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  • 1.  Increasing Board Effectiveness

    Posted 11-16-2025 12:08 PM

    What can be shared about the experience of the ASCE Board and the decision to reduce the Board size from 18 to 12 members? See Board eager to embrace change as it looks toward the future. 

    Decision boards can be at all levels, and it would be interesting to hear about the lessons learned and drivers for this change, to benefit others who interact with boards.

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    Board eager to embrace change as it looks toward the future
    Civil engineering is perhaps a profession in a perpetual state of evolution.
    View this on Asce >



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    Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE
    Houston, TX
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  • 2.  RE: Increasing Board Effectiveness

    Posted 11-17-2025 12:11 PM

    I'd like to see a more thorough explanation for reducing Board size. The one given in the article is brief -- "better equipping leadership to act more nimbly; a board that is more strategic and agile" -- and sounds to me as if it's obscuring the real reasons. How do 12 people plus increased layering increase strategic thinking? Exactly how will the new structure be more nimble and agile? The Board probably had specific thoughts on these questions and I'd like to hear them.

    Bill Mc



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    William McAnally Ph.D., P.E., BC.CE, BC.NE, F.ASCE
    ENGINEER
    Columbus MS
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  • 3.  RE: Increasing Board Effectiveness

    Posted 11-22-2025 12:04 PM

    With the qualifier that I do not know the workings of the ASCE board, I know that making boards work effectively is extremely difficult. My experience comes from running an early project decision board for several years, and from professional articles on board effectiveness from the Harvard Business Review. Challenges include alignment of purpose and putting the mission ahead of one's self-interest, preparation, collaboration, and adherence to a quality-based decision-making process. Many times, recommendations are cast as decisions, but without options, there is no decision. Good decision-making takes real work and commitment. 

    Intuitively, I think 12 is a better number than 18, it's also more aligned with corporate board size, It would also be good to learn more about what is done or planned by way of training and coaching, and sharing of best practices. Ditto for how priorites are established. 



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    Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE
    Houston, TX
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    Original Message


  • 4.  RE: Increasing Board Effectiveness

    Posted 11-24-2025 11:31 AM

    I have no inside knowledge, but I would be surprised if cost was not a significant reason for the reduction.



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    Timothy Murphy P.E., M.ASCE
    Professor
    Trine University
    Angola IN
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  • 5.  RE: Increasing Board Effectiveness

    Posted 12-04-2025 02:39 PM

    So nobody with direct knowledge of the change has posted. This is sad. Another missed opportunity to collaborate. 



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    Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE
    Houston, TX
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  • 6.  RE: Increasing Board Effectiveness

    Posted 12-10-2025 10:28 PM
    Edited by Tirza Austin 12-10-2025 10:28 PM

    Thank you @Mitchell Winkler for bringing up this important topic. The Task Committee will be answering questions in an AMA style discussion. You can register here: Proposed Changes to ASCE Governance - Ask the Committee. If you register for the event, I will send a reminder when the thread opens. ASCE appreciates all questions and members of the committee leading this virtual event. 



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    Tirza Austin
    Senior Manager, Online Community
    American Society of Civil Engineers
    1801 Alexander Bell Drive
    Reston, VA 20191
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  • 7.  RE: Increasing Board Effectiveness

    Posted 04-03-2026 12:31 PM

    I read in today's Source that the Board decided to back off its plans to move to a geographically based governance framework. See https://www.asce.org/publications-and-news/civil-engineering-source/article/2025/11/07/board-eager-to-embrace-change-as-it-looks-toward-the-future

    Maybe the Board should have waited for the new CEO to be on seat before taking a decision of this significance. Regardless, this should be taken as a learning opportunity around decision quality. For those not familiar with Decision Quality (DQ), this is a good resource: https://www.decisionprofessionals.com/who-we-are/decision-quality

    Based on today's source article, it sounds like the 2025 decision might have been weak in several DQ attributes. Learning more would help us all learn. 

    How have others reacted to this development, and what recommendations do you have for the Board?



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    Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE
    Houston, TX
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  • 8.  RE: Increasing Board Effectiveness

    Posted 05-11-2026 11:30 AM

    it would be great if someone in the know could respond to this. 



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    Mitch Winkler P.E.(inactive), M.ASCE
    Houston, TX
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    Original Message


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