Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos has this rule: no meeting should be so large that two pizzas can’t feed the whole group. This is, of course, a shorthand method for ensuring that, as is often the case with big groups, no one’s ideas get drowned out. So is Bezos on to something or just hungry? We looked into it and, spoiler alert, there’s math involved. You’ve been warned. Continue reading
Tag Archives: collaboration
NGT and You: Effective Governance Through Nominal Group Technique
Directorpoint President John Peinhardt has said that “brainstorming is the separation of idea generation and idea evaluation”. There is, perhaps, no better way of maximizing the benefits of brainstorming in the decision making-process than NGT. Nominal group technique (NGT) is a form of structured small-group discussion designed to more effectively and efficiently reach a consensus. Continue reading
Board Communication: Is Your Solution Effective?
Rather than investigating a forward-thinking board software product, many organizations attempt to create a “free” in-house workaround in hopes of saving on their bottom line. While this option doesn’t have a price tag directly attached to it, it does cost the organization in other ways—namely in efficiency, man-hours, and security.
Oftentimes, companies direct their IT departments to set up an FTP, or File Transfer Protocol, network to act as a file sharing server for board members.
These FTPs may accomplish the basic goal of delivering information, but they don’t do much in the way of bettering boardroom communication or decision-making.
Is it efficient?
Sharing information through an FTP may seem quick and easy, but is it really efficient for boardroom processes? For instance, board books usually get updated multiple times before in-person meetings. With an FTP site, you’ll have to repeatedly load new versions of the document and then alert board members to them. With a board software solution, you can simply amend the existing board book instantaneously.
Not to mention, board members can view the latest version of the board book with or without Internet access—something an FTP site is intrinsically unable to support. Continue reading