Case Study: The helpful board member

In this case study, we explore the role of Patrick Ikenna, a dedicated board member of Pure Waters (PW), who is deeply passionate about the organisation’s mission to assist small farmers in Western Africa. Read the case study and answer the questions that follow.

Case study: The helpful board member

Patrick Ikenna, a longtime board member of Pure Waters (PW), had a passion for the ministry’s mission of helping small farmers in Western Africa increase their yields through a more scientific approach to farming. Prior to joining the board of PW, he was one of their major donors, and he continues to make large contributions.

On a recent business trip to Mali, he made time to visit PW’s country office and had an opportunity to sit in a class of farmers learning about irrigation techniques. After the class, Patrick told the program director (who had been leading the class) that teaching the farmers in this region about drip irrigation would be a more effective way to conserve water. The program director responded that they had researched that possibility, but found the equipment was too expensive for most of these small farmers. Therefore, they taught them how to be more effective with trench irrigation.

Patrick told the program director that drip irrigation was a lot more efficient and that in the long run it would pay for itself. He explained that, as a director of Pure Water, he must insist that the program director change the training method to this new approach.

1. Many would praise Patrick for being so supportive and engaged as a director, would you agree? *

2. Using this case study as an example, where would you define the distinction between the role of the board in this decision and role of management? *

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