Governance Template

BoardOutlook is a leading software platform that enables boards to take ownership of their performance processes. The platform is at the cutting edge of board performance and has rapidly been recognised as best practice globally.

To support boards of all sizes and stages of maturity, a library of templates is available. These have been designed to help boards get started on their continuous improvement journey.

Download the templates as a PDF today or if you’re looking for more support, simply book a demo to see our software in action.

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How to Use Our Governance Template

The governance template is part of a comprehensive library of board performance templates relating to key areas of board effectiveness. Consider including the governance template as part of your board evaluation process to understand the effectiveness of governance frameworks in place and compliance with appropriate regulatory standards.

These questions are a sample of a BoardOutlook board evaluation diagnostic. The complete diagnostic is intended to be used on the BoardOutlook platform.

Why is Governance Important?

Governance provides a framework for successfully managing an organisation in a way that is legal, ethical and sustainable. A strong governance framework will benefit a range of key stakeholders from shareholders, customers and employees to the community in which the organisation operates.

Good governance is one way organisations achieve their purpose, irrespective of whether that purpose is commercial, charitable or to provide public services. Organisations that follow good governance practices use clear decision-making processes, behave transparently by reporting on their activities, actively engage with their stakeholders, effectively manage the risks they face and take responsibility for controlling and protecting their assets.

By reviewing governance as part of a board evaluation, the board is able to determine whether they have the right framework in place to successfully oversee the organisation.

Need More than Just a Governance Template?

The BoardOutlook platform delivers drastically better board evaluations. Challenging, engaging, thought-provoking. Review the behaviours and capability of your board and improve performance by storing your board performance data in one secure platform that tracks your progress over time.

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About BoardOutlook

BoardOutlook empowers high-performance boards with instant, secure reporting that ensures the board is focused on the right priorities at the right time. Backed by research-supported questions, BoardOutlook provides genuine insights into your board’s performance, fostering director development and tracking improvement seamlessly. With real support and flexible plans tailored to suit your board’s needs, BoardOutlook transforms your board dynamics, where excellence meets ease.

Governance FAQs

What does good governance look like?

An efficient and well-governed organisation ensures that internal controls and processes are clearly defined, measured consistently, and reported on with appropriate frequency.

Matters covered by the governance framework will include who can make decisions, who has authority to act on behalf of the organisation, and who is responsible for how the organisation and its people behave and perform. Ultimately, good governance helps an organisation to be stable and productive and will unlock new opportunities for sustainable growth.

What are some key principles of good governance?

Responsibility – a board is responsible for satisfying shareholder expectations. This includes shepherding an organisation away from unnecessary risks and towards success, all while staying true to its mission.

Accountability – no matter what decision a board makes, there should be confidence in the decision and directors able to answer follow up questions regarding how they came to that decision.

Awareness – the key to an organisation’s survival is to understand risk, including which risks to avoid and which risks to take.

Impartiality – boards must ensure that no personal interests come between them and what is in the best interests of the organisation.

Transparency – boards are responsible for documenting and reporting to stakeholders. This includes financial statements, conflicts of interest, strategy decisions, and risks to the company.

Who is responsible for governance?

Governance