Governance Councils Research Articles

Financial Management Challenges and Best Practices of School Heads of Public High Schools

This paper is an examination of the various financial management practices of school heads in public schools with a focus on the challenges experienced and best practices implemented by school heads in relation to school financial management. The study made use of literature review to answer its objectives. From the study, it was shown that school heads experience challenges in financial management which include lack of training, weak financial management skills, lack and/or delay of funds, absence of financial support staff, poor collaborative planning, numerous bookkeeping tasks, unorganized record keeping, frequent changing of policies, absence of permanently stationed bookkeeper, and adherence to complex laws and policies. Despite these challenges, school heads have reported best practices which include collaboration with school focal person for budgetary planning and the keeping of financial record in a safe place. Some of the recommendation to address the challenges faced by the school heads include the hiring of school heads competent in financial management, continuing education and upskilling of school heads on financial management, empowering school heads on funds acquisition, assigning bookkeepers to all schools, maximizing School Governance Councils, documenting and sharing of best practices, and the conduct of further research in relation to school financial management.

Blueprints for well-being: Modeling the way through Human-Centered Leadership and Pathway to Excellence.

Blueprints for well-being: Modeling the way through Human-Centered Leadership and Pathway to Excellence.

Effects of Leader Empowerment: Implementing a Frontline Nurse Leadership Council

Nursing governance councils lead to improved nurse empowerment; however, it is unknown whether using a similar structure for nurse leaders results in similar outcomes. We implemented a frontline nurse leader council to evaluate the impact on the nurse leader’s empowerment and confidence. Members were surveyed before and after the initiation of the council on empowerment and leader efficacy. No statistically significant improvements were noted. However, scores improved on the Conditions for Work Effectiveness Questionnaire – II Global Empowerment and the Leader Efficacy Questionnaire Leader Means Efficacy. There were no statistically significant improvements pre- and post-survey; however, participants expressed optimism for culture improvement.

The Role of Participation in and Effectiveness of Shared Governance Councils in the Nurses' Perception of a Professional Practice Work Environment.

The aims of this study were to identify the differences in nurses' perceptions of their professional practice work environment (PPWE) related to their participation in shared governance (SG) councils and to examine the perception of effectiveness of SG councils among nurses who participate in them. Research suggests that adopting SG in nursing can lead to significant, positive outcomes, such as patient and nurse satisfaction and enhanced nurse empowerment, engagement, and a PPWE. The study used a cross-sectional design in a Magnet®-designated urban Jordanian cancer care hospital. A convenience sample of 580 direct care nurses was used. The data were collected using self-administered questionnaires, the Council Health (CH) instrument, and the Professional Practice Work Environment Inventory (PPWEI). Results demonstrated a significant difference in the total score of PPWE between the SG council members (4.85) and nonmembers (4.68) (t = 2.906, P = 0.004). The results also indicated small to strong correlations of the total overall council health mean and all domain means of council effectiveness with total overall PPWEI mean and all domain means of PPWE (P < 0.05) among nurses who participated in SG councils. Findings support involving more staff in SG councils and that enhancing the SG councils' effectiveness positively affects the PPWE.

Use of the Council Health Survey to Assess Shared Governance in a Pediatric Hospital During the COVID-19 Pandemic

This project used the Council Health Survey to evaluate the effectiveness of shared governance councils in a children’s hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. A SWOT analysis was performed to assess the organization’s strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats regarding council health and to inform strategies to sustain the shared governance environment. The well-established shared governance infrastructure allowed the organization to rapidly pivot council operations to sustain nurse engagement while balancing the unprecedented staffing and resource challenges of the pandemic. Organizations must remain flexible and innovative to maintain an environment supportive of nurse empowerment and shared governance during public health emergencies.

