Overview
Effective board collaboration is vital for cooperative success. In the digital age, cooperative boards must leverage technology to enhance communication, streamline decision-making, and maintain member trust—without losing the cooperative spirit of transparency and democratic participation.
This best practice outlines how to deploy digital tools that empower cooperative boards to collaborate effectively, even across geographic distances.
Core Tactics:
- Select secure, easy-to-use collaboration platforms.
Key digital tools include:- Board management platforms (preferably tied to the Principle 6 platform)
- Secure video conferencing (e.g., Zoom, MS Teams)
- Leverage Principle 6 Collaborative Communities for Board Engagement.
Cooperative boards using the Principle 6 Platform can:- Create private Board Collaborative Communities for secure discussions
- Deploy internal board surveys to gather feedback and prioritize decisions
- Share board packets, governance documents, and strategic plans securely
- Host asynchronous discussions to increase flexibility between meetings
- Define digital governance protocols.
Ensure board members understand:- Which platforms are official communication channels
- Cybersecurity requirements (e.g., multi-factor authentication, password managers)
- Confidentiality guidelines for digital communication
Sample Digital Governance Policy Topics:
| Topic | Purpose |
| Platform Usage Rules | Define which tools are official for board business |
| Voting Procedures | Standardize how digital voting is conducted |
| Document Storage and Access | Ensure secure storage and clear access protocols |
| Meeting Etiquette | Set expectations for participation in virtual meetings |
- Train board members on digital tools.
- Offer onboarding for new tools before meetings.
- Provide refresher training annually or when tools are updated.
- Create a digital board portal.
- One centralized, password-protected hub where board members can:
- Access meeting materials
- View minutes and resolutions
- Vote digitally
- Participate in discussion forums
- One centralized, password-protected hub where board members can:
- Encourage asynchronous collaboration.
Recognize that board members have busy schedules:- Use online discussion threads for non-urgent topics.
- Use polling tools to schedule meetings faster.
- Allow draft document commenting between meetings.
- Measure board collaboration effectiveness annually.
Sample metrics:- Meeting attendance rates
- Response rates on polls and votes
- Satisfaction with digital tools (survey)
- Time to resolution on key governance issues