Product Description

John Carver's groundbreaking Policy Governance model has influenced the way public and nonprofit boards operate around the world. Now, as widespread experience with the model continues to grow, nonprofit and public board members can find a powerful resource and first-choice reading in the John Carver Set.

In the bestselling Boards That Make a Difference, Second Edition, John Carver enriches his definitive exposition with updated policy samples, a new chapter on the process of policy development, and additional resources for various types of boards. With creative insight and commonsense practicality, Carver presents a bold new approach to board job design, board-staff relationships, the chief executive role, performance monitoring, and virtually every aspect of the board-management relationship. In their stead, he offers a board model designed to produce policies that make a difference, missions that are clearly articulated, standards that are ethical and prudent, meetings, officers, and committees that work; and leadership that supports the fulfillment of long-term goals.

A natural companion to Boards That Make a Difference, Reinventing Your Board is John Carver and Miriam Mayhew Carver's recipe for putting Policy Governance into practice. With 25 figures, policy samples, forms, and other practical, "put-the-model-in-motion" materials, this is the nuts-and-bolts materials that Carvers' followers have been requesting. The authors illustrate effective board decision making, show how to craft useful policies, and offer practical advice on such matters as setting the agenda, monitoring CEO performance, defining the board role, and more. Step-by-step instructions and sample policies make this a valuable resource for boards in the public and nonprofit sectors.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #725461 in Books
• Published on: 1997-08-29
• Format: Illustrated
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 256 pages

Review
"After reading Boards That Make a Difference and studying the theory behind John Carver's approach to improving the functioning of boards and their linkage with the chief executive officer, this book is a natural next stage for a board committed to improving its capacity. Reinventing Your Board is a must." (Mike Whitlam, director general, British Red Cross Society)

"This clear, chair-friendly book is the ultimate how-to manual for a board determined to ensure the future as they would envision it. No chairman should be without it." (George Dessart, chair, board of directors, American Cancer Society)

"This 'how-to' navigational tool will help boards get policy governance right the first time. It is a must for anyone looking to make their board effective into the next century." (Susan Elliott, president, The Law Society of Upper Canada)

From the Inside Flap
John Carver's revolutionary Policy Governance Model, introduced in his best-selling book, Boards that Make a Difference, is recognized as a highly effective, results-oriented approach to nonprofit board governance. With Reinventing Your Board, John Carver and Miriam Mayhew Carver show how to put the model in motion and take organizations to new levels of achievement.This hands-on, step-by-step guide serves as a practical manual for implementing the Policy Governance model and provides guidelines for staying on track. The authors illustrate effective board decision-making, show how to craft useful policies, and offer practical advice on such matters as setting the agAnda, monitoring CEO performance, defining the board role, and more. Step-by-step Instructions, sample policies, illustrations, exercises, and other practical materials make this a valuable resource for boards wanting to improve the performance of organizations in the public and nonprofit sectors through effective board leadership.

From the Back Cover
John Carvers revolutionary Policy Governance Model, introduced in his best-selling book, Boards that Make a Difference, is recognized as a highly effective, results-oriented approach to nonprofit board governance. With Reinventing Your Board, John Carver and Miriam Mayhew Carver show how to put the model in motion and take organizations to new levels of achievement.

This hands-on, step-by-step guide serves as a practical manual for implementing the Policy Governance model and provides guidelines for staying on track. The authors illustrate effective board decision-making, show how to craft useful policies, and offer practical advice on such matters as setting the agenda, monitoring CEO performance, defining the board role, and more. Step-by-step Instructions, sample policies, illustrations, exercises, and other practical materials make this a valuable resource for boards wanting to improve the performance of organizations in the public and nonprofit sectors through effective board leadership.

Customer Reviews

Brief, readable, and pragmatic advice for effective boards
Although its style is more academic than members of many all-volunteer organizations might wish, this book is short enough to be read on a board member's tight schedule, and pithy enough to provide ideas that can truly give a new perspective on problems in the board meeting. Carver makes it clear that board leadership is best when it distinguishes between ends and means, and that governance (and the highest satisfaction for board members) lies in articulating ends and the route to those ends. This book, for me, answered the question of why organizations might not get a lot done despite diligent meeting schedules and full agendas.

Great counsel on Board/CEO relationship
Twenty years of working at CEO for a Board governed organization with 500 members. Numerous Board training seminars and this is the most practical counsel I have received. It is a hands on book, providing a model that will work for your organization.

a disappointment
As someone who has had twenty years of experience both at the executive level within nonprofit organizations and on the boards of others, I found this book disappointing narrow in focus, overly dependent on specialized jargon, and rather uninspiring. When Carver talks about "policy governance" he means his very specialized theory, the Carver theory on board organization. "Step by step guide" means a highly detailed and technical presentation of the Carver system. Essentially this book may be useful as a handbook to those who hire Carver or consultants who follow this particular system. I think this book is being sold to people who will form mistaken impressions based on Carver's reputation. The title "reinventing your board" is misleading in tone because the book is really intended ONLY for people who have "bought into" Carver's highly detailed system and who already have very strong familiarity with his way of thinking. Business books about "reinventing" generally try to inspire, offering a mine of interesting examples, and at their best, teach by "showing." While there are some very useful and important observations and suggestions embedded in the book, the pedantic style and insistence on numbered, sequential steps made me feel as though I were reading a manual about reinstalling Windows 98.