PERFORMANCE IMPROVEMENT OF A VOLUNTEER BOARD: DESIGNING A STRATEGIC PLAN USING ZOOM

This article describes an initiative of designing a strategic plan with a volunteer board using the online platform Zoom. The article defines the role of boards of directors in general and addresses the special case of volunteer boards, presenting key performance issues of volunteer boards. Emphasis is placed on the relevance of formulating clear, focused understanding of organizational purpose, role clarity and performance expectations, strategic emphasis fortified by clear agendas, the structuring and enlisting of board member contributions to governance, guidance by board staff, and shared versus individual authority of board members. Board strategic planning represents one of the most valuable deliverables by the governing body and provides an avenue of structured contribution that leads to results. Using Zoom as the vehicle for designing the board strategic plan and implementation plan as described in this article optimized adult learning principles and integrated highly structured and persuasive facilitation to generate a strong, well-connected plan, demonstrating the benefits of economy made possible using an online forum. The final product reflected rigorous critical thinking and design for realistic application.