ASK Organizational Policies and Systems

INTERNAL ORGANIZATION

Management

ASK is a registered society and has a Governing Board with seven members. These members are from different fields within the development sector, ranging from leaders of grassroots NGOs to researchers and academicians.

The governing board also has a staff representative so as to provide a representation to all stakeholders, particularly staff in the decision making processes of the organization.

For ongoing functioning and decision making there is a Management Committee. This committee comprises of the Director and the senior management staff of the organization.

ASK practices a very open style of management that is characterized by:

Free access to senior team members
360 degree appraisal system and special surveys to assess the Director from the point of view of employees
Transparency of information including financial matters, contracts with clients, administrative decision making process
Frequent collective reflection on the functioning of the organization and its Divisions

ASK has a Staff Council that is democratically elected - once each year by the staff members other than those in the Management. This Council acts as a bridge between the employees and the management and coordinates all activities to maintain camaraderie and team spirit amongst the team members.

CULTURE AND VALUES

ASK practices a culture of high degree of informality without compromising on standards of accountability and professionalism. Informality for us means free and healthy relationships at a personal level, without the trappings of hierarchy and bureaucratic procedures. Informality though does not mean casual attitudes in work and matters of accountability.

ASK holds dearly the following values:

Professional accountability
Open communication
Acceptance of people as they are
Respect and consideration for others
Learning from experience
Honesty to self and others
Belief in human potential

POLICIES AND NORMS

ASK has well laid out policies which have been prepared collectively by the staff and in some instances with the help of outside experts. Some of these policies are:

Gender Policy - ASK has maintained Gender Sensitivity in all its interventions with ‘Gender and Development’ being a cross cutting theme for all our interventions.

Disability Policy – Even in our office building, we have aimed to provide a barrier-free physical environment.
A Policy against Sexual Harassment at Work Place has also been recently formulated.
Grievance Redress Policy – The members of staff council are a part of the grievance redress committee
Transparency and accountability norms – ASK practices total accountability and transparency within the organization and with its clients.
Personnel policies- ASK has clear and well laid down policies that exactly tell each employee their rights and obligations.