The New Board Conundrum—Managing Value

One common theme in discussions with my colleagues at OPEN MINDS about management strategy is that many boards of directors of health and human service organizations are not up for the task of governance in our changing environment. The focus on value and increasing financial risk in contracts is testing the limits of board governance, particularly for non-profit/tax-exempt organizations.

The role of board members is traditionally focused on financial controls and financial sustainability—defined as a "positive bottom line." For non-profit/tax-exempt organizations, this also means seeking financial donations to support the organization's mission . . .