Insight
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Stewardship, 14 March, 2018
The promises and limitations of institutional investors
Policymakers believe that investment institutions can be persuaded to take a greater role in corporate governance. But do they really possess the willingness and capacity to embrace their stewardship role?
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Governance review, 12 March, 2018
Time for a governance rethink: enforced compliance or not?
Have current codes of practice significantly improved corporate governance around the world? If not, then it may be time to review the case for enforced compliance.
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Human rights, 9 March, 2018
Stepping up supply chain protection
Boards must pay heed to labour abuses in their supply chains by ensuring strong risk management and building stable relationships—or face the many damaging consequences.
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Risk and ethics, 7 March, 2018
Ethical turn: the welcome marriage of risk management and ethics
Amoral risk management is no longer welcome, so risk managers are “flirting” with ethics. The relationship may be tumultuous, but it could be a huge and healthy step forward, writes Anette Mikes.
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Women on boards, 28 February, 2018
Board gender diversity requires a diversity of attitude
A spotlight has shone on showbusiness since the beginning of the #metoo campaign, but how can women feel empowered and make a difference in boardrooms?
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Corporate culture, 26 February, 2018
Corporate culture: concept into focused action
Culture has become a headline issue for companies but few seem to pay it more than lip service. How do you turn such an important issue into focused action?
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Women on boards, 22 February, 2018
Want gender diversity on corporate boards? Try a diversity of tactics
Pushing a particular formula for getting more women onto boards is a surefire way to narrow the conversation and slow progress, argues Catherine Banat.
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Women on boards, 15 February, 2018
Stronger together: the wider benefits of women on boards
We know that women improve company boards, but a recent study reveals that they also offer better support to less powerful stakeholders and, in turn, make their companies better corporate citizens.
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Leadership qualities, 13 February, 2018
The Five Qs – a recipe for effective leadership
Effective leaders create organisations focused on delivering value, but most of all they need the “Five Qs”, says Andrew Kakabadse, professor of governance and leadership at Henley Business School.
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Stakeholder engagement, 12 February, 2018
A very strategic engagement: stakeholders and long-term value
Attending to the needs of all stakeholders will make an enterprise more successful in the long term, but it’s up to boards to engage with them in a fair and open way.
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Governance compliance, 12 February, 2018
Evolving a corporate governance code that is fit for purpose
The UK’s Financial Reporting Council has published proposals for a streamlined governance code, while research from Mazars, in association with ecoDa, finds compliance with the existing framework to be variable.
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Global risk, 9 February, 2018
Risk hotspots: a global roundup
Board Agenda reports on risk around the world, from Korean hopes for peace and Tesla's gamble on growth, to pressure on plastics firms and rumblings in German politics.
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Investor activism, 7 February, 2018
Activist investors: the corporate world’s new fixture
Boards beware: as investor activism becomes more prevalent, directors would do well to prepare for the worst—an issue that few companies have properly considered.
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Board technology, 7 February, 2018
Sustainable business begins with digital boardrooms
A digital board portal can help businesses to become more sustainable, not just on an environmental level but also in terms of efficiency and security.
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Board packs, 7 February, 2018
How good board communication can mitigate risk
The growing need for corporate accountability has shown how up-to-date, accessible information is crucial for directors—enter the digital board pack.
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Gender diversity, 27 January, 2018
Why gender diversity pays
Female board members make companies more profitable, though this is not always reflected in market valuations or research. Kris Byron and Corinne Post investigate why.
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Ethics and technology, 26 January, 2018
Artificial Intelligence: the ethical dimension
Businesses are racing to embrace the use of artificial intelligence in their products and services, but there is a right and wrong way to use it, argues Philippa Foster Back of the Institute of Business Ethics.
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Board Essentials: board skills, 19 December, 2017
Five attributes of successful board directors
Research conducted by Fidelio Partners reveals what it takes to reach the top roles, and succeed, around the boardroom table—for both male and female executives.
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Corporate reporting, 18 December, 2017
Lessons from Sweden in sustainable business
Research shows that Swedish companies set the bar high when it comes to sustainability reporting, by considering their impact on society and integrating sustainability into their business models.
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Ethics and culture, 14 December, 2017
Lead by example: the many benefits of ethical leadership
Ethical leadership can help avoid corporate crises if it is embraced by boards that are increasingly less tolerant of reputational risk.