National Environmental Education Advancement Project

OAT� Appendix C. Annotated Recommended Resources

The following list of resources contains excellent supplements to OAT�, An Organizational Assessment Tool for EE Organizations.  This list is included in the OAT as a recommended resources list.   Visit the capacity building pages on EE Link to access other organizational development links.

Bader, Barry S. (1991) Planning Sucessful Boad Retreats. NCNB Governance Series  Booklet #10. $12. NCNB, 1-800-342-5709. Discusses successful retreat elements: committment, objectives, logistics, agenda. Planning checklists and questions.

Bay Consulting Group. Lessons Learned Toolsite. Free. Available: http:// www.arts.endow.gov/pub/Lessons/BODY1.html. Comprehensive guide to organizational planning. Topics such as: designing missions and visions, assessment planning, group facilitation techniques, managing conflict, others...    

Bryson, John. (1995). Strategic Planning for Public and Nonprofit Organizations.  Jossey-Bass. Many examples of sucessful and unsuccessful strategic planning practices. Presents a "Strategy Change Cycle" model for strategic planning.

Byrd, Norma J. (1998) The Nature Center Handbook-A Manual of Best Practices from the Field. Association of Nature Center Administrators. 1-800-490-2622. Highly applicable to EE organizations. Based on current research/practices and the experiences of professional nature center administrators. Case studies,  recommended practices, references, and resources on leadership, strategic planning, and board development, staff, and fund development.

Carver, John. (1997) Boards that Make a Difference. Jossey-Bass. Reviews effective policies, meeting structures, committee assignments, and board-management relationships. Presents a "policy governance" model.

Citizen Forestry Support System. Tip Sheet Packet. 1-800-323-1560. Topics include: organizational assessment, developing media savvy, strategic and operational planning, avoiding burnout, board roles and responsibilities, fundraising, starting a nonprofit, volunteers, effective meetings.

Doyle, Michael and Straus, David. (1976) How to Make Meetings Work. The Berkley Publishing Group: New York. 212-951-8891. This "classic" is full of background information, facilitation models, tips, and insights that will help you improve   your meetings.

Drucker, Peter F. (1993) The Five Most Important Questions You Will ever Ask About Your Nonprofit Organization-Participant’s Workbook. Jossey-Bass.   Guides organizations through a series of open-ended questions which all organizations should address when participating in a strategic planning process.

Fitzpatrick, Joyce L. (1993) The Board’s Role in Public Relations and Communications. NCNB Governance Series Booklet #15. $12. NCNB, 1-800-342-5709. Provides reasons for communicating, knowing your audience and what they think, improving and addressing communication in strategic plans.

Kilmann, Ralph H. (1989) Managing Beyond the Quick Fix-A Completely Integrated Program for Creating and Maintaining Organizational Success. Jossey-Bass.   Provides an in-depth, sequential framework for facilitating organizational assessment, implementing change programs, and managing success. Addresses culture, management skills, team building, strategy-structure, and rewards.

Kotter, John P. (1990) What Leaders Really Do. Harvard Business Review. May/June, 103-111. Discusses the difference between management and leadership, the significance of both to nonprofit organizations, and methods for developing a culture of leadership.

Merriman, Tim. (1994) The Action Agenda. Directions, 4(1), 1-3. Association of Nature Camp Administrators. 1-800-490-2622. Suggests structuring meetings around action, discussion, and information items to increase their effectiveness.

Nason, John W. Board Assessment of the Chief Executive. (1990) NCNB Govenance Series Booklet #4. $12 NCNB, 1-800-342-5709. Simple, yet comprehensive guide for assessing nonprofit executive directors.

Owen, Harrison. (1994) The Millennium Organization. Abbott. 301-469-9269.   Discusses ways of incorporating "Millennium Organization" (successful organization) characteristics: celebration of life, open systems, high learning, high play, appropriate structure and management, genuine community, spirit.

Ruskey, Abby and Wilke, Rick. (1994). Promoting Environmental Education-An Action Handbook for Strengthening EE in Your State and Community. New Hope Graphics: Amherst, WI. Provides organizational development information in the context of building comprehensive state and local level EE programs This is the first, and  still the most comprehensive book on EE capacity building.

Sashkin, Marshall. (1995) The Visionary Leader-Leader BehaviorQuestionnaire-Self.   HDR Press. 1-800-822-2801. Fifty item questionnaire/booklet for individuals and   organizations. Provides information on visionary leadership behavior,   characteristics, and vision in building organizational culture.

Senge, Peter M., Kleiner, Art, Roberts, Charlotte, Ross, Richard B., and Smith Bryan J. (1994) The Fifth Discipline Fieldbook, Strategies and Tools for Building a Learning Organization. Doubleday. Collection of tools, methods, case studies, reflections, guiding ideas, and exercises for building effective organizations.

Stoesz, Edgar, and C. Raber. (1997) Doing Good Better: How to Be an Effective Board Member of a Nonprofit Organization. Good Book. Addresses many board concerns. Highlights include: leadership, meetings, developing board proposals, money, conflict, leaving the board, liability, checklist for orientation of board members, and board self assessment of key responsibilities.

Support Center for Nonprofit Management. The Nonprofit Genie. http://www.genie.org/. Resources, links, and answers to frequently asked questions (FAQ) about nonprofit organizational development/management.

Szanton, Peter. (1992) Board Assessment of the Organization: How Are We Doing?.   NCNB Governance Series Booklet #14. $12. NCNB. 1-800-342-5709. Addresses  the why, what, when, how, who of evaluation, key questions, results, & follow-up.

Vaill, Peter B. (1996) Learning as a Way of Being-Strategies for Survival in a World of Permanent White Water. Jossey-Bass. Explores the impacts of learning as a way of being as they apply to systems thinking, leadership, and spirituality. Includes a section on how to understand cross-cultural relationships.

Wheatley, Margaret J. (1994) Leadership and the New Science-Learning About Organization from an Orderly Universe. Berrett-Koehler. 801- 377-2996. Presents the "new sciences" (physics, chaos theory, biology) perspective on organizational development. Addresses change, control, structure, flexibility, planning, and innovation.

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