Governance of small VCOs

Background

The idea for an IVAR study of governance in small voluntary and community organisations (VCOs), in collaboration with the Institute for Volunteering Research (IVR), has developed out of a number of studies in which governance issues have been either the main focus of the study or an underlying theme. Throughout this work we have become aware of, and begun to explore, some of the particular governance challenges facing small organisations. 

What we know already

Earlier research suggests that organisational size can impact on the roles and responsibilities of board members in terms of the level of commitment required, as well as the balance of time and resources spent on governance related tasks as opposed to operational tasks. Organisational size has also been found to affect the composition of the board in terms of the recruitment and retention of board members with an appropriate skill set. Finally, organisational size can contribute to increased pressure on board-staff relations because of the tendency for the work of small organisations, and their survival, to be concentrated in the hands of a small number of people.
 
Our earlier research on the governance support needs of small VCOs found that the content and delivery of support, and the potential barriers to accessing that support, all need to be considered in the light of organisational size. Similarly, in the recent evaluation of the Code of Good Governance it was concluded that “smaller organisations need tailored and specific help and support”.

Research interests

Building on this earlier work, as well as more recent discussions with volunteer trustees and support organisations, we have identified a number of issues that would benefit from further exploration in small, community-based organisations, including:

• What do organisations perceive to be their main governance challenges?
• How do organisations manage recruitment and retention of board members?
• How do organisations manage relationships between the board, staff and/or volunteers?
• How do organisations make their strategic decisions?
• How do organisations keep abreast of, and adapt to, changes in the external environment?

The study

We are developing the research in line with the principles of action research, beginning our study with some ‘scoping interviews’ in October 2009 with up to six small organisations to get a better feel for the issues identified above. Following this scoping stage, we will refine the focus of the study. It is hoped that the research will then comprise case studies of between 15 and 20 small organisations.
 
Click here to read a summary of the research
 
Contact: Rebecca Moran - rebecca@ivar.org.uk