Organizations Books

Dr. Carver's seminal work on nonprofit board governance updated to cover all the Sarbane-Oxley stuff. For those who care enough to study the very best.

Carver describes how to avoid common Board mistakes and actually create the Board in a leadership role. It seems so obvious now that I read it... but I had to read it to realize what the problems were with my previous and current Board experience.

This book is tailored to answer questions about every size of Board, so read it! It's a bit dense in its language, but useful to all of us.

I am currently a newly appointed Board chairperson for a non-profit Christian school and we have been using John Carver's Policy Governance model for the last year. While we still have a long way to go to incorporate it completely into the fabric of our board processes, we have made great strides toward it in only a year. This book is excellent in helping us get there. I have also read several of John Carver's guides and although they are somewhat small for the money you have to pay for them, they also contain very good information. We hope to study these principles as part of our on-going board training during this board fiscal year.

Not the most engrossing read, but for anyone serving on a board, it is a great resource.

This is a good book for bobcat enthusiasts, or those who really like wild cats. It contains all rounded, non-technical coverage on bobcat lineage, appearance, anatomy, behavior, life cycle, ecology, hunting, management and conservation issues. You may like it if you are interested in wild animals and conservation generally.

There are several pages of glossy color photographs in the middle of the book. For a book on bobcats, I would say the more photographs, the better. Photographs help attract young readers, gently easing them into the world of wildlife and conservation. Photographs also attract readers who like wild cats generally but who may not otherwise slog through 200 pages of narratives.

Instilling a love for wild animals is the best strategy for promoting their conservation.

Okay, I confess I'm a big fan of bobcats, so I may be a bit biased, but if you have any interest in these animals, this is a must-have resource. It has up-to-date information on bobcat behavior, biology, habitat, and conservation. The material is well-organized and has a good bit of detail without being unduly technical. The book also has a center section with a few photos. However, don't buy this book if you simply want glossy wild cat pictures (there are better books for that). This is a book for people who like to keep reference books on their favorite animals (yes, I'm one of those).

if you are even REMOTELY curious/interested in bobcats, this book is for you! it's packed with the very latest research info and facts that are brought together in a very interesting and readable way. it's a book that is hard to put down.

.....enjoy!!!!!!!!

barb

From the vivid introduction through to the 34-page bibliography, this is a well-constructed story about our crepuscular neighbors the bobcat and Canada lynx. Hansen brings years of field experience, moral sense, and an academic knowledge of bobcats. He outlines research needs and awakens a sense of the increasing dangers to these creatures.

Based on observations by others, tracks in the snow, and scat in the trail, I've been aware that wildcats were nearby. This book, with fine photographs, makes them substantial.

As a younger person wanting to move into fundrasing into the future this book gave me the encouragement that I needed to stick with it! Its not a how to do book its a I can book!

This is a great book for fundraisers of all levels. It is more like a self-help book than a fundraising book. I agree with all who said this is not a how-to book, but a go-for-it book. Highly recommended.

As a young person looking towards moving actively into fundrasing, I appreciated this book alot. It gave me the encouragement I needed to stick it out, and understand that its not as easy as it looks, but I can do it. This isn't a how-to-book, its more of a "You can do it!" book.

This book offers the best advise I've ever seen on Fund Raising! It is not a technical how -to- do-it book, but goes into the underlying assumptions and attitudes that are necessary to become a successful fund raiser. It gets you excited about fund raising and makes you want to run out and get started!

When I read this book, I felt that I had been missing the obvious for a long time. The authors provide an explanation about why most of the changes in organizations don't work, whether they are Theory E or Theory O, and how you can combine the two for meaningful and effective results. Their work is based on lots of experience and for me they finally explained what the problem is--and what to do about it. As a change agent, this book gave me great new thinking with which to practice my craft.

Mike Beer has been for some time now clarifying the issues involved in Corporate Cultures, Human Capital, and Organizational Change. In this recent book Dr. Beer has done what SHOULD have been done decades ago: Linking several fields by providing useful Framework. This book synthesizes fields "apparently" diverse such as: Organizational Design with People & Team Profiling with Organizational Profiling and Human Dynamics. It is a precise, concise, extremely effective, and much needed book.

