Frequently Asked Questions
Unlocking success: The power of effective board governance.
FAQs
Read some of the frequently asked questions below, or you can ask one of our experts by completing the contact form here.
General FAQs
What differentiates your approach from your main competitors?
Read more about how Board Benchmarking disrupts the board survey sector.
Why do you consider your surveys to be the gold standard globally?
Affordable
Our survey prices are the most affordable in the industry and up to 90% cheaper than many of our competitors who have an inferior survey and benchmarked report.
Validated
We are not aware of any other Board Effectiveness Survey in the world that has been through the same independent validation process that our survey has been through.
World class
Our board survey framework uses the world recognised WhatWhoHowDo framework and includes the 20 most important categories of a board’s effectiveness. Many of our other survey use innovative technology to make them much easier to complete than similar surveys.
Benchmarked
Our board surveys use an innovative and sophisticated benchmarking approach that quickly identifies if your board is in the top quartile, middle 50 percent or in the bottom quartile in relation to each survey item, each of the 20 categories of effectiveness and overall. Our benchmark database is one of the largest in the globe and includes more than 500 boards.
Optional professional advice
Board Benchmarking has a growing global network of specialist Board Advisory Partners that can assist with director and executive interviews, separate expert reports and executive summaries, chair and board debriefs, and workshops and action planning sessions.
What support do I get in managing and administering the survey?
Board Benchmarking allocates a project manager to assist you if you have any questions or need any assistance during our tried and tested streamlined process. The assistance includes phone and email support.
Because we have helped more than 500 boards and company secretaries through the process our team know exactly what you need and when you need it.
Expert advice to your Chair and board is available as an optional extra. It can be acquired at the time of purchasing the survey or after seeing the report.
Who are your Board Advisory Partners and what do they do?
Board Benchmarking has a growing network of Board Advisory Partners around the world to provide expert advice to boards in measuring and improving their effectiveness. Board Advisory Partners can also advise you which survey(s) and optional extras will be best for your board. They can also provide expert advice and ongoing support following the survey to facilitate workshops, help create action plans for improvement and the like.
What are the steps in the survey process and what is the timing for each?
There are 5 main steps in the survey process as follows:
Step 1
Select your survey(s) and the optional extras you require and pay by credit card or by EFT.
Step 2
Immediately after buying your survey you will be sent a form to complete which will ask you important questions. Once you complete that form your job is done.
Step 3
We will send the survey to your specified recipients on the requested launch date. Reminder emails will be sent to those who haven’t completed the survey and the survey will be closed on your requested close date.
The person you designate as your administrator will be regularly advised as to who has and has not completed the survey.
The process differs slightly for the Lite and Essentials Board Survey as you send the survey link to your chosen survey participants.
Step 4
The report(s) will be prepared and sent to your designated recipient by way of a secure link.
Step 5
Any optional extras you have purchased will be provides such as interviews, preparation of an Executive Summary, expert advice to the Chair or Board, etc.
Will the survey use the appropriate terminology for my organisation?
Yes.
We work with you to ensure the survey terminology is appropriate for your organisation as described below.
For our Advanced and Premium board surveys, once you have ordered your survey and any optional extras you will be sent a form to complete which asks you to select or advise the appropriate terminology for your Chair (e.g. Chair, President, Chancellor), your Board (e.g. Board, Council, Committee), your Directors (e.g. Directors, Board Members, Committee Members, Council Members) and your CEO (e.g. CEO, Principal, Vice-Chancellor, General Manager, Secretary, Executive Director).
For our Lite and Essentials board surveys the above definitions are included in the survey and related benchmarked report. For surveys other than board surveys we also adapt the survey terminology to your circumstances.
Which boards will our board be benchmarked against?
We will benchmark your board against what we consider to be the most appropriate group of boards of similar organisations. If you prefer to have your board compared with our entire database of board you can choose that option when you complete the pre-survey form we send you.
We will prepare your benchmarked report based on your request.
Can the survey be customised for our organisation?
Board Benchmarking has designed four surveys to cater for different sizes and types of organisations so no further customisation should be needed. Over 90% of the surveys conducted for clients are not customised other than ensuring the appropriate terminology is used for important terms such as Chair, Director, Board and CEO – refer to the relevant FAQ in relation to terminology.
If you would like to discuss how your survey can be customised for you, please contact us or one of our Board Advisory Partners to discuss the process and the extra cost involved.
How is the data collected and is it kept secure?
The survey collection is designed so that no software is required to be downloaded on to a survey process, no permanent cookies are saved and non-traceable cookies are only saved by the client browser for the length of the log-in session to verify the client’s identity.
