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Governance and Leadership Collaborative Research
28 May 2009
In September 2008 OSCR co-commissioned research by Cranfield University into the governance and leadership characteristics of the Scottish Third Sector. The September survey was followed by a forum in February this year, hosted by the Scottish Government where Board members, Chairs and Chief Officers of Scottish Third Sector Organisations were given the chance to explore the implications of the research.
The research partners: OSCR, Supporting Voluntary Action and the Association of Chief Officers of Scottish Voluntary Organisations, supported by the Scottish Government; have now published the full results of the research:
The researchers found that although the boards of Scottish Third Sector organisations are performing relatively well, there are some areas for improvement. Of particular note was the difference in opinion between Chief Officers and Chairs - with Chief Officers consistently less positive in their views. The differences found in the Scottish Third Sector survey are larger than those found for other surveys undertaken by the researchers.
Issues arising from discussions at the February event included the importance of board composition and selection; clarity of roles; a need for monitoring board performance; and time for board development activities.
The research and discussion group findings highlight several development opportunities for the sector and raise awareness of the importance of governance and leadership practices in building the capability of the Third Sector to ensure it reaches its full potential.
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