The Governance of Public and Non-Profit Organizations (Routledge Studies in the Management of Voluntary and Non-Profit Organizations, 5)

Governing boards play a crucial role in ensuring that public and non-profit organizations are publicly accountable and perform well. Until now, there have been relatively few detailed empirical studies of what boards do in practice, but this book fills that gap by bringing together analyses based upon some of the best recent empirical studies. Using a new theoretical framework that highlights the paradoxical nature of governance, the book throws light on the questions at the heart of recent debates about non-profit boards: are boards publicly accountable or is there a democratic deficit? are boards able to exercise real power, or does management run the show? are boards effective stewards of an organization's resources? what effects are regulatory and other changes designed to improve board effectiveness having? This book will be essential reading for academics and students with an interest in the governance and management of public and non-profit organizations, and will also be of value to policy makers and practitioners who wish to gain a deeper understanding of how boards work and what can be done to improve their performance.

Boards play a crucial role in ensuring that public and non-profit organizations are publicly accountable and perform well. Following various failures and scandals they face increasing scrutiny, pressure and expectations. Serious questions have been raised about the ability of boards to govern effectively. This book brings together analyses based upon some of the best recent empirical studies of public and non-profit governance in the UK. The book will be essential reading for academics and of public and non-profit organizations. It will also be of value to policy makers and practitioners who wish to gain a deeper understanding of how boards work and what can be done to improve their performance.

Boards play a crucial role in ensuring that public and non-profit organizations are publicly accountable and perform well. Following various failures and scandals, they face increasing scrutiny, pressure and expectations, and serious questions have been raised about the ability of boards to govern effectively. Such concerns have stimulated a renewed interest in organizational governance and a growing literature on the subject. Much of the literature, however, has been criticised for underestimating the constraints and conflictions demands that boards face and recommending unrealistic solutions. There have been relatively few detailed empirical studies of what boards do in practice This volume brings together analyses based upon empirical studies of public and non-profit governance in the UK. Using a theoretical framework that highlights the paradoxical nature of governance, the book throws light on the questions at the heart of debates about non-profit boards: are boards publicly accountable or is there a democratic deficit?; are boards able to exercise real power, or does management run the show?; what do boards do?; are they effective stewards of an organization's resources?; can they play a meaningful role in setting organizational strategy?; and what effect are regulatory and other changes designed to improve board effectiveness having? "The book is essential reading for academics and students with an interest in the governance and management of public and non-profit organisations. It will also be of value to policy-makers and practitioners who wish to gain a deeper understanding of how boards work and what can be done to improve their performance."--Résumé de l'éditeur "The book is essential reading for academics and students with an interest in the governance and management of public and non-profit organisations. It will also be of value to policy-makers and practitioners who wish to gain a deeper understanding of how boards work and what can be done to improve their performance."--Jacket. The book should be useful for academics and students with an interest in the governance and management of public and non-profit organizations. It will also be of value to policy makers and practitioners who wish to gain a deeper understanding of how boards work and what can be done to improve their performance An emphasis on governance - and governance agencies - has rapidly become a central feature of contemporary studies on the 'architecture' of the British State.