Storms are happening inside co-operatives and they only emerge in the surface when people pay a visit to our office with the purpose of bringing them to our attention for advice or for appropriate action. One time, a manager comes complaining against their Board of Directors. This manager enjoyed certain privileges and perks including a certain limited power and authority for quite a while. These incentives are now being questioned when a new set of Board took over, defanged the manager and relegated to a mere clerk. Somehow, these skirmishes are disrupting their smooth flow of operations.
At another time, it was the Board of Directors of another co-op that has some grievances against their manager who thinks he or she is more superior than them. The lack of open communication between Board and Management is also a common problem. When these people don’t communicate, there is suspicion, resentment and worse, loss of trust. These are the perfect recipe for disaster.
These are governance and management issues. And every co-op goes through this storming stage. It is believed that we all have limited knowledge when it comes to co-op management. A co-p is not governed just like any other business entity. It has unique characteristics. So it was made mandatory for co-op officers to undertake the Governance and Management course for co-operative officers.
It is expected that as various co-ops grow and prosper, organizational problems also begin to occur. These problems involve not only the usual lack or absence of internal control and interpersonal dynamics but more frequently on governance and management challenges. When co-ops level up, their problems also get more complicated. These are the obstacles that could potentially break them down or make them go up higher when they will be able to hurdle them.
So they come expecting our office to prescribe instant and concrete solutions. We do provide the best possible advice to the best of our abilities. We don’t want to shortchange them. We want to satisfy them. Therefore, we require them to take the governance and management course with the aim of upgrading their knowledge and capabilities to become competent and confident in overcoming governance or management related obstacles.
They have to expand their capacity to handle bigger challenges. They have to start shifting their mindset. They have to think like businessmen, think like managers and entrepreneurs. They are no longer associations just waiting for dole-outs or soliciting assistance from good-hearted philanthropists or politicians.
The content of the governance and management course covers every aspect of the entire organization, the duties and responsibilities of its leaders, the significant role of the general assembly, their vision and how all the stakeholders work in harmony to achieve their goals. Planning is emphasized and looks at the different responsibility areas of their operations, their adherence to ethical standards, their compliance to labor laws, their human resource programs and many more.
By the way, co-ops can avail of this training from the CDA accredited training institutions. Just visit the nearest CDA Office so that you will be provided with the list of these training institutions for your training needs.
