Delegation – Are We In Control? (Resource contributed by Simon Croft) Boards can’t do everything themselves and need to delegate to get the work of the organisation done, but they have to remain in overall control at all times. It’s therefore important to make sure that everyone is clear on the terms of each delegation. It’s good practice to write down: • Exactly what’s been delegated • Any limits or constraints • How and when to report back If the board is delegating work to a sub-committee that has a large piece of work to do over a long period of time, this might be a document in itself. For small activities it might just mean a line or two in your minutes. Example: The Board decides the organisation should have a new printer. The Board sets a budget figure and delegates someone to research the best printer to buy and buy it. If the costs will exceed the figure given, the person responsible needs to report back to the Board for further advice before purchasing. This means the board remains in control – they can choose to increase the budget or choose to insist on a cheaper printer. If the printer falls within the budget, the board just needs to know the job is done. Writing it down and being clear makes it much less likely that something will go wrong, especially when someone new takes over a task…
Are you happy to take over the newsletter from Jill? Great, he knows the usual format – 60 black and white copies is what we’ve got funding for
Yes, I’d love to! Great, a chance to update it – 500 full colour glossy copies here we come!
See the next page for some simple questions to help you think through your own delegations…
Code of Good Governance for Smaller Organisations: Useful Resources
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Quick Questions: What does your board delegate?
What limits or constraints have you set on these delegations, if any?
Are these sufficient? If not, what else do you need to do?
When and how should the board hear back from each delegation?
How are you keeping an eye on those reporting points?
What will you do if you don’t hear back when you expect to?
Code of Good Governance for Smaller Organisations: Useful Resources
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