Joan Roberts Consulting

Canadians are engaged in learning about the national governance structure like never before. Opinions of ordinary Canadians are being expressed non-stop and many are deeply disturbed at the overt power struggle underway and the overheated conflict. Yet despite the fighting that looks to be all over the map, there exists clear rules of engagement called parliamentary procedure. These rules have evolved over nine centuries and provide for all kinds of possibilities including the rare form of government in parliamentary democracies- coalition government. The amazing thing about this “so called” crisis is that everyone is playing by the rules.

A lot of the debate is focused on what the rules are and interpretation of the rules. Granted the rules are being stretched to the max as with the situation today with the Governor General agreeing to the suspension of parliament. However, in my work with organizations and collaboratives, the most frequent situation I find is that they are playing without any rules. Often there is so little governance in place that when there is conflict and power struggles, as can happen with any difference of opinion, the parties to the conflict be they board members or collaborative members don’t know what the rules are or have none in place, so that the conflict is managed and resolved.

The rules that guide decision making and guide the resolution of conflict are found in a governance framework not only for governments but for all kinds of organizations. A governance frame work includes things like decision making processes, organizational assignment of powers and authority and guidelines for decision making called policy. I am writing a new book that provides a guide to creating an effective governance framework for collaborative organizations. Difficult issues and power struggles are as inevitable with collaborative organizations as they are with governments. Stay tuned as I talk about the topics of collaboration and governance.