20% time for association boards
January 31st, 2009
Here is a thought experiment for your consideration, based on Google’s “20% time” approach:
Imagine if we set a policy requiring that 20% of the time at every association board meeting be devoted to meaningful, substantive discussion of how the association will innovate and support innovation.
How would this type of policy bring change to the conversations of the board? What kind of cultural tone would this level of board commitment to innovation set for the rest of the organization, not to mention the association’s distributed network of partners, allies and collaborators? How would this approach change the nature of governing?
To me, this idea is obvious. Since association boards waste time setting policies in areas where they have no business creating them, why not re-focus some of that precious attention on establishing a clear, simple policy that could actually make a tangible contribution to the organization’s success? I look forward to your comments.
FYI, if you’re not familiar with the idea, read innovation blogger Scott Berkun’s excellent observations on 20% time.
Entry Filed under: Principled Innovation Blog, What's New?, Social Media, Innovation, Associations, Extreme Makeover, The Association Innovator, Simplicity, We Have Always Done It That Way, Google, Garage Memes, Governing for Innovation, Socially Responsible Innovation, Embrace the Revolution
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Association exec Ben Martin, CAE is P.I.’s Architect of Participation. Jeff and Ben help clients harness the power of the Web through the strategic application of social tools.
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