March 20, 2008 | Read Time: 1 minute
NEW BOOKS
Culture of Inquiry: Healthy Debate in the Boardroom, by Nancy R. Axelrod, proposes that nonprofit board members incorporate four ingredients — trust, information sharing, teamwork, and dialogue — into their meetings and discussions. Ms. Axelrod, a nonprofit consultant, emphasizes that respectful dissent, honesty, and civility are also part of an effective and healthy organizational culture. The book helps charity boards assess how their own group works together, and offers a step-by-step guide to encouraging a culture of inquiry, with chapters that focus on each of the four elements that Ms. Axelrod advocates, including tips on how to steer through disagreements without stifling opinions on either side. She also includes a list of suggested resources that can supplement her own advice.
Publisher: BoardSource, 1828 L Street, N.W., Suite 900, Washington, D.C. 20036; (202) 452-6262 or (800) 883-6262; fax (202) 452-6299; mail@boardsource.org; http://www.boardsource.org; 54 pages; $21 for members, $28 for nonmembers; ISBN 1-58686-103-4.
