Capstone - Managing Board Change for Higher Levels of Leadership and Governance Effectiveness

University at Buffalo via Coursera

Go to Course: https://www.coursera.org/learn/nonprofit-gov-capstone

Introduction

**Course Review: Capstone - Managing Board Change for Higher Levels of Leadership and Governance Effectiveness** In today’s fast-paced and ever-evolving landscape of nonprofit management, effective leadership and governance are paramount. The course titled "Capstone - Managing Board Change for Higher Levels of Leadership and Governance Effectiveness" on Coursera offers an immersive, hands-on learning experience that equips participants with the skills necessary to enact meaningful changes within nonprofit organizations. This capstone project serves as the culmination of the Developing Leadership and Improving Governance in Nonprofit Organizations specialization, challenging learners to apply theoretical knowledge to real-world scenarios. ### Course Overview The Capstone Project is designed to promote service learning, allowing participants to take the knowledge and skills they've acquired throughout the specialization and address a genuine leadership and governance situation faced by a nonprofit organization. Throughout the course, students become agents of positive change, working directly with a board of directors to assess and enhance their effectiveness. ### Syllabus Breakdown The course spans eight weeks, each with clearly defined objectives that guide students through the project: 1. **Capstone Overview**: Introduction to the project and its objectives, encouraging participants to select a nonprofit organization with which they are familiar. 2. **Secure Board Cooperation**: Participants learn how to obtain formal consent from their chosen board, emphasizing the importance of collaborative relationships in achieving governance effectiveness. 3. **Start Gathering Data**: The focus shifts to initiating data collection, which is crucial for understanding the current state of governance within the organization. 4. **Collect Data and Share a Draft**: Participants monitor their data gathering efforts and start drafting their initial project reports, collaborating with peers for feedback. 5. **Analyze Data**: This week involves reviewing peer reports and beginning a detailed analysis of the collected data to identify trends and insights. 6. **Synthesize Data**: Students use established guidelines to understand the strengths and challenges their boards face, developing a comprehensive picture of governance effectiveness. 7. **Communicate Results**: Participants refine their reports by integrating peer feedback, ensuring clear communication of analysis and findings. 8. **Submit Report**: The final week is dedicated to submitting the completed Capstone Project Report for peer grading, marking the culmination of participants’ hard work and learning. ### Learning Outcomes By the end of the course, participants can expect to: - Gain practical experience in governance assessment through hands-on engagement with a nonprofit board. - Develop skills in data collection, analysis, and synthesis specifically tailored to governance effectiveness. - Create a comprehensive report that communicates findings and offers recommendations for improvement. - Foster collaboration and peer feedback techniques, crucial for effective leadership in real-world settings. ### Recommendation I highly recommend the "Capstone - Managing Board Change for Higher Levels of Leadership and Governance Effectiveness" course for anyone involved in nonprofit management, governance, or leadership. Its practical approach provides valuable insights that are immediately applicable. The structure of the course encourages peer collaboration and critical thinking, which not only enhance the learning experience but also prepare students for real-world challenges they will encounter in nonprofit governance. This capstone project is especially beneficial for current board members, nonprofit leaders, and those aspiring to make a significant impact within their organizations. If you are keen on driving positive change and enhancing governance practices, this course is a worthwhile investment in your professional development journey. With the knowledge gained from this course, you will be well-equipped to address challenges and improve governance in the nonprofit sector.

Syllabus

Capstone Overview

Welcome to the fourth and final course in the new Coursera Specialization: Developing Leadership and Improving Governance in Nonprofit Organizations.The Capstone is designed to help you apply the knowledge and skills developed in the three Specialization courses to a real world leadership and governance situation a nonprofit organization board of directors is experiencing. As a service learning experience, you will act as an agent for positive change by working with a board of a nonprofit organization that you serve on, work for, or know through the Capstone Project.

Week 2: Secure Board Cooperation

Welcome to Week 2! The focus this week is on obtaining formal consent from your chosen board to participate in the Capstone Project it is then necessary to register them for the board performance assessment at www.boardcheckup.com, if you have not already done so.

Weeks 3: Start Gathering Data

Welcome to Week 3! The goal of this week is to start the process of gathering and monitoring data .

Weeks 4: Collect Data and Share a Draft

Welcome to Week 4! The goal of this week is to monitor data collection and to write and share a draft of the first part of your Capstone Project report.

Week 5: Analyze Data

Welcome to Week 5! The goal for this week is to complete and return any peer reviews of other course participants’ Capstone Project reports. Also, if you submitted a draft of your report to others for peer review last week reflect on their feedback. Finally, begin the process of analyzing data to generate the Capstone Project findings.

Week 6: Synthesize Data

Welcome to Week 6! At this stage in the Capstone, you should have a good understanding of the strengths as well as the issues that challenge the effectiveness of the governing board you are working with. It is at this point that the "Guidelines for Improving the Effectiveness of Boards of Directors of Nonprofit Organizations" course text should be used as a resource for understanding why these challenges exist and what can be done about them.

Week 7: Communicate Results

Welcome to Week 7! The goals for this week are: (a) To complete and return any partial Capstone Project draft reports sent to you last week by fellow students for your peer review you; (b) Reflect on the peer reviews you received on last week's partial draft report. (c) Complete a draft of the full Capstone Project Report.

Week 8: Submit Report

Welcome to Week 8! The goal for this week is to submit your Capstone Project report for peer grading and to evaluate reports that you have been assigned to review.