Blog
I recently received two Google Alert e-mails: The first was an article about the Red Cross scandal in China (explaining the impact on the organization’s reputation from a young woman making false claims of management responsibility within a division of the Red Cross (that the Red Cross claimed did not exist) photographed perched bejewelled on a luxury car). The second explained a new donor transparency regulation in China (requiring disclosure on a range of matters relating to the donation, fund-raising practices, and use of funds). (more…)
November 23rd, 2011
20/20 Foresight, 20/20 Foresight @zh, Accountability / Transparency / Risk Management, Board Matters, Board Matters @zh, Crisis Management, Crisis Management @zh, Governance, Accountability and Transparency, Uncategorized
I believe in context. Organizations should situate themselves, whether in the external financial environment, governance/accountability best practices, or senior executive compensation benchmarking. Except when an organization faces a governance/accountability challenge. Then, whatever the context, all eyes belong on the organization. I also believe in expert communication. Except when an organization faces a governance/accountability challenge. Then, however necessary and outstanding the media expertise for a current challenge may be, all eyes belong on the organization’s first in class, previously-implemented governance/accountability policies and practices. (more…)
Before 8:30 am today I encountered at least four different references to the short-termism plaguing our policy, social interaction, and decision-making. A fifth lingered in my thoughts from a dinner last week. Determining the right time frame underlies every non-profit sector issue. (more…)
October 7th, 2011
20/20 Foresight, 20/20 Foresight @zh, Accountability / Transparency / Risk Management, Board Matters, Board Matters @zh, Crisis Management, Crisis Management @zh, Governance, Accountability and Transparency, Uncategorized
As the financial crisis hits yet the number of non-profit organizations continues to increase in many countries, questions of whether and how certain organizations should continue to exist have become front and center. When is a merger the most effective and/or ethical solution? When should an organization shut its doors? When is a third contractual option such as alliances or partnerships (as opposed to institutional restructuring) most effective? As discussed below, these questions are relevant to all organizations as a matter of on-going oversight, even the most successful. (more…)
The news this week, whether the financial markets, the Syrian government’s next steps, the Greece/Spain/Italy saga, the riots in London, or the Horn of Africa, all offer one common theme: highly complex uncertainty. This blog is a short plea for non-profit organisations and anyone working with them from governments to individual and institutional funders to the beneficiaries of their services: don’t lose track of the need to manage uncertainty in all areas of the organization. (more…)