Balanced Scorecard: Step-by-Step for Government and Nonprofit Agencies [Hardcover]

Paul R. Niven (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 11, 2008 | ISBN-10: 0470180021 | ISBN-13: 978-0470180020 | Edition: 2

This book provides an easy-to-follow roadmap for successfully implementing the Balanced Scorecard methodology in small- and medium-sized companies. Building on the success of the first edition, the Second Edition includes new cases based on the author's experience implementing the balanced scorecard at government and nonprofit agencies. It is a must-read for any organization interested in achieving breakthrough results.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

"The Balanced Scorecard is highly effective for nonprofit organizations. Paul Niven translates the concepts of the BSC into a toolkit and approaches that are ideally suited to the nonprofit environment. Further, he presents these ideas in a format that is easy to understand and communicate with staff at all levels." —Sherry Keramidas, PhD, CAE, Executive Director, Regulatory Affairs Professionals Society

"If you want to implement an organizational performance management initiative using the Balanced Scorecard, don't even think about doing so without this guidebook of guidebooks, written by an experienced 'sherpa,' Paul Niven. This practical manual, with its 'tell-it-like-it-is' approach is an essential survival book for any trek to the headwaters of organizational improvement. Paul's voice is tested and true. Your journey towards excellence requires this kind of compass." —Benjamin K. Homan, President and Chief Executive Officer, Food for the Hungry, Inc.

"As a master of the Balanced Scorecard, Paul offers solutions and forward-thinking strategies on organizational management and performance measurement. This is a must-read for any organization interested in achieving breakthrough results." —Merl Waschler, President, Valley of the Sun United Way

From the Back Cover

"The Balanced Scorecard has risen to the performance measurement challenge of the private sector and is equally well-equipped to facilitate a rapid and dramatic transition of twenty-first-century nonprofit and public organizations." —from Chapter Two

The emphasis today on demonstrated organizational performance is not limited to private-sector corporations. Public and nonprofit agencies are also finding that, as financial resources decrease and demand for results increases, they too must institute performance goals along with programs and processes that consistently progress toward those goals. Balanced Scorecard Step-by-Step for Government and Nonprofit Agencies, Second Edition empowers your organization to turn strategy into performance at every organizational level and translate your intangible resources such as innovation, customer relationships, and intellectual capital into real value.

Significantly updated and enhanced to reflect the latest theory and practice of performance management for the nonprofit and public sectors, this results-focused and practical book:

• Provides a "get-started" questionnaire for readers to assess their agency's readiness and get them started on implementation

• Includes all-new cases based on the author's experience implementing the Balanced Scorecard in the public and nonprofit sectors

• Offers completely revamped coverage of Strategy Maps with new sections on how to facilitate a Strategy Map session

• Introduces the Office of Strategy Management (OSM), a new and vitally important function that seamlessly integrates the worlds of strategy formation and execution

• Spans the entire spectrum of a Balanced Scorecard implementation

• Explains how to alter the "geography" of the Balanced Scorecard to fit public and nonprofit agencies

Public and nonprofit organizations are not immune to the tempest of change swirling about our modern world. Balanced Scorecard Step-by-Step for Government and Nonprofit Agencies, Second Edition outlines the very real benefits of the field-proven Balanced Scorecard approach, and details how it can be tailored to the unique requirements and realities of nonprofit and public-sector organizations. Let it show you how to use the Balanced Scorecard to help your organization dramatically improve strategic and fiscal effectiveness—and better meet the needs of your stakeholders and board members.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 384 pages
• Publisher: Wiley; 2 edition (April 11, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0470180021
• ISBN-13: 978-0470180020
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 1.3 x 9.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #155,739 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #96 in Books > Politics & Social Sciences > Government     > Public Affairs & Administration

More About the Author

PAUL R. NIVEN is an author, management consultant (The Senalosa Group), and noted speaker on the subjects of strategy formation and execution. As both a practitioner and consultant he has developed successful Performance Management systems for clients large and small in a wide variety of organizations, including Fortune 500 companies, public sector, and nonprofit agencies. His most recent book is "Road Maps and Revelations," a business fable designed to help organizations develop simple yet powerful strategic plans. In August 2006 the second edition of Paul's book "Balanced Scorecard Step by Step: Maximizing Performance and Maintaining Results" was released. The first edition of this text has been translated in over fifteen languages around the globe. Paul's other books include "Balanced Scorecard Step by Step for Governments and Nonprofits" second edition released by John Wiley & Sons in April 2008, and "Balanced Scorecard Diagnostics" which was released in April, 2005.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 51 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Clear, informative and highly implementable advice, August 23, 2003

By 

Andrew G. Benson (British Columbia, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Balanced Scorecard Step-by-Step for Government and Nonprofit Agencies (Hardcover)

Although the Balanced Scorecard has taken over performance mangagement thinking in business, its linkages and adaptability to public and non-profit organizations has remained extremely challenging. I currently am resposible for leading planning and strategy development for a large social services provider in Canada. Being a strong proponent of Balanced Scorecard theory, I anxiously waited two months for Paul Niven's latest book to hit the shelves in hope that I could adapt the balanced scorecard approach to evaluate our organization's strategy. Long story short >> Balanced Scorecard for Government and Nonprofit Agencies was an incredible investment, and we are now on the way to better measuring and reporting on our organization's progress with the help of this book's advice, tips and proecess design steps.

Paul Niven's writing style provides a clear and informative description of the balanced scorecard approach to performance planning and measurement - and presents easy-to-follow steps for designing and implementing performance systems to monitor and evaluate the impact of nonprofit and public sector programs. I highly recommend this easy-to-read book to anyone interested in understanding how the world's leading approach to performance measurement and management can be successfully incorporated into your organization.

39 of 39 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good & Practical Book on Balanced Scorecard, July 6, 2003

By 

Vik Torpunuri, e2e Solutions (Irvine, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Balanced Scorecard Step-by-Step for Government and Nonprofit Agencies (Hardcover)

I've read most of the literature on the Balanced Scorecard and the previous books by Norton & Kaplan and Paul Niven himself. Being a Management Consultant of 15 years, I worked with numerous for-profit and not-for-profit organizations and have the usual skepticism towards theory books. This latest book on Balanced Scorecard was easy-to-read with numerous examples from Balanced Scorecard implementations in public sector. I found the step-by-step approach to be practical and quite down-to-earth with numerous take aways for a reader interested in BSC or a performance management practitioner, like myself. The book rightly touches upon the challenges in the scorecard implementations, and offers valuable advice. If you haven't read any previous books on this subject, you can read this book alone for a good idea on what the Balanced Scorecard is all about, and how you go about its implementation.

18 of 20 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A book for the 21st century, September 19, 2003

By 

Benjamin Juarez Echenique (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Balanced Scorecard Step-by-Step for Government and Nonprofit Agencies (Hardcover)

Niven is one of the best authors on BSC. If this administration and communications tool has been hailed as one the best new concepts in the business world, in nonprofit and government administration it can have even more impact. It is a great general introduction, but even seasoned experts will find enlightenment and a great very updated bibliography. Works very well as a textbook for nonprofit management with HBS cases.