Human factor and business
Michael Beer and Nitin Nohria's have present a framework toward as an integrative theory of change. Theory E has as its purpose the creation of economic value, often expressed as shareholder value. Its focus is on formal strong hierarchy structure and systems. It is driven from the top down with extensive help from consultants and financial incentives. There's know room the creative managers. You must agreed to the objects (make and keep the shareholders happiest man in town no matter what) that the top commands and demands.

Theory O has as its purpose the development of the organization's human capability to implement strategy and to learn from actions taken about the effectiveness of changes made. Its focus is on the development of a high-commitment culture. Its means consist of high involvement, and consultants and incentives are relied on far less to drive change. Change is emergent, less planned and programmatic. Here there's know place for silos but teamwork and personal development.

Resolving the Tension between Theory E and O
It is vary tempting if you find a business model that can boots the business finance, there's a big chance that you will follow that lead. But this can turn out on the short run well for the business and especially for the shareholders. But on the long run this have a great deal of stress on the employers by taken the human factor out of the workspace, and make the workplace a money machine. The authors argue strategies that works only on behave of the shareholders will not survive in the long run. To solve this problem one must look further than the shareholders and deeper than the business objectives (theory O). There must be a cultural transformation. Everyone must work for the same goal and not draining the gaol for the sake of the CEO. To make the cultural transformation, there will be more benefits to the organization in the long run. Finally this will create a win-win situation for the organization employees and the shareholders.

Even in the change literature are changing. In breaking the code of change the authors have may very well suggest that the old change agents like Weick, Pettigrew, Bennis, Argyris have lost contact whit the reality, they don't have the vision, the energy.
They are not change agents but organization development that help curtain organization to function within the circumstances under the economic situation of that particular moment. At the end of the book Beer and Nohria conclude that these agents didn't succeed to break the code of change.

The interesting thing is when you look at the company's the authors consider that make the loop from good to great, you will be surprise if you think that the good to great company's are IBM, Microsoft, Enron, Shell, well not anymore if you're, if you're looking for the company's that embodied the leadership that make the loop from good to great. Don't look for the company's that appear on the front page, or the company's that make the news. But look around the corner. My advise study this book, search for the human factor, and make your notes and act according to your vision. You may be surprise how in the smallest things you can be the one that turns things around from good to great. Good study material for organization consultants, HRM and MBA's.

I have just finished reading this book and have been rewarded, as a "change" practitioner, this book adds real value in bringing the streams of change together. It is rare when I read a book on the subject and find it rewarding, enhancing what I do at the coal face. No, quick fix recipes but a thoughtful, well constructed set of ideas that do justice to this complex subject. I would reccomend this book to those who want to get beyond "listmania" and into some real thinking of what is involved in the dynamics of change.

Bob Harris and Cal Clemons combined four decades of experience running successful AMCs to create a publication that has been billed by some as a bible for analyzing, revamping, revitalizing and growing an Association Management company. In Building an Association Management Company, they share their secrets on everything from getting started, to business and marketing plans, to soliciting and serving clients, to what the future holds.

I have read Building an Association Management Company from cover to cover. It is a great resource for my company and staff.

This book is a great resource for an association management company. I've used it a lot for a quick reference.

You are a big part of our success. Your book was fantastic and extremely helpful.

Great book! The exercises really force you to think and clarify the who, what, why and how of yourself and the group you are creating or trying to improve. I highly recomend this one.

With great insight and honesty Michael Jacoby Brown has drawn on his extensive experience to produce a practical and inspiring resource. This book is a must for anyone wishing to organize a group to work for social change or anyone who is part of a community organization which needs to rejuvenate or rediscover its purpose. It is beautiful in its simplicity, addressing its issues in a way everyone can understand, and broad in its scope, addressing every aspect involved in successful community organizing. "Building Powerful Community Organizations" demands engagement by the reader. It contains exercises and the reader gains best value from the book by engaging in the exercises at the point they are presented.

