Date

6-19-2024

Department

Graduate School of Business

Degree

Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)

Chair

Mary Jo Odom-Dull

Keywords

Nonprofit Organizations, Board Governance, Board Directors, Governance, Efficacy Elements

Disciplines

Business

Abstract

Nonprofit organizations (NPOs) exist to provide societal benefits to the community and improve the quality of life. The chief executive officers (CEO) or executive directors (ED) are the executive leaders who ensure the organization follows the strategic direction the board of directors developed. The directors have a fiduciary responsibility to the organization and stakeholders to provide financial oversight, strategic management, and guidance on policies and procedures. Ensuring effective board governance occurs requires members to understand their roles and responsibilities as directors. This qualitative constructivism study included determining the effects of board governance on operations. The participants comprised two groups: (1) CEOs and EDs and (2) board directors from NPOs in the Hampton Roads area. Data included semi-structured interviews and a confidential, encrypted survey. Four themes emerged from each group of participants. The CEO and EDs themes discovered were working board, efficacy elements, values that create positive outcomes, and theories contributing to success. Themes discovered from the board directors’ interview actions that hinder success, governance, chair effects, and efficacy elements. The findings revealed that training, communication, and trust enhanced board governance. Understanding roles and responsibilities and the chair setting the tone for the board impacted governance. General board practices to improve include strategic management, financial management, communication, and training. Recommendations for further study include using the quantitative methodology to expand the research on the chair effects on the board, roles, and responsibilities of the board, and identifying elements for efficacy. Leveraging requires determining recruitment strategies, implementing communication strategies, and ongoing training for board members.

Download

Included in

Business Commons

Share

COinS