Policy Governance® Defined

John Carver’s Policy Governance® model is the world’s only complete, universal theory of governance—a conceptually coherent paradigm of principles and concepts (not of structure). The model enables boards—as "servant-leaders" of shareholders, public, members (or other "ownership" equivalent)—to ensure that organizations achieve board-stated goals and conduct themselves with probity.

  • Because it is a complete theory, it informs board planning, mission, committee work, agenda control, budgeting, reporting, CEO evaluation, management relationships, fiduciary responsibility, and all other aspects of the board job.

  • Because it is universally applicable, it works for organizations that are new or mature, large or small, profit or nonprofit (including government), and troubled or successful.

  • Because it is carefully crafted, it enables an efficient summing of board wisdom capable of adequate control without micromanagement.
 

The most thorough explanation of the Policy Governance model is in Boards That Make a Difference by John Carver (Jossey-Bass, 2nd edition, 1997), although four other books and almost 160 published articles and monographs describe various aspects and applications of the model.  The following essay jointly authored by John and Miriam Carver is, however, the most complete description in an article-length form.  Although Policy Governance applies to corporate and governmental (including elected) boards, as well as nonprofits, this piece is addressed to nonprofits.  A similar article written specifically for corporate boards, "A Theory of Corporate Governance: Finding a New Balance for Boards and Their CEOs," was electronically published by Corporate Board Member, April 2001, at http://www.boardmember.com. The following article was originally published in French in the Canadian journal Gouvernance: Revue internationale, Vol. 2, no 1, Hiver 2001.

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