ROLE AND IMPORTANCE OF CITY COUNCILS FOR LOCAL GOVERNANCE

The process of change in the management approaches of cities encourages stakeholder participation. Multi-actor, transparent and controllable urban administrations should be the basic vision of modern cities. Because the heterogeneous structure is like a symbol of cities. It is important for the governance approach to have environments where different interest groups can come together for social reconciliation. City councils are examples of this situation. In the understanding of local government, there is a flow in favor of locality. This situation is valuable for local democracy. Effective and efficient participation of urban people in decisions contributes to accountability, social solidarity, and citizen awareness. Members of public, private, and non-governmental organizations can participate in city councils. It is therefore strong in terms of governance. The aim of this study is to examine the place and importance of city councils in terms of urban democracy. First of all, the conceptual framework of the phenomena is emphasized. Then, the roles in the establishment of local democracy through the structure of city councils are discussed. It is possible to realize the principles of governance in the functioning of city councils. Governance and city councils will play an active role in bringing a positive vision to cities. Therefore, city council activities that can work efficiently should be supported.

572 Integrating Shared Governance Principles with Real-time Technology to Improve Infection Rates in a Large Burn Center with Patients of Varying Acuity Levels

Abstract Introduction Increased job satisfaction, and nursing retention are outcomes that have been related to nursing empowerment.1 Probably one of the most beneficial results of nursing empowerment is improved patient outcomes.1 Empowering nurses is not always an easy task, but the nursing best practice of shared governance through unit-based councils gives nurses the ability to mobilize resources within their own groups to get things done. Couple this mobilization of resources with real-time technology that provides a true clinical picture of outcomes, and this creates a template for success. Methods This is a nursing Quality Improvement project. Shared governance in the form of unit-based councils created within all of our patient care units has proven to be part of the equation for improved infection rates in all units. Our number of CAUTI AND CLABIS from 2018–2019 were reduced, we significantly reduced the number of device days (hospital-wide) for both foleys and central lines, which was also a goal. Through extensive nursing education, utilizing nurse driven protocol for foley removal, increased use of bladder scanning (each unit now has their own bladder scanner) and teaching about de-escalation of central lines/PICC lines as soon as possible, we have been able to reduce our device days overall. Alongside this nursing best practice, a new nursing data portal that allows for real time data collection to identify breaks in protocol with regards to central line and foley maintenance leading to CAUTIs and CLABSIs was also implemented, which allowed nursing to have direct impact on achieving success. Results Percent Change 2018 – 2019 CAUTI BU = 83% decrease, 3E burn = 100% decrease, 4W burn = 100% decrease Overall decrease = 90% CLABSI BU = 85%, 3E burn = 67% increase, 4W burn = no change Overall decrease = 78% Conclusions Implementation of nursing best practice efforts such as shared governance and unit-based councils, coupled with cutting edge technological resources directly contribute to improved infection rate outcomes. Another result of these efforts is the overall positivity fostered among nursing staff, boosting their sense of empowerment and creating better retention rates in all our units.

Leveraging Professional Governance During the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Dynamic nursing leadership and engagement of nursing at all levels are critical to effective care delivery. During the COVID-19 crisis, many organizations suspended non-COVID-related meetings, including professional governance councils where practice decisions are made. This article highlights how shared or professional governance was leveraged during this global pandemic at a large academic medical center and community hospital effectively sustaining autonomous nursing practice while responding to a rapidly changing environment and impacting quality patient care.

Addressing Conflict Nondefensively

Addressing Conflict Nondefensively

Building a Culture of Health at the Neighborhood Level Through Governance Councils

To explore facilitators and barriers to developing and sustaining collaboration among New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Neighborhood Health Action Centers and co-located partners, who share information and decision-making through a Governance Council structure of representative members. Semi-structured interviews were conducted in 2018 with 43 Governance Council members across the three Action Centers of East Harlem (13), Tremont (15), and Brownsville (15), New York City. Governance Council members identified collaboration through information- and resource-sharing, consistent meetings and continuous communication as valuable for fostering a culture of health in their communities. Immediate benefits included building relationships, increased access to resources, and increased reach and access to community members. Challenges included difficulty building community trust, insufficient advertisement of services, and navigation of government bureaucracy. The Governance Councils forged collaborative relationships among local government, community-based organizations and clinical providers to improve health and well-being in their neighborhoods. Sharing space, resources and information is feasible with a movement towards shared leadership and decision-making. This may result in community-driven and tailored solutions to historical inequities. In shared leadership models, some internal reform by Government partners may be required.

