Evaluating the Performance of Women on Boards

Women on Boards commissioned a detailed survey of the people who have registered on the website in June 2005. There were 376 responses from the 1,800 women registered on the website as of 15 June 2005, representing a sample size of 21 per cent.

The purpose of the survey was to evaluate the performance of Women on Boards and to tap the knowledge of the Women on Boards members in relation to their experience of accessing board networks and directorships. Information about the survey is included at the bottom of this page.

Some of the findings included

My Resume

  • 51% of members have filled out their Women on Boards CV.
  • 53% noted that it heled to clarify their board objectives
  • 11% did not know if they had filled out the survey or not

Services

The services that members would most like to see created are (in order):

  • Searchable list of boards to approach
  • Skills workshops
  • Corporate governance workshops
  • Mentoring programs
  • Published mentor interviews
  • Member showcases

Suggestions for Services: Networking

  • Increased events in states other than NSW
  • Increased events in rural/regional locations
  • Generally increased number of events
  • Wanting smaller, more intimate events
  • Wanting larger events
  • Including men in order to link to their networks

Suggestions for Services: Education

  • Alignment/integration with AICD/SIA courses
  • Ability to access education on-line / regionally
  • Delivery of more courses
  • Affordability/scholarship opportunities

Suggestions for Services: Website / Information

  • The website needs to be easier to use
  • Better navigation system to find information
  • Increased email alerts for a variety of reasons: board positions open, success stories, general updates
  • E-News monthly or quarterly

Funding Women on Boards

The preference for funding options was generally split into two general categories:

  • Low member involvement/impact
    In this category the members are not overly impacted by the funding approach and essentially the funding is provided without affecting or impinging on their freedom. Included in this category are:
    Government grants
    Corporate sponsorship
    Website and newsletter advertising.
    This category is the more desirable of the two averaging support from 85 to 98% of respondents.
  • High member involvement/impact
    These funding options involve or impact the member in a more direct manner, either by charging them a direct fee, suggesting that they use specific suppliers or providing their personal information for third party access.Included in this category are:
    Annual membership fee
    Preferred suppliers
    Charging for access to the member database
    This category is the least desirable of the two averaging support from 55% of members.

There were around 75 comments related to the area of funding.

  • Charge both the company and WOB member for successful placements
    For instance charge to have CV on the WOB data base, similar to the AICD functionality. This would apply to public and private but not for not for profit organisations
  • Corporate sponsorship or affinity programmes
  • For those who aspire to board membership in the long term, run education/ training events earlier on in their career
  • Run regular “pay for attendance” events, e.g. Mock board meetings and breakfasts with directors as speakers
  • Base membership fee, if any, on individual incomes/ability to pay
  • 60% of members believe that a membership should be charged.
  • Most would be willing to pay a fee of between $25 and $100.

What do EXPECT from Women on Boards

There were around 310 comments related to the area of what members are expecting from membership of WOB. Common themes included:

  • Awareness of and access to board roles
  • Support and advice on how to get board roles along with career development toward that goal
  • Networking for business and career development and board positions
  • Active recommendations and referrals of members to board positions

What do WANT from Women on Boards

There were around 260 comments related to the area of what members want from WOB with respect to gaining a position on a board. The themes for this question generally coincided with those from the previous question (“what members are expecting”).

  • Awareness of and access to board roles
  • Support and advice on how to get board roles along with career development toward that goal
  • Networking for business and career development and board positions
  • Active recommendations and referrals of members to board positions

What would you like to see changed?

    There were around 200 comments related to the area of what members would like to see changed about WOB.

  • Better functionality and more user friendly website
  • Better geographic reach, as many activities are perceived to be concentrated in Sydney and Melbourne
  • More regular events for people to network and gain exposure
  • Have an information section (not just website) for people who are just starting out but aspire to long term board membership
  • Improved communications and not just website/email based
  • Be more pro-active e.g. more director advice and discussion forums

What are the best attributes of Women on Boards?

There were around 245 comments related to the best attributes of WOB.

  • The ability to contact successful board members: men and women
  • The ability to network with amazing group of enthusiastic successful people, members and guests
  • It’s promotion of women to be on boards
  • Providing information relevant to getting on boards
  • That it exists

Why are you a member of Women on Boards?

There were around 340 comments related to the area why the respondent is a member of WOB. Common themes included:

  • Wanting to directly gain a position on a board
  • Wanting to network to gain access to future board positions
  • Wanting to support other women and support them in obtaining board positions
  • To gain the skills that a board member needs
  • To redress the gender balance

Below are a range of typical comments:

  • Because I am convinced that the in-balance is not in this country's best interests - that women as a corporate resource are a wasted resource
  • Because I want to use my corporate knowledge and skills on paid board positions
  • For self education and further opportunities in life
  • I agree in more women on boards & committees; I am keen to progress to paid positions; I am passionate about business
  • I thought it might help -- I have been on lists for years to no avail
  • Interested in networking and personal development opportunities
  • So I [can] increase my knowledge required for being on boards and hopefully get onto a paid board

Volunteering

The vast majority of respondents (87%) expressed a desire to volunteer themselves or their companies now or in the future.

About the survey

  • Survey respondents: 376 Members of Women on Boards
  • Audience: 1,800 Members of Women on Boards
  • Proportion respondents: 21%
  • Survey Method: Internet based survey instrument
  • Location of respondents: Australia wide
  • Survey execution dates: 15-27 June 2005
  • Source of respondents: Women on Boards
  • Reporting scales: Two scales were used in the survey
  • Almost never (0) to almost always (4) Poor (0) to excellent (7)

Acknowledgement

Women on Boards acknowledges Genroe (Australia) for conducting this survey on its behalf.

Founded in 2003, Genroe clients include market leaders in the insurance, financial services, telecommunications and retail industries. Genroe's services include:

  • Implementing customer retention programs
  • Strategy, design and implementation of product bundling
  • Quantifying and comparing ROCI for all customer investments: direct and indirect
  • Implementing processes that continuously improve ROCI
  • Implementing processes that maximise ROCI for all customer contacts
  • Measuring and optimising the ROCI of the customer experience.

For more information please contact Adam Ramshaw or Tracey Ah Hee on 02 8821 6800 or email: info@genroe.com.au