The platform is robust and secure and uses 256-bit TLS encrypted communications and encrypted data storage.
The platform solution utilises Microsoft Azure Public Cloud Services and has extremely high availability, replication and disaster recovery features. Azure holds around 90 Certifications including ISO 27001 & Australian IRAP Certification.
Are the surveys available in languages other than English?
Currently the survey items and questions are only available in English and Spanish. If participants write their comments in their own language these are comments are reported verbatim, without translation.
The surveys will be translated into additional languages as Board Benchmarking’s business expands around the world and as demand for the translation of the survey(s) into different languages grows.
If you would like the surveys translated into a specific language please Contact Us.
Is advice available to organisations in all countries and regions?
Board Benchmarking already has Board Advisory Partners in most regions of the world to enable local advice to be provided. That advice can include helping. Client choose which survey will work best fro them as well as post survey professional advice in interpreting and acting on the survey’s results.
Whilst Board Benchmarking’s global network is being extended, Board Benchmarking’s current Board Advisory Partners have agreed to assist all buyers of Board Benchmarking’s surveys no matter their country of residence. Next day email advice is always available and verbal advice by phone or video-conference can be provided at a mutually convenient time.
Advice will be provided in English unless the advice is provided from Mauritius in which case the advice can also be provided in French or English.
What is meant by excl. GST?
GST stands for Goods and Services Tax. GST has been excluded (excl.) from all prices shown. As Insync, trading as Board Benchmarking, is an Australian resident for Australian tax purposes it is obliged to add GST of 10% to its pre-GST price for all surveys sold to organisations that are also resident in Australia. For Australian resident organisations GST of 10% is added at checkout to the total price.
If your organisation is not an Australian resident company, GST of 10% will not be added at checkout.
What payment methods do you accept?
We currently accept payments by credit card (VISA and Mastercard) or by direct bank transfer (EFT).
You can select your preferred payment method in the checkout once you’ve selected your survey options.
If you select EFT, please ensure payment is made promptly so we can progress with your survey build. Please ensure to use your invoice number and organisation name as the payment reference.
Can I get a discount for buying these surveys in bulk?
Yes, discounts are available to organisations that agree to acquire in excess of 10 surveys for use during a 12 month period, provided that agreement is reached in advance with Board Benchmarking in relation to that discount. Please contact us to discuss further.
Do I need to use the surveys I buy within a certain period from payment?
Yes, you need to request a survey launch and closure date that is within 12 months of paying for your survey, so you have plenty of time. Most surveys are launched within a month or so of payment. If you don’t request a survey launch and closure date that is within 12 months of paying for your survey, your payment will be forfeited in full.
Can we become a Board Advisory Partner of Board Benchmarking?
If you would like to become a Board Advisory Partner of Board Benchmarking please contact us with details of your experience and credentials in carrying out board evaluations. We will then provide you with a pack that explains the benefits of becoming a Board Advisory Partner.
Can we become a Governance Community Partner of Board Benchmarking?
Yes. Board Benchmarking plans to appoint Many Governence Community Partners who are committed to raising the level of governance in their area of influence and who want to provide a value-added governance service to their stakeholders.
To find out more please contact us with your details and why you would like to become a Governance Community Partner. We will then provide you with a pack that explains the benefits of becoming a partner.
Board Effectiveness Surveys FAQs
Which of the four Board Effectiveness Survey options is likely to be the best for my organisation?
The Lite Survey is designed for small organisations with a turnover of less than around AUD$1 million or with less than four or five employees. Larger organisations can also use this survey but it doesn’t provide the same depth as the more comprehensive versions.
The Essentials Survey is designed for organisations with a turnover or between AUD$1 million and AUD$10 million and with between 10 and 100 employees. This survey includes similar measures to the Lite Survey but adds insights into the way the board deals with meeting management and organisation performance. If those elements are important for smaller organisations they can choose to use the Essentials Survey. Larger organisations can also use this survey but it doesn’t provide the same depth as the more comprehensive versions.
The Advanced Survey is designed organisations with a turnover between AUD$10 and AUD$25 million. This survey includes similar measures to the Essentials Survey but adds insights into the way the board deals with executive talent and succession planning and executive remuneration. If those elements are important for a smaller organisation they can choose to use the Advanced Survey. Larger organisations can also use this survey but it doesn’t provide the same depth as the more comprehensive versions.
