8 October 2004Catholic School Governance Conference1 The Questioning Board strategic thinking -...

8 October 2004 Catholic School Governance Conference 1

The Questioning Boardstrategic thinking - responsible compliance

John Little

Australian Catholic University

Centre for Research into Ethics and Decision-making

in Organizations

NOT Part of NEALS. This material is excluded from NEALS.


What preventsgrowth?

What nurtures growth?


The structure of governance (and control)

Achievement shared

“The Good”

Choice

The Person

Trust

The Ground

Value

Fact


Short answer

Long answer

Who?, what?,

When?, where?..

Why?, how?

Is it?

Will I?

explanation

yes, no

………data1

2

3

4

….. (maybe)

be attentive

be intelligent

be reasonable

be responsible

Questions ………. seeking answers

be open and driving

choice


A new template of control: a dynamic structure

1

2

3

4

Sense and memory.

in touch…see, hear, feel..

imagining,perceiving

intelligence ideas, conceptsunderstanding,insight

reason what is true, real, fact / riskjudging

responsibility Change - and controldeciding

publicpersonal and invisibleenquiry

talk

walk

wonder


Control as compliance

1. within self

2. with others

be attentive

be intelligent

be reasonable

be responsible

be open

Progress if compliance

Decline if not


Some questions for self - inner compliance / integrity

• do I walk the talk?

• does my speech reflect blame or responsibility?

• am I acting on what I judge to be correct?

• have I asked all relevant questions in order to assent?

• am I clear, accurate and complete in what I express?

• do I understand?

• have I got all the data? etc etc…• am I open?

be attentive

be intelligent

be reasonable

be responsible

be open


board

1. Research

2. Opportunities / possibilities

choice

3. Facts / reality / risks / probabilities

4. Positions 5. Vision / mission / values

6. Policy / strategy

7. Plan / capability

8. Action on the groundValued outcomes

The School: co-operating in 8 value-adding products

be attentive

be intelligent

be reasonable

be responsible

be open


Some questions as a board member

1. are we in touch with the business?2. do we understand the industry?

3. have we assessed our risks?4. do we hold what is given to us in

trust?5. does our mission and vision reflect

this?6. do our policies and strategies

reflect our values?

7. is our capability right?8. are we on track - and what research

/ evidence backs this up?

1. Research

2. Opportunities

choice

3. Facts / risks

4. Positions 5. Vision / mission / value

6. Policy / strategy

7. Plan / capability

8. Valued outcomes


The heart of the school: as “the willing” of..

Rights & Responsibilities

Values

bishop

parents

children

principal & staff

CEO

government

community

expressed by entrusting:• capital• resources• powers• values

and reassured by:• attentive• intelligent• rational• responsible

stewardship


The ‘good’ in the willingis the school’s source of values

Particular goods

Openness to transcendent reality

Friendship

Integrity

Truth

Beauty

Achievement (in work and play)

Life itself T Daly

Good orderpositive cash flow sustainability

fulfilling work

safe workplace

just wage

job securityprofessional development

reputation

fair dealings

Rights & Responsibilities

The golden rule

The sleep test

Values

personal

social

Personal good

quality education choice and opportunity

orthodoxy Catholic ethos


What stops one from asking questions?

What helps one to ask questions?

On a board

• fear• lack of knowledge• being put down in the

past• intimidation by others• lack of interest• lack of engagement• specialist interest• pressure to decide and

come to agreement• aggression• defensiveness of others

• openness• encouragement• courage• protocols in place• reading board papers before

meeting• preparation• time to reflect• reduce time pressure• relaxed style• acknowledge that no question is

off the agenda - that all are acceptable

• taking time to answer • valuing them


some excuses for not asking a question• I better not rock the boat

• they will not understand

• I am making a mountain out of a molehill

• I will look a fool

• this is not my area of expertise

• who am I to say anything?

• surely Bill will say something

• the Catholic Ed Off is to blame

• the bishop is not interested

• this is not my business..

• I’ll just wait and see what happens


In conclusion - excellence into the future is promoted ..

..by a questioning board

..which engages

the heart,

mind and

hand

of the school

8 October 2004Catholic School Governance Conference1 The Questioning Board strategic thinking -...

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