Operations and Governance for Dummies

I used to love thumbing through the “For Dummies” series of educational books. The publishers presented any mundane topic you could possibly think of in a straightforward, relatable way.  The goal of the Eden Advisors blog is to apply the same spirit of the “For Dummies” books to the world of operations and governance. 

Eden focuses on serving public affairs leaders and executives, who share a unique set of organizational pressures and operational realities. Operations and governance often take a back seat in the broader narrative of public policy advocacy. After all, the nuts and bolts of corporate structure, organizational by-laws, and board of directors meetings can hardly compete with the high drama of the political world. Yet the best public affairs executives understand that sound operations and governance are key to achieving success in the policy arena. Robust external engagement must rest on strong management foundations. 

We can all think of examples when poor operations and governance undermined the success of an organization. In mild cases, operational inefficiencies serve as a temporary annoyance or delay achievement of desired results. In more severe cases, poor governance renders organizations completely ineffective. Staff are forced to divert precious time and resources toward internal politics, not external advocacy. 

The good news for public affairs executives is that operational and governance challenges can be overcome with the right approach. Organizational issues do not appear out of thin air. They are the direct consequence of a failure to implement proper frameworks for operations, governance, compliance, and budget management. 

For example, one of the most common operational mistakes made by policy organizations is a lack of active risk management. In the business world, risk management is part and parcel of an executive’s fiduciary responsibility to business owners and shareholders. By contrast, public affairs organizations are often not held to the same standards of risk disclosure to stakeholders. 

Nonetheless, sticking your head in the sand is not a viable strategy. If you are missing a risk management plan, Eden Advisors can help you create a risk register that monitors potential negative outcomes on an ongoing basis. Or we can apply a standard management framework to segment your risks according to their severity and potential of coming to fruition. Whatever your blind spots or challenges, Eden has the tools and expertise to enhance your organizational performance.

The Eden Advisors blog is for anyone eager to learn about strategies, tips, and tricks for navigating the operational maze of policy advocacy organizations. Our posts will share key learnings and takeaways; address hot topics; and provide expert advice and thought leadership. Keep following us for a fun, engaging way to stay up-to-date on the latest trends in operations and organizational governance.