Enhancing governance and decision making at the Students Commission of Canada

Abstract

This study explored the research question: What strategies can the Students Commission of Canada (SCC) enact to enhance its governance and decision making? The SCC is a national charitable nongovernmental organization with a mission to partner with young people to put their ideas for improving themselves and their communities into action. The SCC’s youth, staff, and board volunteers participated in the study. The methodology of the study was organizational action research engagement and participants provided their input through photovoice and focus group sessions. The study adhered to all Royal Roads University requirements. Participants wanted the organization to maintain open, adaptable, and flexible governance structures that support the engagement of diverse stakeholders in decision making. Recommendations that emerged from the study focused on proposing a 21st century model for governance for the organization. Namely, enhancing the complexity of existing systems and structures so that youth, staff, board members, and external stakeholders can more actively contribute to organizational governance and decision making.

Keywords: youth, decision making, governance, NPO, nonprofit organization, complexity