The Premium Survey is our most comprehensive survey. It is designed for all other organisations including those that have high aspirations and/or the regulatory necessity of being well governed. This includes all listed companies, large private companies, large associations, large not for profit organisations, many government entities and many regulated organisations. This survey includes similar measures to the Advanced Survey but adds insights into the way Board Committees are led and delegations are managed. If those elements are important for a smaller organisation they can choose to use the Premium Survey.
Click here to see how our Board Effectiveness Surveys compare.
Can I do a FREE trial of the Board Effectiveness Survey?
Yes, we have a FREE trial version for a single user. We have created a free shortened version of our world-class, validated, benchmarked Board Effectiveness Survey which will only take you around 4 minutes. You’ll also receive a benchmarked report based on your responses.
Click here to try our free 4-minute survey
We encourage you to think about a particular board when completing the survey to make the experience as realistic as possible. You don’t have to tell us which board you had in mind when completing the survey.
As soon as you complete the survey you will be sent a benchmarked report that is based on your survey responses. This would be the benchmarked report the relevant board would receive if everyone on that board responded to the survey in exactly the same way as you.
What are the advantages of executives also completing the Board Effectiveness Survey?
The benchmarked report that is provided will compare the average views of the board and the executives who complete the survey. Matters where the directors have a more favourable or a less favourable view than executives are displayed. This shows the extent of alignment in views and shows where any areas of significant alignment should be followed up.
Any lack of alignment may also indicate that the board has an overly favourable opinion of their own effectiveness.
Suggestions for improvement and insights on other matters provided by executives will add to the depth and richness of the benchmarked report.
How is anonymity protected for directors and any executives who complete a board survey?
All ratings by directors of Board Effectiveness Survey items are included together to provide one average rating in relation to each survey item. The frequency of director ratings is also displayed in the Board Effectiveness Report but director anonymity is protected as the rating of an item is not linked to a specific director.
Ratings by executives of Board Effectiveness Survey items are included together to provide one average rating in relation to each survey item but such average is only displayed if at least three executives completed the survey. The frequency of each executive rating is also displayed in the Board Effectiveness Report but only if at least four executives completed the survey. Executive anonymity is protected as the rating of an item is not linked to a specific executive.
Written comments made by directors and executives are reported verbatim and included together in the reports and scorecards to protect the anonymity of individual respondents. Comments are not attributed to any individual unless that person includes their name with their written comments or identifies themselves by virtue of their writing style or particular views.
Board Benchmarking’s privacy policy prevents it from:
- Providing survey responses that can be linked to any individual to their organisation or to any third party without their express written consent
- Providing aggregated information in relation to an organisation or to an organisation’s board to any third party without the organisation’s express written consent.
Director Effectiveness Surveys FAQs
Which of the two Director Effectiveness Survey options is likely to be the best for my organisation?
The Premium Director Effectiveness Survey is the most common as it rates directors across 14 important measures of effectiveness. The premium version can be completed relatively unobtrusively without taking the extra time required by the Extended version.
The Extended version of the Director Effectiveness Survey is used by boards that want to make an extra investment in the effectiveness of their directors or that prefer to do a more detailed review but to do so less frequently.
What are the advantages of executives also completing the Director Effectiveness Survey?
Executive ratings and comments are merged with those of directors in the Director Effectiveness Reports to protect their anonymity.
Constructive and well informed comments by executives will add significant value and richness of each individual director’s report. Overall themes from comments are likely to become much more evident and useful as the number of respondents increase.
How is anonymity protected for directors and any executives who complete a director survey?
All ratings of directors and executives in the Director Effectiveness Reports and Scorecards are included together to provide one average rating in relation to each survey item. The distribution of director and executive survey responses are not included in those reports.
Written comments made by directors and executives are reported verbatim and included together in the reports and scorecards to protect the anonymity of individual respondents. Comments are not attributed to any individual unless that person includes their name with their written comments or identifies themselves by virtue of their writing style or particular views.
Board Benchmarking’s privacy policy prevents it from:
- Providing survey responses that can be linked to any individual to their organisation or to any third party without their express written consent
- Providing aggregated information in relation to an organisation or to an organisation’s board to any third party without the organisation’s express written consent.
Leadership Team Effectiveness Survey FAQs
Which of the two Leadership Team Effectiveness Survey options is likely to be the best for my organisation?
The Premium Leadership Team Effectiveness Survey is the most common as it rates directors across 14 important measures of effectiveness. The premium version can be completed relatively unobtrusively without taking the extra time required by the Extended version.
The Extended version of the Leadership Team Effectiveness Survey is used by leadership teams that want to make an extra investment in the effectiveness of their leadership teams or that prefer to do a more detailed review but to do so less frequently.
