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What is Policy Governance®? |
John Carver introduced his Policy Governance® model in the 1980’s with the publication of his first book,
Boards That Make a Difference. The model is built on traditional principles that people long have recognized that good boards strive to practice. Carver recognized the difficulty that boards have in actually practicing those principles, and created this model to enable boards to effectively lead, direct, inspire and control organizations through a set of very carefully crafted policy statements based upon those principles.
Abandoning the traditional practice of “approvals”, the Policy Governance board sets policy and rigorously monitors for compliance. The policies are grouped into four categories, each serving a distinct purpose:
ENDS:
Defined organizational products and outcomes for specified owners. These policies clearly state the "bottom line" which the organization is expected to achieve over time: What benefit? For whom? At what cost?
EXECUTIVE LIMITATIONS:
Clear limits and controls on operational decisions that the board would find unacceptable, defining the boundaries within which the CEO and staff may operate. Stated in the negative, the “10 Commandments” articulate the actions and decisions that limit CEO authority.
GOVERNANCE PROCESS:
The board defines its own work, and how it will be carried out. These policies clearly state the expectations the board has for itself, for individual members, for the chair and for collective behavior, including behavior at board meetings and for any board committees.
GOVERNANCE-MANAGEMENT CONNECTION:
Specific delegation of authority to the CEO, a process and timeline for CEO evaluation, and accountability of the CEO to the board as a whole, not to individuals.
Since its creation, Policy Governance®
has been recognized universally as a sound model that offers a logical process for boards to govern well, and to remove themselves from the daily operational “stuff”.
Both Aspen Group senior partners have been personally selected and trained by John Carver in the practical application of his model. We have trained scores of boards in its use, and will provide expert consultation and guidance to those Boards that choose to adopt this governing model. We will explore with you our own variation, Coherent Governance®, which we believe represents a significant stage of evolution.
We have taken Carver's theory and made it practical in the boardroom.
The Aspen Group International, LLC.
A Leadership Development Company
P.O. Box 1777 Castle Rock, CO 80104
303.882.9888 or 303.478.0125 Fax: 208.247.6084
email: aspen@aspengroup.org
Linda J. Dawson, Senior Partner | Dr. Randy Quinn, Senior Partner | |
Policy Governance® is the registered service mark of John Carver. Carver's "Authoritative Website," is
www.carvergovernance.com |
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