May 2005
Governance
Governance Matters…an
initiative by Murray Culshaw Consulting focuses on enabling good
Boards and promoting best governance practices in the Indian
voluntary sector.
Governance Matters offers 3 areas of support to NGO Boards
1. Board Member Placement services
This involves matching of organisation board needs with the placement of potential Board members. Steps in placement include
2. Board Development /Training
This refers to both generic and customised training to organisations on good practices
3. Strategic Interventions
Crisis Management- Boards and Chief Executives are often faced with single point issues that require resolution and proactive intervention to enhance their governance function. Examples may include influencing an inactive board member, removal of a trouble monger, assessing the Chief executive’s performance, bringing about new leadership etc. MCC offers customised conflict resolution by understanding all perspectives and offering advice which is neutral and objective.
4. Developing a code of Good Governance Practice
MCC will evolve a code of Good Governance Practice through research on existing positive practices in the sector and discussion within the sector on the same.
The Code of Good Governance will be category specific and will incorporate factors such as the legal mandates that govern the sector, organisation type, growth stage and scope and so on.
The Consulting Team
Murray Culshaw is member on several Boards of both Indian and International organisations. He has offered strategic advice and consulted many NGOs on specific strategic governance issues.
Aarti Madhusudan a graduate from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai and NIMHANS , Bangalore, she is also a fellow of Board Source USA, which is one of the world’s leading institutions offering technical guidance and advice on issues in NGO Boards and governance. Aarti has over 4 years of experience both in India and the UK where she was earlier located, consulting and offering advice to both Indian and International organisations on their Board related issues.
Governance Matters offers 3 areas of support to NGO Boards
1. Board Member Placement services
This involves matching of organisation board needs with the placement of potential Board members. Steps in placement include
- Board profiling- In order to be able to place appropriate members on boards, it is essential to find out what exactly the board of an NGO requires in terms of skill sets and competencies, at a given stage of organisational growth. Board needs will be drawn up for specific organisations based on what individual needs are in terms of a board profile through discussions with the CEO/Chair of the organisation
- Short listing of potential candidates Usually, boards require a balance of representation from the corporate, government, nonprofit and the media sectors- in addition to the presence of a range of qualities and qualifications in the individual members. Potential Board members will be shortlisted based on suggestions from the CEO as well as from MCC’s own Trustee bank.
- Placement of Board member -MCC will support the CEO/Chair in the final placement of the Board member through identification and drafting of individual role and responsibilities and enabling a mutual agreement between the potential Board member and the CEO/Chair.
2. Board Development /Training
This refers to both generic and customised training to organisations on good practices
- Needs assessment -This involves identifying areas within the organisation’s Board that require strenghthening through a strategic review of the Board’s performance/ contributions.
- Training and customised consulting - Based on the needs identified, MCC offers customised training to Board members and the CEO in areas that need additional inputs/strengthening in
- Generic training in Best Practices - Board members and Chief executives of NGOs will receive inputs in best governance practices. Examples include developing a governance policy manual for the organisation, board self-assessments, role clarity, inputs in specific functions like strategic planning, law, understanding financial issues etc. MCC will be supported in this through other consultants and technical specialists where necessary.
3. Strategic Interventions
Crisis Management- Boards and Chief Executives are often faced with single point issues that require resolution and proactive intervention to enhance their governance function. Examples may include influencing an inactive board member, removal of a trouble monger, assessing the Chief executive’s performance, bringing about new leadership etc. MCC offers customised conflict resolution by understanding all perspectives and offering advice which is neutral and objective.
4. Developing a code of Good Governance Practice
MCC will evolve a code of Good Governance Practice through research on existing positive practices in the sector and discussion within the sector on the same.
The Code of Good Governance will be category specific and will incorporate factors such as the legal mandates that govern the sector, organisation type, growth stage and scope and so on.
The Consulting Team
Murray Culshaw is member on several Boards of both Indian and International organisations. He has offered strategic advice and consulted many NGOs on specific strategic governance issues.
Aarti Madhusudan a graduate from Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai and NIMHANS , Bangalore, she is also a fellow of Board Source USA, which is one of the world’s leading institutions offering technical guidance and advice on issues in NGO Boards and governance. Aarti has over 4 years of experience both in India and the UK where she was earlier located, consulting and offering advice to both Indian and International organisations on their Board related issues.