This book should be required reading for hospitals, foundations, public health agencies and people working on any form of community improvement. Michael has documented his learnings with stories and tools that can equip those willing to learn to build powerful community organization, as the title says. There are lots of various community organizing guides but this one mixes stories and tools in an easy to read, nicely laid out style. His wisdom comes from years of community organizing and translates here into practical, easy to access advice. This is the best handbook I have seen in a long time! The author makes himself available with info on how to reach him as well as a website with blog that makes him more than a distant author; he is approachable and willing to extend his teachings beyond the pages of his book. Not may authors do this.

Written by Michael Jacoby Brown, who has more than thirty years' experience in building community organizations, Building Powerful Community Organizations: A Personal Guide to Creating Groups that Can Solve Problems and Change the World is a handy step-by-step guide to creating, strengthening, and revitalizing grass-roots organizations for bringing about social change to solve problems in the community or workplace. From how to effectively recruit (learning to "listen not sell", when short or long visits are appropriate, and how to turn success into momentum) to how to mobilize resources and raise money to the steps for setting change into motion and more, Building Powerful Community Organizations walks the reader through the necessary skills and processes while warning against common obstacles and pitfalls. Enthusiastically recommended for anyone looking to harness communal effort and make a lasting difference.

Author Michael Jacoby Brown has created a book with very detailed information on how to organize, create, and lead a community organization. In it he clearly explains all the steps necessary to create an effective organization that can resolve problems. The various areas discussed include the theory of how a group should work, the chemistry involved, the seven basic steps for building an organization, developing a mission statement, goals, and objectives, designing the organization to last, recruiting others, mobilizing, raising money and taking action. Throughout the book are case studies and exercises to help you not only understand how it all works but also to help you work through developing your organization correctly. If you want to change the world and know you need help to do it then you will appreciate this book. Building Powerful Community Organizations is easily the best book on the market today on this subject.

I've had the benefit and pleasure of being taught both individually and in team forum by Dave and Arky Ciancutti from the Learning Center in San Anselmo. Arky's book is a great compliment to the in-person sessions and an excellent standalone pice of work. Sound, practical advice on how to develop and sustain personal and business relationships. I won't go as far as to say this changed my life -- but that's not far from the truth. This is a very readable book, with checklists, advice, key points all presented very clearly. Read cover to cover or use as a reference when your technique needs brushing up. Arky clearly explains why things happen and why we do what we do. Armed with those data we're much better prepared to make a change for the better.

This book is a must read. A completely differant perspective on leaderahip.

It's refreshing to see an alternative to all the books on Machiavellian politics, intrigue and all the derivatives. Here is an approach to leadership that will give an organization a competitive advantage AND provide a healthy culture and work environment. I hope this book is the opening to new ways of doing business.

Built on Trust needs to be read by CEOs and managers of all types. After graduating with my MBA I worked for two different companies over a three year span and I found both organizations completely lacking basic managerial capabilities and functionality. Being a young, ambitious guy I knew I was "wet behind the ears" but my managers were deplorable at best. The result was a downward spiral in productivity and results at both companies.

The key principles of the book are closure, commitment, respect, responsibility, communication and speedy resolution. I won't go into depth about the principles but most people don't understand, including myself before I read this, how each contributes to an organization's overall success and "social capital."

What the authors are trying to do is get companies to apply their "Trust Model" and the result is, in their minds and mine, that an organization will end up with a competitive advantage over their competitor.

I found the book to be quite similar in many regards to Abraham Maslow's hierarchy of needs at times since one of the goals is to help employees in attaining "self actualization" where their aspirations and sense of contribution occur.

The models' goals, to list a few, include (1) increasing group intelligence through communication (2) increasing creativity (3) making people feel passionate about work (4) creating synergies and (5) getting everyone focused on a common goal.

SENIOR MANAGERS OR ASPIRING MANAGERS! BUY THIS BOOK! This book, along with Peter Drucker's The Essential Drucker, are where I would start to create a better managed, more efficient business.

