M1: Learner Manual

6.1. Overlapping roles

There will often be some overlap between the roles and responsibilities of the board and of management (CEO and other managers). This can create problems unless there is good communication and clear delegation of tasks between and shared by them.

In community organisations the board looks after the strategic direction and governance and big decisions that will affect the community and the organisation, such as:

·       ensuring that an organisation abides by its mission

·       long term vision of an organisation

·       final approval for major expenditure

·       community consultation

·       communicating decisions to community members

·       funds acquisition

·       selecting and appointing a CEO

·       amendments to an organisations constitution

·       manage conflicts of interest

Management takes care of the operational tasks for running the organisation and is answerable to the board. Management tasks include:

·      planning, organising structures and systems of work

·      ensuring that the day to day work is completed properly

·      staffing

·       records management

·       maintaining networks

·      operational motivation and leadership

·       community consultation

·      act as a communication/ information channel between board and operations

·      understanding and managing the different parts of the organisation and how these different parts interact and influence each other

There may also be some overlap between the roles of organisational management and operations. Operational tasks may include:

·       community consultation

·       ensuring that the day to day work is completed properly

·       IT issues

·       records management

·       maintaining networks

·       working with community members/ clients

You can see that there are some items that appear on each of the task lists above.  There may be different stages of these tasks that are done by each group or pitched in by all. Each organisation will have its own arrangements for how overlapping roles are arranged and carried out.