window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);} gtag('js', new Date()); gtag('config', 'UA-60020161-1');

policy governance

Unacceptable Monitoring Reports

By |2023-05-05T20:08:07-04:00January 23rd, 2013|

Boards monitor policy to find out whether their expectations are being met.  A board needs to respond to an unacceptable monitoring report appropriately in order to fulfill its fiduciary responsibility to the co-op's owners. When the General Manager's monitoring doesn't meet the board's expectations the board needs to give clear direction to the Manager. Why do we monitor policy? Boards that use written policy [...]

Writing Ends Policies

By |2023-05-05T20:08:32-04:00September 6th, 2012|

Where we are headed matters. If we don’t know where we are going any road will do. A primary responsibility of a board is to define the reason for the organization’s existence.  What are we here for?  What should be different because we exist? For whom? For a board that uses Policy Governance®, Ends are written policies which define a) results, outcomes or benefits [...]

Policy Governance Implementation

By |2024-07-11T17:58:20-04:00November 7th, 2011|

This Field Guide outlines the basic steps, timeline, and critical factors for successful implementation of Policy Governance (sometimes referred to herein as “PG”). When implementing Policy Governance, it is important to move forward relatively quickly in order to not lose momentum, while taking enough time to make thoughtful and informed decisions. Main Steps for Implementing Policy Governance Investigate – Learn about Policy Governance principles, [...]

Acting on Ends Reports

By |2023-05-05T20:21:50-04:00February 25th, 2010|

When a board receives an Ends monitoring report from their manager, a thoughtful process can transform the report from just another document to file away into a valuable resource that helps the board, the manager and the co-op’s member-owners better understand the “story” of their co-op. The board wants to know: Does the report demonstrate reasonable accomplishment? Are we on track for multi-year goals/targets [...]

Taking Policy Governance to Heart

By |2023-05-05T20:22:06-04:00March 28th, 2009|

A great cooperative thinker, Sid Pobihushchy, wrote an article in 2002 to help us understand the 10 cooperative values, “The Cooperative Values: Their meaning and practical significance” (find it at The Columinate Library). In his opening paragraph, he asserted that the cooperative movement and its businesses are the only way to accomplish the objective of community, the optimum condition for human fulfillment; that cooperative [...]

Management Evaluation Under Policy Governance

By |2023-05-08T14:43:54-04:00September 7th, 1999|

By Marilyn Scholl 084 September - October - 1999 The relationship between the board and the general manager is probably the most important relationship in a co-op. To be successful, a cooperative needs a strong manager AND a strong board AND a strong, effective relationship between the two. In 22 years of working for and with food co-ops, I have seen too many examples [...]

Using Policy Governance to Improve Board Leadership

By |2023-05-08T14:43:58-04:00September 4th, 1998|

By Marilyn Scholl 078 September - October - 1998 Food cooperatives around the country are talking about Policy Governance -- a system of board leadership developed by John Carver. While people are drawn to the simple logic behind Policy Governance, it is quite different from previous board experiences. Governance is an important job and should be done well. As the Food Front Cooperative board [...]

Governance Toolbox: for Directors of Natural Food Co-ops

By |2023-05-08T14:43:59-04:00December 31st, 1997|

by Mary Courteau & Corinne Shindelar In the fall of 1996, over 200 directors of natural food co-ops were surveyed for a project funded by Northcountry Cooperative Development Fund and the National Cooperative Bank Development Corporation. The goal of this joint project was to provide enhanced assistance to borrowers. By directly contacting board members, the survey aimed to reach a critical mass of its [...]

This website uses cookies and third party services. Settings ACCEPT

Tracking Cookies

Basic analytics and user activity tracking.

Third-party Content

Required for Youtube videos and other off-site content.