NSNU Board Norms. (Reviewed and approved, October 2007) Decision-Making The Board agrees that decision-making can become more structured and efficient by ensuring that the following questions are addressed: • What is the decision that needs to be made? • When does the decision need to be made? • How does this decision fit with the goals, guiding principles and legal obligations of NSNU? • What are the alternatives available? How realistic and achievable are these alternatives? What are the risks inherent in each alternative? What are the possible and/or likely outcomes of each alternative? • What is the effect on stakeholders and various constituent groups? • What is the decision’s impact on resource requirements? • What is our plan for evaluation of this decision? • How (and by whom) will the decision be communicated? It is agreed that, insofar as possible, information that addresses these above decision-making questions will be prepared by paid staff, committees, and others as may be appropriate, and pre- circulated to Board Members prior to Board meetings. Consensus shall be the Board’s method of decision-making with voting being reserved as a ‘last resort’ method. This is not intended to preclude the need to meet parliamentary requirements for minutes and other meeting records. The Board defines ‘consensus’ as follows: Consensus decisions occur when each Board member has voiced their needs, interests and concerns, when there has been full consideration of these needs, interests and concerns, and when all Board members agree, “I can live with and support this decision”. Board decisions are ultimately always supported by individual Board and staff members and individuals will be held accountable for any breach of this agreement. Communication of decision-making requires prior development of a communication strategy, including key messages that individual Board Members agree to communicate. The Board must make decisions with shared conviction, but there will be occasions where there has been a substantive change in the nature of the information initially provided to the Board. In these situations, the Board will be amenable to revisiting decisions. Although Regional and Component Representatives are elected, all Board Members must take a provincial perspective in formulating policy and in making decisions. Conflict Resolution Conflict is a naturally occurring phenomenon in any group and it is healthy and constructive if it is dealt with in the following manner: • Determine...
