useful tool in a risk management strategy.

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FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT (COMING SOON)

Overview

This session covers basic information for the non-financial board member and provides practical approaches to making financial statements understandable. Topics covered include roles of board members and staff, budget development and relationship to planning, an overview of the basics of bookkeeping, and understanding financial statements.

Some highlights of the module are the explanation of the Statement of Financial Position, basic rules of accounting, and a straightforward application of the information provided in the form of examples. The value of Financial Management stems from its comprehensive, broad nature, and the fact that it is easily tailored to a groups needs depending on their past experiences with finances.

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