Governing Boards: Their Nature and Nurture

by Cyril Orvin Houle

A Publication of the National Center for Nonprofit Boards Should be required reading for every new board member. --NonProfit Times Shows how to handle the challenges facing board members, including... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1555421571
• ISBN13: 9781555421571
• Release Date: June 1989
• Publisher: Jossey-Bass
• Length: 223 Pages
• Weight: 1.10 lbs.

Customer Reviews

Solid Insight, Excellent Content

Governing Boards: A Publication of the National Center for Nonprofit BoardsBy Cyril O. HouleReviewed by Norman Olshansky: PresidentNFP Consulting Resources, Inc.Sarasota, Floridawww.nfpconsulting.comIt goes without saying, that nonprofit Boards of Directors are the most critical key to organizational success. They are responsible for the selection and evaluation of the chief executive, they establish corporate policies, maintain fiscal oversight, are key links to community resources and much more.Houle's book Governing Boards, is a thoughtful and extensive look at the roles, responsibilities, challenges, and unique concerns which face nonprofit boards and leadership. He focuses on what he calls the Tripartite System (The Board, the Executive and the Staff).His extensive commentary provides examples that give meat to his observations. He gives excellent suggestions and analysis dealing with Board realities, behaviors and challenges. The book was published in 1989 and though somewhat dated, still provides valuable insights for those interested in nonprofit boards.I was especially impressed with his chapters on organizational quality, measurement, and appraisal. His commentary on issues related to ethics and conflicts of interest was also excellent.I found the book to be somewhat difficult to read. There is extensive narrative and few graphics or bullets, which made the book less helpful than it could be as a reference guide. However, the book does have an extensive table of contents and index. There are a few obvious updates needed, based on the age of the publication, such as new business models used within nonprofits, new emphasis on accountability, planned giving, and new legislation which affects nonprofits. I was also disappointed that the role of Boards, in financial resource development (fundraising), was only briefly mentioned. Despite these weaknesses, Governing Boards is a publication which contains insightful and valuable commentary. I highly recommend it for those interested in nonprofit Boards. Chapters include:How to think about a Board (history, scope, structure)The human potential of the Board (why people join, selection, recruitment, orientation)The structure of the Board (size, tenure, terms, records, committees)The Board, Executive and Staff (shared responsibilities, functions, choosing an Exec, evaluation, relationships)The operations of the Board (group cohesion, planning, meetings, responsibilities, problem solving, quality)The external relationships of the Board (publics, sunshine laws, linkage, social status, systems)