What are the advantages of directors also completing the Leadership Team Effectiveness Survey?
Director ratings and comments are merged with those of executives in the Leadership Team Effectiveness Reports to protect their anonymity.
Constructive and well informed comments by directors will add significant value and richness of each Leadership Team member’s report. Overall themes from comments are likely to become much more evident and useful as the number of respondents increase.
How is anonymity protected for executives and any directors who complete a leadership team survey?
All ratings by executives of Leadership Team Effectiveness Survey items are included together to provide one average rating in relation to each survey item. The frequency of executive ratings is not displayed in the Leadership Team Effectiveness Report to protect executive anonymity.
Ratings by directors of Leadership Team Effectiveness Survey items are included together with the ratings of executives to provide one average rating in relation to each survey item to protect director and executive anonymity.
Written comments made by directors and executives are reported verbatim and included together in Leadership Team reports to protect the anonymity of individual respondents. Comments are not attributed to any individual unless that person includes their name with their written comments or identifies themselves by virtue of their writing style or particular views.
Board Benchmarking’s privacy policy prevents it from:
- Providing survey responses that can be linked to any individual to their organisation or to any third party without their express written consent
- Providing aggregated information in relation to an organisation or to an organisation’s board to any third party without the organisation’s express written consent.
CEO Effectiveness Survey FAQs
What value does the CEO Attribute Ranking component add?
The CEO Attribute Ranking Survey or component of a CEO Effectiveness Survey adds huge value for the following reasons:
- It helps identify the areas where the board and/or executive are most aligned around what are the most important attributes for their CEO to exhibit. Importantly it also shows the areas of poor alignment and accordingly the areas where greater alignment should be sought
- It also helps calibrate the extent that s CEOs areas of lower performance should be treated as a concern. If an attribute is rated as most important and the CEO’s effectiveness in relation to that matter is judged as low that is likely to be an area of concern. On the contrary, if an attribute is rated as least important the fact that the CEO is judged as less effective in that area is likely to be less of a concern.
- It is important for the board to be aligned around the most important attributes for their CEO to exhibit to add the most value to their CEO succession planning.
What are the advantages of directors also completing the CEO Effectiveness Survey?
Director ratings and comments are merged with those of executives in the CEO Effectiveness Report to protect their anonymity.
Constructive and well informed comments by directors will add significant value and richness of the CEO Effectiveness Report. Overall themes from comments are likely to become much more evident and useful as the number of respondents increase.
How is anonymity protected for executives and any directors who complete a CEO Effectiveness Survey?
All ratings by executives of CEO Effectiveness Survey items are included together to provide one average rating in relation to each survey item. The frequency of executive ratings is not displayed in the CEO Effectiveness Report to protect executive anonymity.
Ratings by directors of CEO Effectiveness Survey items are included together with the ratings of executives to provide one average rating in relation to each survey item to protect director and executive anonymity.
Written comments made by directors and executives are reported verbatim and included together in the CEO Effectiveness Report to protect the anonymity of individual respondents. Comments are not attributed to any individual unless that person includes their name with their written comments or identifies themselves by virtue of their writing style or particular views.
Board Benchmarking’s privacy policy prevents it from:
- Providing survey responses that can be linked to any individual to their organisation or to any third party without their express written consent
- Providing aggregated information in relation to an organisation or to an organisation’s board to any third party without the organisation’s express written consent.
Strategy Effectiveness Survey FAQs
What are the advantages of directors and executives also completing the Strategy Effectiveness Survey?
Director ratings and comments are merged with those of executives in the Strategy Effectiveness Report to protect their anonymity.
Constructive and well informed comments by directors will add significant value and richness of each Leadership Team member’s report. Overall themes from comments are likely to become much more evident as the number of respondents increase.
How is anonymity protected for executives and directors who complete the Strategy Effectiveness Survey?
All ratings by directors of Strategy Effectiveness Survey items are included together to provide one average rating in relation to each survey item. The frequency of director ratings is also displayed in the Board Effectiveness Report but director anonymity is protected as the rating of an item is not linked to a specific director.
Ratings by executives of Board Effectiveness Survey items are included together to provide one average rating in relation to each survey item but such average is only displayed if at least three executives completed the survey. The frequency of each executive rating is also displayed in the Board Effectiveness Report but only if at least five executives completed the survey. Executive anonymity is protected as the rating of an item is not linked to a specific executive.
Written comments made by directors and executives are reported verbatim and included together in the reports and scorecards to protect the anonymity of individual respondents. Comments are not attributed to any individual unless that person includes their name with their written comments or identifies themselves by virtue of their writing style or particular views.
