Here's a timely thought: corporate boards should govern their organizations, rather than simply condoning the antics of aggressive CEOs. While most corporate boards offer their company little more than a group designed to hire and support the CEO, Carver and Oliver outline a broader set of duties for a responsible, more effective board, including the practice of setting management expectations and evaluating performance. The essence of this book is contained in the case the authors make for a chief government officer to replace the traditional chairman position. The point is to create board leadership that lives much closer to the organization's management. Thus, instead of a gap between the CEO and the chairman, there would now be an overlap, which would give the board more governing relevance. Light reading this isn't, but for those serious about changing corporate governance (and who isn't after Enron?), this is an excellent resource.
Copyright 2002 Reed Business Information, Inc.