Part one of a three-part series

The job of members of rural electric boards has become more challenging because they have to contend with more complex issues, more diverse system missions and higher stakes. Because they are required to make tougher decisions, board directors need to be equipped with more effective decision processes. Without such processes, boards are likely to reach more erroneous conclusions than correct ones. Directors lacking a systematic approach to decision-making often resort to ineffective ways of addressing issues, such as calling for a board discussion that can end up with board members defending their own proposals, or discussing the pros and cons of proposals which are really nothing but value judgments. Effective decision-making requires that board directors work together to address difficult issues. This calls for an open mind that is willing to consider all the important angles of a problem.

Business
Human resources and labor relations
Management
Decision making
Electric utilities
Corporate directors
Electronics and electrical industries