One of the best questions asked at the first Governance Committee meeting was “what is our definition of “governance”?
This is a critical question and one that Council and our Senior Management Team should answer together. While governance is ultimately the responsibility of Council, if we try to execute our role in a vacuum we won’t add value to the organization. The whole purpose of good governance is to improve organizational performance and to enhance the performance of management.
There are many definitions of governance. So finding one that works for us will be important.
One definition that I am familiar with is that governance is “the system by which organizations are directed and controlled”. “Direction” is further defined as providing “strategic and long-term direction”, not the day to day direction of activities. “Controlled” is also further defined as gaining assurance that the organization is under control and moving in the right direction. There needs to be a clear understanding of what we mean by “direction” and “control” if this definition is to work. Otherwise, we risk Council micromanaging the organization (remember, the goal of good governance is to add value to the organization).
Another definition of governance is “the systems and processes concerned with ensuring the overall direction, effectiveness, supervision and accountability of an organization”. This definition might resonate more strongly in the municipal world. We might also consider “transparency” as key element to include in our definition.
By ensuring that we start with a clear understanding of what we mean by governance, the committee will be better positioned to effectively fulfill the mandate it has been delegated by Council.
Filed under: Excellence in Municipal Governance