Measuring Council Health to Transform Shared Governance Processes and Practice.

The aim of this study was to develop a valid, reliable instrument to measure the effectiveness of shared governance councils BACKGROUND: The work of shared governance, that is, the decisions, takes place in its structures, notably, the councils. A literature search yielded no formal instrument for evaluating how these councils function. A 4-phase process was used to generate valid items to measure shared governance council effectiveness, including content validity by experts, a pilot for feasibility, a larger pilot for internal consistency, and an exploratory factor analysis to delineate a final instrument. More than a dozen experts and participants from nearly 30 healthcare organizations contributed to the final development of the 25-item Council Health Survey instrument. Items for measuring council effectiveness at either the unit or division level were grouped in areas of structure, activities, and membership. When evaluating shared governance, nurses should focus on councils themselves, in which much of the work of shared governance occurs.

Transition to Practice: Onboarding Components for Establishing and Sustaining Healthy Work Environments.

Transition to Practice: Onboarding Components for Establishing and Sustaining Healthy Work Environments.

Using Shared Governance and Evidence-based Practice to Redesign a Nursing Policy and Procedure Manual.

Using Shared Governance and Evidence-based Practice to Redesign a Nursing Policy and Procedure Manual.

Explaining the Kurdish Democratic Union Party's Self-Governance Practices in Northern Syria, 2012–18

AbstractOn 17 March 2016 the Kurdish Democratic Union Party (Partîya Yekîtî ya Dêmokrat, PYD) unilaterally proclaimed the Democratic Federation of Northern Syria in three cantons, Afrin and Kobane in northern Aleppo province, and Jazira in Hassakeh. The party's ideology claims to endorse the participation of civilians and certain Arab tribes and minorities in its governance councils. However, the PYD and its armed militia, the People's Protection Units (Yekîneyên Parastina Gel, YPG), have been accused of committing human rights violations against civilians and installing one-party rule. Given its stated normative commitments and ideas on democracy, this ideology–practice gap begs the question: what factors facilitated the PYD to conform to its democratic pronouncements on power-sharing and inclusivity under certain conditions and, conversely, what factors permitted their abandonment or violation? By analysing the PYD's governance record and strategies in northern Syria between 2012 and 2018, this article argues that the PYD displayed a mix of democratic adherence and transgression in its governance practices. This has meant that the PYD engaged hybrid mechanisms of democracy-building, coercion, displacement and violence in order to consolidate territorial control and assert ideological hegemony. I argue that complex networks of local, state and third-party interests complicate Kurdish self-rule in Syria, requiring a multilevel approach to understand the interrelated challenges to democratization in the post-war transition. I identify four major types of relations that have influenced the PYD's hybrid governance practices: intra-organizational factionalism; civilian–rebel relations, especially in mixed demographic areas; international sponsors and rivals; and rebel–regime relations.

Developing and enacting student governance and leadership training in higher education

Despite increased attention placed both in and outside Australia on student participation in university governance, there remains a gap in practices and programs that help support students to contribute across various governance groups, councils, and representative roles. This practice report explores two aspects of developing student partnership in governance at a research-intensive university in Australia. We will showcase a set of rationales co-created between students and staff on why partnership should be a critical aspect of higher education policy and governance. Secondly, we will provide an overview of a specialised training program that aims to provide students with foundational working knowledge of university governance practice, policies and language to bolster engagement within their roles. We will further discuss anticipated impacts and advance research and future practice in this area by highlighting key areas that require further exploration to further student engagement in governance structures.

