Rating: 
Summary: A Treasure Trove
Review: I found this book to be full of wonderful surprises. Most of the material was completely new to me - fresh ideas, fresh angles. There is an amazing amount of thought-provoking stuff here for anyone involved with governance and I love the clear uncluttered layout design for taking me quickly to the bits that interest me most.
Rating:
Summary: A Treasure Trove
Review: I found this book to be full of wonderful surprises. Most of the material was completely new to me - fresh ideas, fresh angles. There is an amazing amount of thought-provoking stuff here for anyone involved with governance and I love the clear uncluttered layout design for taking me quickly to the bits that interest me most.
Rating:
Summary: The rest of John Carver
Review: If you have read John Carver's books and watched his videotaped lectures, you have just begun to scratch the surface. In addition to "Boards That Make A Difference," "Reinventing Your Board," and "A New Vision of Board Leadership," Carver has produced an amazing array of short pieces designed for those who want to use Policy Governance. This book, "On Board Leadership," is a convenient compendium of these articles. It's well organized with a reliable index, an understandable table of contents and a list of "frequently asked questions" with references to the articles.What this means is that my frequent trips to the file cabinet to riffle though my file of Carver's occasional writings are a thing of the past. From now on, I'll grab "On Board Leadership" and turn right to the article I need. If, for example, I am struggling with the concept of "cost," the index sends me to page 96 where I read that a board can only do so much. So the board must satisfy itself that by giving up end X in order to accomplish end Y, it is doing what its "owners" would want. The only tool I now lack is a "Carver Concordance." Wide ranging discussions well organized. Just what every Policy Governance advocate can use. The book belongs in every association executive's library. Gary Davis
Executive Director
Illinois Community College Trustees Association
401 E. Capitol Avenue, Suite 200
Springfield, IL 62701
Rating:
Summary: The Policy Governance (R) model in board leadership
Review: John Carver On Board Leadership is a collection of articles that demonstrate the Policy Governance (R) model in board leadership, as written by its creator, John Carver, a man who has over twenty years of experience working with a variety of corporation boards. Addressing how to use the model of governance to improve communication and overall effectiveness, the role of committees, means for resolving disagreements, and much, much more, John Carver On Board Leadership is a solidly written, reader accessible, and effectively useful title recommended for anyone charged with the often difficult and complicated task of coordinating or leading a governing board.
Rating:
Summary: A wealth of practical information
Review: This book is a gold-mine of practical information about the application of Policy Governance®. Boards will find a wealth of wisdom from former issues of Board Leadership, as well as a number of articles published in industry-specific journals that were not previously easy to find, now all in one convenient, easy-to-use package. Articles are short, easy-to-read, and of practical "hands-on" value. The FAQ section permits the reader to zoom in on particular areas of interest. As a consultant in Policy Governance® , I find the book to be a very user-friendly reference. For boards using the model, it is an invaluable resource. This is a book that can be read cover to cover, or can be "dipped into" to address specific issues facing a board at any given point in time. A must for your board's reference and on-going development.
Rating:
Summary: A wealth of practical information
Review: This book is a gold-mine of practical information about the application of Policy Governance®. Boards will find a wealth of wisdom from former issues of Board Leadership, as well as a number of articles published in industry-specific journals that were not previously easy to find, now all in one convenient, easy-to-use package. Articles are short, easy-to-read, and of practical "hands-on" value. The FAQ section permits the reader to zoom in on particular areas of interest. As a consultant in Policy Governance® , I find the book to be a very user-friendly reference. For boards using the model, it is an invaluable resource. This is a book that can be read cover to cover, or can be "dipped into" to address specific issues facing a board at any given point in time. A must for your board's reference and on-going development.
Rating:
Summary: A wealth of practical information
Review: This book is a gold-mine of practical information about the application of Policy Governance®. Boards will find a wealth of wisdom from former issues of Board Leadership, as well as a number of articles published in industry-specific journals that were not previously easy to find, now all in one convenient, easy-to-use package. Articles are short, easy-to-read, and of practical "hands-on" value. The FAQ section permits the reader to zoom in on particular areas of interest. As a consultant in Policy Governance® , I find the book to be a very user-friendly reference. For boards using the model, it is an invaluable resource. This is a book that can be read cover to cover, or can be "dipped into" to address specific issues facing a board at any given point in time. A must for your board's reference and on-going development.
Rating:
Summary: A Fabulous Reference Tool
Review: This latest book by John Carver is the most complete compendium of Dr. Carver's theory on Policy Governance. The book is a "must have" resource for Boards practicing Policy Governance. The book is a practical guide to the application and implementation of the principles of Policy Governance. One of the features I particularly like is the way chapters are organized to help find answers to questions. I am recommending it to all my clients.
Rating:
Summary: A Fabulous Reference Tool
Review: This latest book by John Carver is the most complete compendium of Dr. Carver's theory on Policy Governance. The book is a "must have" resource for Boards practicing Policy Governance. The book is a practical guide to the application and implementation of the principles of Policy Governance. One of the features I particularly like is the way chapters are organized to help find answers to questions. I am recommending it to all my clients.
Rating:
Summary: The ultimate resource
Review: While there are more and more books available on making boards effective, no other author seems to bring together anything more than miscellaneous ideas. John Carver, on the other hand, lays out a full system for board clarity and accountability. I read his "Boards That Make a Difference", and was thrilled to see someone finally offer a way to make sense of boards. As a consultant, I've become an avid advocate of his Policy Governance model, which when used, virtually assures elevated governance. With this new book, Carver continues to impress. Rather than a conceptual text, this collection of over 100 articles addresses nearly every conceivable structural issue boards face, as well as the myths surrounding Policy Governance. To have all of this relevant information in one place is an incredible gift, another great addition to Carver's contributions to the nonprofit world, and any others interested in making boardroom activity meaningful and productive.
| 
