UM SPH Academic Courses

HMP658 Governance and Leadership in Non-Profit Health Organizations

Fall term(s)

3 Credit Hour(s)

Instructor(s): Alexander, Jeffrey A

Prerequisites: HMP 652 and (HMP 620 or HMP 616 or HMP 640), or permission of instructor.

Description: In nonprofit health organizations, boards of directors play far more important roles than in business firms. Because nonprofits have no owners, boards must simultaneously represent the public and the interests of donors and members, while at the same time serving as links to a variety of stakeholders, including funders, clients, beneficiaries, professional and industry groups, and the communities in which they are located. Boards have ultimate authority to interpret organizational mission, to define goals, to hire and fire staff, and to allocate resources. Governing boards are held accountable when nonprofit organizations run into trouble. This course provides critical and practical understanding of the leadership role of nonprofit governance for managers, board members, and policy makers. It examines the legal characteristics of nonprofit entities, mechanisms of internal and external accountability, the governance implications of organizational structure, the powers and responsibilities of governing boards, factors affecting decision making, board/staff relations, the dynamics of board governance, and the role of stakeholders in governance. Readings include articles and monographs from the fields of anthropology, law, management, organizational behavior, and sociology, as well as cases and pertinent materials from the print media. Students are expected to participate in class discussions, to make oral presentations, to write three short papers, and to write a case study based on an actual organization.

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