Reinventing Your Board : A Step-by-Step Guide to Implementing Policy Governance
Author: John Carver, Miriam Mayhew Carver
List Price: $35.00
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ISBN: 0787909114
Publisher: Jossey-Bass (15 August, 1997)
Sales Rank: 9,796
Average Customer Rating: 3.33 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 2 out of 5
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.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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. Similar Products
Boards That Make a Difference : A New Design for Leadership in Nonprofit and Public Organizations
CarverGuide, Your Roles and Responsibilities as a Board Member
CarverGuide, Basic Principles of Policy Governance
Planning Better Board Meetings (CarverGuide, Vol. 5)
CarverGuide, Board Self-Assessment
Book Index