AVRDC Board of Directors Self Assessment - Summary of Results 2010

AVRDC’s Board is unique and is self-governing. Nevertheless it should strive to assess the quality of its performance regularly for purposes of demonstrating good governance.

Thequestionnaire was answered by each individual Board member from their personal perspective. It is designed to record the Board’s overall performance and is not designed to monitor the performance of individual Board members.

  • The questionnaire was filled in anonymously. A section where additional commentary, e.g., such as how the Board might do better in a particular area is provided in thequestionnaire. The answers were ranked from 1 (Not Satisfied) to 4 (Very satisfied). An unsure (US) column is provided for unsure answers. ‘US’ responses are shaded green.
  • Twelve of the 15 Board members (80%) filled the Board of Directors’ self appraisal questionnaire and are anonymously identified as A to L. The questionnairefilled earlier by Sally Smith to assess the form used is included in the summary of results. The following were not able to do the self appraisal due to their absence from the Board meeting: Mark Holderness, Marlene Diekmann, and Joel Rudinas.
  • There are a total of 44 items to be filled.The overall average score is 3.3 (Attachment I). One question that got the lowest average scoreof 2.55 is item 5.1, with four scores of ‘2’ and onescore of ‘1’. Another low average score of 2.64 can be attributed to four scores of ‘2’ and one score of ‘1’ for item 9.4. Five items listed below have scores less than ‘3’ and may be worth looking into:

A / B / C / D / E / F / G / H / I / J / K / L / Ave.
5.1 The Board is sufficiently knowledgeable about the strengths and weaknesses of the Center’s research, development and capacity-building efforts to provide effective oversight advice to the Management in these areas? / 4 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 2 / 2 / 2 / 3 / 1 / 3 / 2 / 2.55
5.2 The Board periodically considers the adoption of new R&D activities, and modification or discontinuation of current efforts? / 4 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 2 / 3 / 2 / 3 / 1 / 3 / 2 / 2.73
5.5 The Board monitors the quality and quantity of outputs of the Center? / 4 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 2 / 4 / 2 / 3 / 2 / 2.91
5.8 The Board periodically commissions external reviews of the Center, including Board performance? / 3 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 2 / 2 / 3 / 4 / 2 / 3 / 2 / 2.82
9.4 The Board provides new Board members with a comprehensive orientation to Board responsibilities, the Center’s services, R&D activities and administrative procedures? / 2 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 3 / 2 / 1 / 3 / 2 / 2.64
  • Below are items with scores of 3 and 4 only which indicates that in these areas, the Board is quite satisfied with its performance. The question that had the most number of ‘US’ response (5 out of 12 Board members) is item 2.1 (see below). In the same item, 5 out of 7 who provided scores were very satisfied.
  • Question 2.2 got the highest average score of 3.8, with 80% very satisfied that the Board respects the responsibilities of the DG and supports the DG towards accomplishment of the Center’s mission.

A / B / C / D / E / F / G / H / I / J / K / L / Ave.
1. Determine the Center's mission and purpose and ensure its relevance
How satisfied are you that:
1.2 That the mission of the Center continues to be appropriate? / 4 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3.50
1.3 The Board’s policy decisions conform to the mission of the Center? / 4 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 3.67
1.4 The Center’s programs and services are aligned to the mission of the Center? / 4 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 3.36
2.Hire the Center Director General and Evaluate His or Her Performance
How satisfied are you that:
2.1 The Board conducted its last search for a Director General in a professional and competent manner? / 4 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 3.71
2.2 The Board respects the responsibilities of the Director General and supports the DG towards accomplishment of the mission? / 4 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 3.80
8.2 The Board has ensured that the Center adopts adequate policies governing contracting and procurement that preserve the reputation and integrity of the Center’s work? / 4 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3.50
8.3 The Board has ensured that the Center adopts effective, inclusive and equitable policies for staff selection, training, promotion and the handling of grievances? / 4 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3.27
9. Ensure Effective Board Practice:
How satisfied are you that:
9 A) Select and Orient New Board Members
9.2 The Board’s composition reflects the diversity of background and skills needed by the Center? / 3 / 3 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3.27
9.3 The Board cultivates and recruits new members who possess the qualities needed to strengthen Board composition? / 3 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 3.50
9.5 The Board has established policies for length of Board service (excluding country representatives)? / 4 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3.45
9.8 Board members have adequate opportunities to discuss issues and ask questions? / 3 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 3.50
9 C) Committees
9.10 The current committee structure contributes to the effective decision making processes of the Board? / 4 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 3.50
9.13 Policies regarding committee assignments offer adequate opportunities for leadership development? / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 3.33
  • Four of the 12 Board members indicated that they were ‘not sure (US)’ that the Board assesses DG’s performance in a systematic and an objective manner on a regular basis (item 2.3 below).

2.3 The Board assesses Director General’s performance in a systematic and an objective manner on a regular basis? / 3 / 3 / 4 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 2 / 3.00
5.7 The Board periodically considers the effectiveness of the Center’s management team and internal organizational culture? / 3 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 2 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3.22
  • Threeof the 12 Board members indicated that they were ‘not sure (US)’ that the Board periodically considers the effectiveness of the Center’s management team and internal organizational culture (item 5.7 below) and that policies regarding committee assignments offer adequate opportunities for leadership development (item 9.13).

9.13 Policies regarding committee assignments offer adequate opportunities for leadership development? / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 3 / 4 / 4 / 4 / 3 / 3.33
  • The complete summary of results is found in Attachment I
  • Only two members gave their comments (Attachment II).

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