Saving the Corporate Board: Why Boards Fail and How to Fix Them

Ralph D. Ward0471433837, 9780471433835, 9780471453727

Ward reveals ten specific failings that are built into our boardroom model and provides real-world fixes to get boards back on track. Ward mixes tart, insightful analogies (what do boards have in common with volunteer fire departments, the U.S. electoral college . . . and Howard Hughes?) with proven nuts-and-bolts advice for putting any board back on track.

---

Table of contents :
TeamLiB……Page 1
Cover……Page 2
Contents……Page 9
Reason #10 The Data Disaster: Boards Receive Too Little,Too Much (or Just Plain Bad) Information……Page 11
Reason #9 The Boardroom Leadership Gap: The Board Oversees (at the Same Time It Is Led by) the CEO……Page 27
Reason #8 The Boardroom Amateurs Syndrome: Inadequate Time, Resources, and Expertise for the Job……Page 55
Reason #7 Financials, Frauds, and Fumbles: Why ¡°Audit Committee¡± Is an Oxymoron……Page 81
Reason #6 So What Exactly Is the Board Supposed to Do?:Competing (If Not Conflicting) Governance Agendas……Page 109
Reason #5 The Howard Hughes Syndrome: Directors Are Cut off from Staff, Shareholders, and Major Decisions……Page 133
Reason #4 ¡°Does Anyone Know Why We¡¯re Here?¡±: Poor Board Meetings and Logistics……Page 155
Reason #3 We Don’t Talk about That: Boards Do a Lousy Job of Handling Their Personal Issues……Page 177
Reason #2 The Exploding Job Description: We Have No Idea How to Evaluate, Motivate, or Pay Directors……Page 199
Reason #1 The Elephant in the Boardroom: Boards Don¡¯t Handle Bad News Well……Page 217
Conclusion……Page 233
Index……Page 237