-- Survey respondents indicate that digital meetings during the COVID-19 
pandemic created more effective, collaborative, and strategic boards 

OnBoard, the award-winning board management solution ( 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3150225-1&h=391845994&u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.onboardmeetings.com%2Fboard-portal%2Fwhy-onboard&a=award-winning+board+management+solution 
) that simplifies and secures board meeting communication and collaboration, 
today released the findings from its first annual OnBoard Board Effectiveness 
survey. Results show that between March 2020 and March 2021, boards became more 
effective, more collaborative, and spent more time on vital strategic issues 
than prior to the pandemic – and that the shift to digital board meetings was a 
primary facilitator of these outcomes. 

Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/947611/OnBoard_Logo.jpg

The survey included responses from more than 282 board directors, 
administrators, and staff members in more than six countries and spanned 
numerous industries, including nonprofits, higher education, financial 
services, healthcare, professional associations, and others. 

"Many boardrooms have not experienced the wave of digital transformation that's 
occurred over the last decade – but the pandemic changed everything," says 
OnBoard co-founder and CEO Paroon Chadha. "The survey results show that digital 
boardrooms are now a demonstrable best practice, enabling boards to be better 
prepared, more productive, and more effective at governance."

Digital Boards are More Effective  
Despite the initial challenges of digitizing board meetings during the pandemic 
- including difficulties recreating face-to-face interactions, the lack of 
opportunity for ad hoc conversations, a less conducive format for complex 
discussions – the majority of respondents (79%) indicated they felt their 
boards were more effective. And most respondents cited the shift to remote work 
and virtual meetings as the primary cause for this newfound effectiveness.

Board Effectiveness survey respondents confirmed: 

    -- 79% said their boards have improved effectiveness in the past 12 
       months, with 59% citing the shift to remote work as the primary cause. 
    -- 66% have seen improvements in board collaboration. 
    -- 47% have spent more time discussing strategic issues. 
    -- 57% of respondents used a digital board management platform. Amongst 
       these respondents, 81% indicated their boards' improved effectiveness. 
    -- Of the 43% of respondents who did not use board management software, 
       only 58% noted increased effectiveness. 
    -- More board management software users also reported that board 
       materials were sent earlier compared to non-users and that board 
       members were better prepared overall.

A New Focus on Diversity  
Survey results also addressed the need for greater board diversity and focused 
on critical issues resulting from the widespread social and political turmoil 
of late. Less than one-quarter of respondents (21%) rated their boards as very 
diverse, while another 39% said their boards have discussed the issue but have 
not developed plans to address diversity. Additionally, 87% said their boards 
do not have committees dedicated to addressing environmental, social, or 
governance issues, and only 9% have plans to establish such committees in the 
future.

"The pandemic forced board executives, directors, and administrators to shift 
their operating models overnight, while also addressing a sea change in social 
and economic conditions over the last year," Chadha says. "While it's clear 
that many boards are initiating a dialogue around board diversity and better 
representation, the impact is still lacking."  

Continuing Digital Transformation  
The survey also captured forward-looking sentiments from board members, 
including nearly half of all respondents (47%) indicating that they'll make 
significant investments in their board in the next 12 months. 

"Ultimately, the pandemic has accelerated the digital transformation of boards 
and helped them to realize the many benefits that technology has to offer," 
Chadha says. "Board leaders now face the critical decision of whether to lean 
into this digital transformation or revert to a traditional governance 
approach."

To download the full results of the Board Effectiveness survey report, visit 
onboardmeetings.com/effectiveness ( 
https://c212.net/c/link/?t=0&l=en&o=3150225-1&h=4056848201&u=http%3A%2F%2Fonboardmeetings.com%2Feffectiveness&a=onboardmeetings.com%2Feffectiveness 
)

About OnBoard
At OnBoard, we believe board meetings should be informed, effective, and 
uncomplicated. That's why we give boards and leadership teams an elegant 
solution that simplifies governance. Launched in 2011, today, OnBoard serves as 
the board intelligence platform for more than 2,000 organizations and their 
12,000 boards and committees in 32 countries worldwide. With customers in 
higher education, nonprofit, healthcare systems, government, and enterprise 
business, OnBoard is the leading board management provider. 

Learn more about OnBoard's award-winning board intelligence platform at 
https://www.onboardmeetings.com.

Public Relations Contact:
Bryan Spevak 
Vice President  
anthonyBarnum Public Relations
Office: +1-512-387-3703 
bryan.spevak@anthonybarnum.com

SOURCE  OnBoard