It is my belief that just about everyone has a passionate desire to contribute. We have a hunger to be a part of something bigger than ourselves, especially when that something reflects and amplifies our inherent values. That is what this book is about. Creating the organization that everyone loves to work for and that the best talent flocks to. If anyone wants some other good business books just e-mail me.

This book is practical and easy to understand. It touches base on every aspect of the business no matter how big or small. It awesome for reference, since it's detailed and organized. I always go back to it. And the tips are great!

This book was helpful, more so than others I've read. I would reccomened buying it. This book has a lot of useful information. The charts and timelines are very nice also.

I purchased this book several years ago and I still refer to it whenever I am planning a special event. Freedman & Feldman provide a guide that literally lays the groundwork for conducting a successful special event (I hope that is not a Kent Dove title). Every subject from selecting the right event to post-event evaluation is covered in this resource.

Great pains are taken to illustrate the areas discussed and tips abound throught the book. I found the samples of event materials particularly useful in gaining an understanding of some of the principles that are illustrated.

The Business of Special Events is a must have edition to your library. A great resource for volunteers, chairpersons, staff and Board. I completly agree with George R. Reis, Editor, Fundraising Management when he says "When other writers discuss special events, they often quote Harry Freedman. This book is the final word on the subject."

Collaboratively written by professional non-profit organization fundraiser Harry A. Freedman and Florida-based journalist Karen Feldman, The Business Of Special Events: Fundraising Strategies For Changing Times is a step-by-step guidebook that effectively instructs the reader in every step of organizing a successful fundraising effort in today's technological era. Individual chapters specifically address how to create a balanced budget; secure corporate sponsorship; maintain accurate records; get serviceable publicity; provide food, beverages, and entertainment at fundraising gatherings; and more. A wealth of practical tips, tricks, and techniques make The Business Of Special Events a top-notch and highly recommended resource.

An interesting format of letters back between friends about service on a board. I believe it's best read after other more structured infomation on the roles and functions of a board, then round out your perspective and understanding with this fine work. Very short, an easy read.

Called to Serve is recommended reading by all YMCA staff who work with policy making volunteers. It is designed as "letters to a friend" and covers the why, how and what in working with volunteers/boards in a conversational way. It is not overwhelming, nor does it get into a lot of governance issues. It leads you to understand the meaning and purpose of volunteerism and many, many lessons as to roles of volunteers, meeting development, strategic planning, effective committees, etc. I highly recommend it!

Truly an enjoyable, profitable read with many treasures for the one seeking advice on non-profit or volunteer boards.

This is packaged in letter form of author writing advice to a friend about such board memberhsip and leadership.

Just a few of the many gleans one will get: "the board does have obligations in the short term, but the future, with certain expectations, comes first"; "desigining an agenda by following the lines of a bell curve"; "one of the great time wasters for any group is the routine of giving progress reports when there's been no progress"; and the wonderful story of the postmaster who would not be bothered out of a meeting until he heard it was to receive thanks.

One reading this wants to be on any board that Max is on. Also, to invoke some of his wisdom tenderly yet passionately given in this work. Buy one for yourself and all members on your board. It will bring more joy to the member and more service to the organization.

De Pree's latest addition to his leadership books such as best-selling Leadership is an Art, Leadership Jazz, and Leading without Power, has turned his vast experience with non-profit boards into a helpful volume about creating an effective volunteer board. The book covers generalities like the expectations of board and staff, as well as specifics like how to construct an agenda. De Pree gets as specific as stating, "The chairperson should not permit anyone to read to the board." Amen to that! The book can be read quickly, referenced easily, and would help create basic principles and expectations for the board. Anyone working with a volunteer board would do well to provide a copy for each board member.

This book was very informative. It was helpful in the understanding of the vast size of the non-profit sector job types. It also gave many helpful ideas on how to get into non-profit job fields from the private sector.

