Making appropriate and transparent decisions by analysing complex information, taking into consideration different points of view; Demonstrating the ability to make tough and/or sensitive decisions; Having flexibility to both adopt a course of action and change it when required by the situation are the new competitive advantage strategies for today’s economy.
In governments, businesses and other organisations transparency is increasingly seen as a vital managerial technique. Numerous management books nowadays propagate the need for transparent organizational structures; transparency is supposed to deliver better organizational performance and services to customers, citizens and other stakeholders.
Voluntary and Community Organisations (VCOs) rely on public support, both directly in the form of donations of time and money, and indirectly, in terms of public goodwill towards the sector as a whole. And whereas in the past it may have been enough simply to assert that your cause is worthy, today people are more ready to question and challenge such assertions: the halo effect does not allow sufficient light to pass through. VCOs need to open up their decision-making and conduct to public scrutiny, to justify and explain their role in such a way that it can be easily perceived or understood.