The Level of Implementing Governance at Public Jordanian Universities from the Faculty Members’ Perspective

The purpose of the study was to identify the level of implementing governance in public Jordanian universities from the point of view of the faculty members. The population of the study covered all the faculty members (6926). 243 members were randomly selected from three universities: Jordan, Yarmouk and Mu'tah. The researcher used the descriptive analytical method. The research tool was a questionnaire, which consisted of 50 items, covering 5 dimensions: concept of governance; governance councils; participation; transparency; and accountability. The results of the study showed that the respondents’ assessment degree of the level of implementing governance was high. There were also statistically significant differences at the level of (α≥0.05) attributed to the variable of college in favor of humanities. On the other hand, no statistically significant differences were found at the same level of significance attributed to the variables of gender and academic rank. The study recommended that governance should be implemented and spread in public Jordanian universities. There should also be reforms of the laws and regulations of public Jordanian universities, taking into consideration the conditions of the surrounding environment.&#x0D; Keywords: Governance, Public Jordanian universities, Higher Education.

Shared governance councils: 10 essential actions for nurse leaders.

Shared governance councils: 10 essential actions for nurse leaders.

Reconceptualizing the presence of students on school governance councils: The a/effects of spatial positioning

This article conceptualizes the materialities of school governance council meetings. A concern for the material a/effects of spatial positioning emerged during a participatory action research project concerned with secondary school students’ sense of the benefits and challenges of student representation on school councils. Attending to affective, spatial and material dimensions of power with the conceptual resources of new materialisms, I question representational logics in policy, research and practice related to school councils. In particular, I interrogate whether the presence of human bodies representing interest groups necessarily promotes more democratic relations, and whether questions of power are best explored through discursive analysis alone. School council meetings are understood to be events where the political philosoph(ies) of a school materialize in concrete relations between bodies, and where subjects form, re-form (and de-form) in and through material-discursive practices.

Changing the Conversation: Helping Healthcare Workers Grow Through Change

Organizational change pervades all types of organizations and job descriptions, and the constantly evolving state of technology makes the rate of change apt to increase in the next few years. The healthcare industry is one such organizational setting that is not immune to such changes. Whether that change is internal or external, it can create effects that send ripples through the entire organization for an undetermined amount of time. To contribute to the research and practice of buffering adverse organizational change effects in the healthcare industry, the proposed symposium addresses several different types of change, interventions, and outcomes resulting from change initiatives. Internal changes, such as implementing shared governance councils, and external changes, such as new methods of keeping medical records, are discussed along with the organizational characteristics that can help create positive outcomes for healthcare workers despite such upheavals. Through a better understanding of organizational change, healthcare workers can experience less workplace disruption to ultimately enable enhanced patient care.

مستوى ممارسة مبادئ الحوكمة الجيدة في الجامعات اليمنية الخاصة – دراسة ميدانية في جامعة العلوم والتكنولوجيا

This study aimed at investigating the practice of governance principles at the University of Science and Technology from the perspective of both administrative and academic leaders and the differences in the practice of governance principles in light of different variables such as sex, specialization, years of work and position. This study is limited only to the head office of the University of Science and Technology in Sana’a. The study adopted the analytical descriptive method and reviewed previous studies related to governance and its principles in the universities. Based on the foregoing, the researcher designed a questionnaire which contained (56) items distributed to the six-governance principles of this study i.e. governance councils, responsibility and accountability, participation, disclosure and transparency, independence, and charter of professional conduct and ethics. The sample of the study involved all the academic and administrative leaders at the university. The study concluded that the overall practice of governance principles at the university from the perspective of its administrative and academic leaders was significant and showed an average of (%71.2). It also showed that there were no statistically significant differences in the study sample about the practice level of governance according to the variables of sex, specialization, years of work and position, and all the principles in the study. There were also no statistically significant differences according to the variable of years of work for the principle of responsibility and accountability. However, there were statistically significant differences according to the years of work for the principles of governance councils, independence, participation, disclosure and transparency, professional conduct and ethics, and in favor of the variable of years of work which is less than ten years.