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Interpreting Board papers

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Objectives

By the end of this session you will:

• Be able to list the various types of documents you will encounter in board papers.

• Have considered several methods for tackling the documentation.

• Have practiced analysing board papers.

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Contents of Board papers

• Agenda.• Minutes of previous

meetings.• Regional Chair report.• Principal’s report. • Committee reports. • Decision papers.

• Discussion papers.• Information papers. • Finance statements.• Strategy papers.

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Before the meeting

• Where and when is the meeting going to take place?

• Is there anything you want to put on the agenda? Get in touch with the Chair/Secretary.

• Have you prepared the SA report?• Read any of the papers that have been sent

round, including the previous meetings minutes. • Speak to your Exec.• Speak to other Board members.

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Urgent/important

2 1

4 3

Sections

UR

GEN

CY

IMPORTANCE

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KWL

• What I know.

• What I want to know.

• What I learnt.

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SQ3R

• Survey.• Question.• Read.• Recite.• Review.

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Reading

• Scan the title of the section and parts of the content to see if it is relevant.

• Skim the text to gain an overview of its content and confirm how centrally relevant it is.

• Intensively read the whole text to understand and evaluate its content in depth.

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Tips for effective reading

• Go through the sections in the order that you have prioritised them.

• Write down your current knowledge on the various sections of the documents.

• Summarise briefly each paragraph in the margin.• Write questions you already have at this stage. Make a note

of the page it relates to.• Note questions as you go and note the page/section your

question relate to. • Write down additional questions you have after your reading.• Write down things that you need clarification on.• Use colour coding (highlighters and coloured tabs) to order

your questions.

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During a meeting

• Always be on time, if you are going to be late let the Chair/Secretary know before the meeting.

• Take something to take your own notes with. • Sit where the Chair can see you and raise your

hand to indicate you want to contribute. • Be assertive and polite. • Ask questions if you do not understand anything.

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Objectives

By the end of this session you will:

• Be able to list the various types of documents you will encounter in board papers.

• Have considered several methods for tackling the documentation.

• Have practiced analysing board papers.