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  • 1.  Increasing Board Effectiveness

    Posted 9 days ago

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

    Posted 8 days ago

    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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    Original Message


  • 3.  RE: Increasing Board Effectiveness

    Posted 3 days ago

    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 yesterday

    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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    Original Message


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