Boards That Make a Difference: A New Design for Leadership in Nonprofit and Public Organizations (J-B Carver Board Governance Series)

"This book should be in the library of everyone who serves--or aspires to serve--on the governing board of any organization, large or small, nonprofit or corporate. Better than any other available resource, it tells what the roles of board members are and what they must and shouldn't do. An indispensable guidebook to leadership excellence."--George Weber, secretary general, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Geneva "John Carver's Boards That Make a Difference was required reading for board members of the Calgary Philharmonic Society. It provided a clear and concise road map with which we carried out significant governance restructuring of the society." James M. Stanford, president & CEO,, Petro-Canada, and past chairman of the Calgary Philharmonic Society, Calgary, Alberta, Canada 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, 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. He debunks the entrenched beliefs about board roles and functions that hamper dedicated board members. 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. "This book should be in the library of everyone who serves--or aspires to serve--on the governing board of any organization, large or small, nonprofit or corporate. Better than any other available resource, it tells what the roles of board members are and what they must and shouldn't do. An indispensable guidebook to leadership excellence." --George Weber, secretary general, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies, Geneva "John Carver's Boards That Make a Difference was required reading for board members of the Calgary Philharmonic Society. It provided a clear and concise road map with which we carried out significant governance restructuring of the society." James M. Stanford, president & CEO,, Petro-Canada, and past chairman of the Calgary Philharmonic Society, Calgary, Alberta, Canada 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, 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. He debunks the entrenched beliefs about board roles and functions that hamper dedicated board members. 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. 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 Accumulates, 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. Carver Debunks The Entrenched Beliefs About Board Roles And Functions That Hamper Dedicated Board Members. With Creative Insight And Commonsense Practicality, He 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.--jacket. A New Vision For Governing Boards -- Policy As A Leadership Tool -- Designing Policies That Make A Difference -- Focusing On Results: Clarifying And Sustaining The Organization's Mission -- Setting Limits: Standards Of Ethics And Prudence -- Strong Boards Need Strong Executives: The Board-executive Relationship -- The Board's Responsibility For Itself -- Officers And Committees -- Policy Development By Levels -- Making Meetings Work -- Redefining Excellence In Governance: Strategies For Board Leadership -- Resource A: Varieties Of Applications -- Resource B: Bylaws -- Resource C: Policy Contributors. John Carver. Includes Bibliographical References (p. 227-233) And Index. In this revised and updated third edition, Carver continues to debunk the entrenched beliefs and habits that hobble boards and to replace them with his innovative approach to effective governance. This proven model offers an empowering and fundamental redesign of the board role and emphasizes values, vision, empowerment of both the board and staff, and strategic ability to lead leaders. Policy Governance gives board members and staff a new approach to board job design, board-staff relationships, the role of the chief executive, performance monitoring, and virtually every aspect of the board-management relationship. This latest edition has been updated and expanded to include explanatory diagrams that have been used by thousands of Carver's seminar participants. It also contains illustrative examples of Policy Governance model policies that have been created by real-world organizations. In addition, this third edition of Boards That Make a Difference includes a new chapter on model criticisms and the challenges of governance research.