This is a remarkably comprehensive and well-written book. It not only covers everything you need to know as a newcomer to the nonprofit sector -- the different types of nonprofits, their "personalities," their business models, their developmental stages, the issues they address -- but also how to identify the right positions and to best present yourself to a new and quite different audience. Gassner Otting provides informed analysis about cutting edge developments in the nonprofit sector, such as venture philanthropy, social enterprises, and socially-responsible businesses.

The tone is pitch perfect. There's no breathless fluff, no Dr. Phil, no "What Color is Your Parachute?" Gassner Otting knows her audience and treats them like the experienced professionals they are. The content is consistently meaty and extremely well-organized, and her observations are uniformly astute and insightful, never facile or cliched. Consider the following example:

"Nonprofits in transition tend to be three to seven years past their start-up mode. They are often on their second or even third executive director, and they have begun adding senior staff positions, like operations, finance, or administration directors.... Great opportunities exist for corporate career changes in these organizations, as long as you don't try to transition the organization too quickly."

And this:

"Founders can be enormously exciting to work for, especially when they are in their element... However, founder types in nonprofits in transition, at a steady and stable point, or in decline can be phenomenally destructive. As in the for-profit sector, the nonprofit sector recognizes 'founder's syndrome,' even if the founder doesn't. No founder wants to stay past their prime, but most simply don't see that it has passed. In fact, staff and board are often complicit in founder's syndrome, continuing to remain supportive in public even if they have begun snickering in private."

I was particularly impressed with the way Gassner Otting extracts patterns and grouped information in ways that are consistently useful to the reader. Examples include her descriptions of the types of nonprofits (including their personalities), nonprofit trends, nonprofit myths and stereotypes about private-sector expatriates, organizational life cycles, and analysis of job titles and org. charts. Her taxonomies and commentary are comprehensive and richly informative. Also, she provides a number of useful profiles of successful career changers, which, contrary to usual practice, don't sound like they were written for People magazine.

Her advice about job search strategies, networking, informational interviewing, and resumes and cover letters is far above average, with much more sophisticated examples of well-written communications. This is entirely appropriate for her intended audience of job seekers who already have successful careers behind them. She provides excellent advice about how to translate private-sector experience into the language of nonprofits. Her appendix of resources is both comprehensive and selective, including jobs boards by interest area, executive search firms servicing the nonprofit sector, and educational resources by state and online.

As Gassner Otting states, "even in the best of circumstances, job searches are long, arduous, and often lonely processes." I cannot imagine that any successful person thinking about transitioning into the nonprofit world would not benefit enormously from this truly outstanding and definitive text on the subject.

Laura Gassner Otting's new book is a terrific resource for people of all ages who are interested in moving into work in the non-profit sector. She demystifies the process, gives useful hints and fills the reader with tools, energy and hope. Her writing combines energetic idealism with practical ideas for moving forward. Anyone interested in jobs in the non-profit sector would be well-served by this book!

This book is uncanny in its accuracy and surgical in its analysis of the issues those looking to change from the business world to the non-profit world will encounter. It seems at times that the author was there as I discovered the language, disposition, motivational, resource and work-style differences I have encountered in my own effort to transition to non-profit work.

Firstly, it demystifies the non-profit world by categorizing and organizing it for the reader, explaining the many and non-obvious differences between family foundations, advocacy and service groups, founder-led, executive director-guided and board driven organizations. Nowhere is the modern non-profit sector better explained.

Secondly, it is fantastically useful to help business people understand how they and their business accomplishments will be viewed in the non-profit world. Included is advice on the small presentation "tweaks" can turn a hard-nosed business `achievement' into a `contribution' interesting to the non-profit ear. The reader is treated like an interested and intelligent being while being taught these basics. While consistent themes run throughout the book, you are not bludgeoned with the constant repetition characteristic of so many career books. A vast majority of the many examples and war stories are told positively and with clear lessons.

Worth keeping as a reference or passing on to the next one you meet facing the change, I am surprised that Amazon has the book available for resale, but encouraged that resale prices are so close to the new price.....this book is a bargain at twice the price.