A highly-performing board can be the difference between success or failure. It also helps ensure a secure and safe environment for the people they serve. However, internal processes that are not well-organized and the absence of a clear distinction between management and board members could result in dysfunctional boards, which have negative consequences for the business and its staff.

Improving the efficiency of management on boards starts by ensuring that the board has the information they require to make informed decisions. This means ensuring that directors have access to timely and relevant information and that the information is easy to digest. It is also crucial to create a structure that permits a range of opinion and expertise as well as a sensible structure for the committee and management.

Board management software provides directors access to all materials they need for meetings in one central location. They no longer have to go through board packs or emails. It also permits the recording of minutes of meetings and the insights that follow meetings and for action items to be managed throughout the meeting cycle.

Embracing digitisation is a key step in improving efficiency of management on the board. Review your current board software (even if you are still using desktop-based tools) and pinpoint your pain points by using a framework similar to the “needs by meeting stage” above. Run a trial see post of your new software prior to installing it, to ensure that it is seamless and efficient for all members of the board cycle.