--- title: "Improve Your Board’s Technology Literacy" id: "61497" type: "post" slug: "improve-your-boards-technology-literacy" published_at: "2022-01-11T21:00:15+00:00" modified_at: "2026-07-11T18:09:08+00:00" url: "https://associationsnow.com/2022/01/11/improve-your-boards-technology-literacy/" markdown_url: "https://associationsnow.com/2022/01/11/improve-your-boards-technology-literacy.md" excerpt: "While some board members may feel lost when they hear details of infrastructure improvements and other association technology projects, you can help them see the big picture: how the technology will support members and advance the mission." taxonomy_category: - "Governance" taxonomy_post_tag: - "Associations Now" taxonomy_content_format: - "Article" taxonomy_role: - "Association CEO / Executive Director" - "Executive Team" taxonomy_persona: - "Executive Leadership" --- [Home](https://associationsnow.com/) » [Articles](https://associationsnow.com/format/article/) » Improve Your Board’s Technology Literacy Part of the Deep Dive[Forward](https://associationsnow.com/deep-dives/all-aboard-the-ceos-board-management-toolkit/) Boards oversee the strategic direction of their organizations, and technology can have a big impact on that. This means board members may want to brush up on all the latest technologies, but that’s not necessary. Instead, the key information you need board members to understand is how any proposed technology initiative will further the association’s strategic goals. “Technology literacy isn’t so much about, do they need to know what an LMS or an AMS is?” said Garth Jordan, CEO of the American Animal Hospital Association (AAHA). “Maybe it would be a little helpful, but that is such a minor part of the journey. To me, that literacy is, how does the technology plan fit and support the execution of your strategic plan? And if they can’t speak to that or understand that, you’re not going to get board support for large-scale projects.” Gretchen Steenstra, a strategic consultant at DelCor Technology Solutions, said board members typically only need to know the basics. “I think they need to know enough to have a working knowledge and an educated conversation,” she said, adding that staff need to know minutiae and boards should have the big picture. To Jordan, sharing too much detail makes poor use of a board member’s limited time. “One of the challenges is not getting your board too deep in the weeds on any given topic because that’s not what they’re there for,” he said. “They’re there for the strategic guidance of the organization and for the fiduciary responsibilities. They’re not there to develop your technology plan.” [Rasheeda Childress](https://associationsnow.com/author/rasheeda-childress/) Rasheeda Childress is a former senior editor at Associations Now. [More articles by this author](https://associationsnow.com/author/rasheeda-childress/) Tags: [#Associations Now](https://associationsnow.com/tag/associations-now/) **Stay Informed** [Subscribe to our free newsletter](https://associationsnow.com/newsletter/) , *Associations Now Daily News*, to find out what’s happening in the association world every business day. ## More in this Deep Dive - [Build a Board DEI Strategy to Strengthen Leadership](https://associationsnow.com/2022/01/11/build-a-board-dei-strategy-to-strengthen-leadership/) - [What It Takes to Run a Great Hybrid Board Meeting](https://associationsnow.com/2022/01/11/what-it-takes-to-run-a-great-hybrid-board-meeting/) - [The Advantages—and Realities—of a Board Election Overhaul](https://associationsnow.com/2022/01/11/the-advantages-and-realities-of-a-board-election-overhaul/) - [Should You Change Your Strategic Plan?](https://associationsnow.com/2022/01/11/should-you-change-your-strategic-plan/) - [The 5 Ps of Onboarding New Board Members](https://associationsnow.com/2022/01/11/onboarding-new-board-members/) - [Maintain a Healthy Board Culture in Divisive Times](https://associationsnow.com/2022/01/11/maintain-a-healthy-board-culture-in-divisive-times/) [View the full Deep Dive →](https://associationsnow.com/deep-dives/all-aboard-the-ceos-board-management-toolkit/) ## You Might Like - [VideoSmarter Board Management for Associations: An OnBoard ShowcaseJuly 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/07/24/smarter-board-management-for-associations-an-onboard-showcase/) - [PodcastAssociations NOW Presents: Leading Together-Strengthening the Board-CSO PartnershipDecember 18, 2025](https://associationsnow.com/2025/12/18/associations-now-presents-leading-together-strengthening-the-board-cso-partnership/) - [Video2026 Summit Awards DinnerOctober 2, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/10/02/2026-summit-awards-dinner/) - [VideoAmerican Geophysical Union: Standing Up for Science: AGU’s Year of Action for Scientists and SocietySeptember 24, 2026](https://associationsnow.com/2026/09/24/american-geophysical-union-standing-up-for-science-agus-year-of-action-for-scientists-and-society/) ## Comments **Comments are for ASAE members.** [Learn more about comments on this site.](https://associationsnow.com/comments/) [Log in](https://associationsnow.com/login?redirect_to=https%3A%2F%2Fassociationsnow.com%2F2022%2F01%2F11%2Fimprove-your-boards-technology-literacy%2F%23comments) to your member account or [join ASAE](https://my.asaecenter.org/select-a-membership-type/) !