Introduction
Welcome to HOA Board vs. Management: Who’s Responsible for What?- Understanding the RolesGovernance vs. Operations — Understanding the Core Difference
- What the Board Is Responsible For
- What Management Is Responsible For
- Working Together EffectivelyWhere Board and Management Roles Commonly Break Down
- Why Strong Board–Management Partnerships Matter
- Applying Role Clarity in Real-World Scenarios
- ConclusionKey Takeaways: Board vs. Management Responsibilities
Participants 8
Before looking at specific responsibilities, it’s important to understand the foundation everything else in this course is built on: the difference between governance and operations.
This distinction is central to how associations function—and it’s also where confusion most often begins.
What Governance Means
At a high level, governance is about direction and oversight.
For HOA and condo boards, governance means setting the vision for the community, establishing policies, and making decisions that guide the association as a whole. Governance focuses on the “what” and the “why”—what the association is trying to achieve and why certain decisions are made.
This is a leadership role. It’s about guiding the community, not managing daily tasks.
What Operations Mean
Operations are about execution.
This is where the management company plays a primary role. Operations focus on the “how”—handling day-to-day tasks, carrying out board decisions, coordinating vendors, and managing the ongoing needs of the association.
Operational work keeps the association running smoothly and ensures that board decisions are implemented consistently.
Where Confusion Often Starts
Challenges tend to arise when governance and operations begin to blur.
When boards get pulled too deeply into daily operations, they can lose sight of their leadership role. When management companies are expected to make governance decisions, accountability can become unclear.
Neither situation supports a healthy, well-run association.
How Strong Community Associations Approach This Distinction
Strong associations work best when boards focus on governing and management companies focus on operating—while staying aligned and communicating regularly.
This doesn’t mean boards are hands-off, or that management companies operate without oversight. It means each group understands its role and works within it.
With this foundation in place, we can now look more closely at what boards are specifically responsible for.