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Board-GM Linkage

B-GM Global – Board-GM Flow of Authority B-GM 1 – Unity of Control B-GM 2 –Accountability of the GM B-GM 3 – Delegation to the GM B-GM 4 – Monitoring GM Performance The monitoring calendar B-GM Global – Board-GM Flow of Authority Approved 8/16/00 The Board of Directors is a policy making body. The link between the board and the operation of the Co-op is limited to its communication with, and direction of, the General Manager (GM). back to top B-GM 1 – Unity of Control Approved 8/16/00 Only decisions of the board acting as a body are binding on the GM. Accordingly, B-GM 1.1: Decisions or instructions of individual board members, officers or committees are not binding on the GM except in rare instances when the board has specifically authorized such exercises of authority. B-GM 1.2: In the case of board members or committees requesting information or assistance without board authorization, the GM can refuse such requests that require, in the GM’s opinion, a material amount of staff time or funds, or are disruptive. back to top B-GM 2 –Accountability of the GM Approved 8/16/00 The GM is the board’s only link to operational achievement and conduct, so that all authority and accountability of staff, as far as the board is concerned, is considered the authority and accountability of the GM. Accordingly, B-GM 2.1: The only employees who will receive instructions from the Board are the Board Administrator and the GM. B-GM 2.2: The board will refrain from evaluating, either formally or informally, any staff other than the GM. B-GM 2.3: The board will view GM performance as identical to organizational performance, so that organizational accomplishment of board-stated Ends and avoidance of board-proscribed means will be viewed as successful GM performance. back to top B-GM 3 – Delegation to the GM Approved 8/16/00 The board will instruct the GM through written policies that proscribe the organizational Ends to be achieved and describe organizational situations and actions to be avoided, allowing the GM to use any reasonable interpretation of these policies. Accordingly, B-GM 3.1: The board will develop policies instructing the GM to achieve certain results, for certain recipients, at a specified cost. These policies will be developed systematically from the broadest. most general level to more defined levels, and will be called Ends policies. B-GM 3.2: The board will develop policies that limit the latitude the GM may exercise in choosing organizational means. These policies will be developed systematically from the broadest. most general level to more defined levels, and will be called Executive Limitations policies. B-GM 3.3: As long as the GM uses any reasonable interpretation of the boards Ends and Executive Limitations policies, the GM is authorized to establish all further policies, make all decisions, establish all practices, and develop all activities. B-GM 3.4: The board may change its Ends and Executive Limitations policies, thereby shifting the boundary between board and GM domains. By doing so, the board changes the latitude of choice given to the GM. But as long as any particular delegation is in place, the board will respect and support the GM’s choices. back to top B-GM 4 – Monitoring GM Performance Approved 8/16/00 Systematic and rigorous monitoring of GM performance will be solely against the only expected GM job outputs: organizational accomplishment of board policies on Ends and organizational operation within the boundaries established in board policies on Executive Limitations. Accordingly, B-GM 4.1: Monitoring is simply to determine the degree to which board policies are being met. Data that do not do this will not be considered to be monitoring data. B-GM 4.2: The board will acquire monitoring data by one or more of three methods: (a) by internal report, in which the GM discloses compliance information to the board; (b) by external report, in which an external, disinterested third party selected by the board assesses compliance with board policies, and (c) by direct board inspection, in which a designated member or members of the board assess compliance with the appropriate policy criteria. B-GM 4.3: In every case, the standard for compliance shall be any reasonable GM interpretation of the board policy being monitored. B-GM 4.4: All policies that instruct the GM will be monitored at a frequency and by a method chosen by the board. The board can monitor any policy at any time by any method, but will ordinarily depend upon a routine schedule. The Board Administrator is responsible for keeping the Policy Governance monitoring schedule and giving people advance notice of upcoming monitoring report dates. back to top The monitoring calendar [Ends policy monitoring will be included in this calendar as the Ends policies are developed.] January EL 4 – Budgeting/Financial Planning: quarterly financial report EL 5 – Financial Condition: monthly GM report to the Board EL 8 – Communication and Counsel to the Board: by acceptance of the GM’s report February EL 5 – Financial Condition: monthly GM report to the Board EL 5 – Financial Condition: External Auditor’s report EL 6 – Asset Protection: end of Q3, by CFO report through the Finance Committee EL 8 – Communication and Counsel to the Board: by acceptance of the GM’s report March EL 5 – Financial Condition: monthly GM report to the Board EL 8 – Communication and Counsel to the Board: by acceptance of the GM’s report April EL 4 – Budgeting/Financial Planning: quarterly financial report EL 5 – Financial Condition: monthly GM report to the Board EL 8 – Communication and Counsel to the Board: by acceptance of the GM’s report May EL 5 – Financial Condition: monthly GM report to the Board EL 8 – Communication and Counsel to the Board: by acceptance of the GM’s report June EL 5 – Financial Condition: monthly GM report to the Board EL 8 – Communication and Counsel to the Board: by acceptance of the GM’s report July EL 1 – Treatment of Consumers: internal report by GM, as part of GM evaluation EL 2 – Staff Treatment: internal report of GM to the Board as part of GM evaluation EL 4 – Budgeting/Financial Planning: quarterly financial report EL 5 – Financial Condition: monthly GM report to the Board EL 7 – Emergency Management Succession: annually by Board member interviews with individuals of the management team, as part of GM evaluation EL 8 – Communication and Counsel to the Board: by acceptance of the GM’s report EL 8 – Communication and Counsel to the Board: as part of GM evaluation August EL 3 – Compensation and Benefits: annual internal report of the GM to the Board EL 5 – Financial Condition: monthly GM report to the Board EL 8 – Communication and Counsel to the Board: by acceptance of the GM’s report September EL 5 – Financial Condition: monthly GM report to the Board EL 8 – Communication and Counsel to the Board: by acceptance of the GM’s report October EL 4 – Budgeting/Financial Planning: quarterly financial report EL 5 – Financial Condition: monthly GM report to the Board EL 8 – Communication and Counsel to the Board: by acceptance of the GM’s report November EL 4 – Budgeting/Financial Planning: review of proposed budget EL 5 – Financial Condition: monthly GM report to the Board EL 8 – Communication and Counsel to the Board: by acceptance of the GM’s report December EL 5 – Financial Condition: monthly GM report to the Board EL 8 – Communication and Counsel to the Board: by acceptance of the GM’s report back to top

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