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Boards That Deliver: Advancing Corporate Governance From Compliance to Competitive Advantage (J-B US non-Franchise Leadership)

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This book is targeted for those of you who sit on boards, might yet sit on boards, or have an interest in how boards can and should function in the post Sarbanes-Oxley world. After the high profile implosions of several major firms and the revelations of executive criminality, board negligence, and accounting failures, the relevant parties have put pressure on firms to do a better job of functioning in the best interests of the owners of the firm; the shareholders. Among other steps, this included making the boards more independent of the CEO (who was too often also the Chair of the board) and the executive management of the firm.

Ram Charan explains how firms can `evolve' from being an old style Ceremonial Board to become a Liberated Board and then grow into an active and effective Progressive Board. He emphasizes that Progressive Boards have to emphasize the Group Dynamics of the board (how the team works together and how synergistically their talents combine), the Information Systems they use (relevant information they can get outside what is packaged for them by the CEO), and that the board focus on meaningful and relevant issues rather than getting distracted by the minutiae of board processes.

The author explains each of these three qualities in detail and deals with issues of CEO selection, management, and succession. He also talks about how the board should function when it has fully `evolved'. Charan also provides a few helpful questionnaires you can use to determine how your company is doing in certain key areas.

An interesting and helpful book for the target audience.

Reviewed by Craig Matteson, Ann Arbor, MI

Ram Charan makes a complex topic easy to understand. This book can be "speed read" in 45 minutes and it doesn't make you feel dizzy. Ram Charan is a true thought leader and an inspiration.

Board rooms are one of the last bastions of secrecy in today's increasingly transparent world. Talking with the board often causes people to talk in hushed tones and reverence. However, Charan's book reminds us that Boards consist of people with responsibilities to discharge and tools to use. This book is a must read for every executive to remind them of the foundational elements that run the company: customers, cash flow, leverage, etc. Too often we lose sight of these things as we work day to day.

The book is written in a highly accessible style with just enough tools to help executives understand board dynamics, information and success factors. This makes it an ideal book to pick up for a long plane flight or a weekend to upgrade your knowledge and skills.

Sarbanes Oxley and board oversight concerns were the genesis for this book as boards move from what Charan calls Ceremonial to Progressive. However, Charan writes about practices for effective boards helping this book stand the test of time.

In a world where there are fads, changing strategies and constant pressure, executives need to take some time out to reinforce what matters and get back to basics. This is one of those books that everyone should pick up and read.

A spate of high-profile corporate meltdowns ended the days of high-flying CEOs who also ran their companies' boards of directors. Instead, regulators, shareholders and the public now demand that corporate boards oversee CEOs and protect shareholder interests. Ram Charan lays out what your board can do to maximize its positive contributions and add value to the company. His writing is clear and to the point. This book is very helpful for board members who are trying to find their way in the post Sarbanes-Oxley world of corporate governance. Charan provides useful questionnaires to help you analyze the state of your company and its board on several crucial points. getAbstract recommends this book to board members, potential board members, and others who have an interest in modern boards and corporate governance.

Ram Charan delivers another incisive and compelling book on a subject vital to companies and leaders competing in a fierce global market, during turbulent times. Companies need every advantage they can muster. In this book, Mr. Charan provides a roadmap for moving boards from ceremonial, to Liberated, and ultimately to Progressive. Progressive boards deliver competitive advantage.

Mr. Charan defines and describes the different types of boards early on, then identifies key behaviors for directors & CEOs. The ultimate benefit from this book was Mr. Charan's real-world experience, knowledge, and first hand accounts of boards that are progressive.

For me, "Boards that Deliver" is a great primer for understandind board responsibilities, dynamics, structure, and composition.

- Ron

Every so often you meet someone who has the ability to state things with such clarity that they appear instantly obvious and simple. Ram Charan is one of those people. His lucid descriptions evoke real situations with all their rich complexity of detail but without any of the clutter that prevents directors from decisive value adding action.

Don't be fooled; this is not a simple book. The writing is terse but the insight is deep and the suggestions for improvement are well founded in practical experience. The book discusses the evolution in board dynamics, information architecture and focus on substantive issues that will allow boards to move from a `ceremonial' role, through a process of liberation to a state that Charan refers to as `progressive'.

In my work advising boards I have encountered many that struggle with the symptoms of `liberated' boards. The frequent digressions from what is really important, the time wasted on trivia, the personal interests, the revisiting of old arguments and the rewriting of former agreements that frustrate so many boards are exposed in all their hideous familiarity. Charan's descriptions of this state arouse sympathy without descending into excuse-making, patronising or blaming the board. He just accurately states what is wrong and what that can cost the organisation before going on to describe how to correct practices and make a quantum leap in board effectiveness.

I meet few `ceremonial' boards in my line of work; it could be that those boards would never invite me into their midst or just that there are less of them now that individual directors are becoming more professional and diligent in their roles. However, the descriptions do hold true and the process for moving from a passive board to a liberated one is well and clearly set out in the book.

The real value in this book is its practical assistance in making that step change from a group of great and well-intentioned individuals to a board with a collective viewpoint and will. It allows for efficiency and focus that take the company into forward-looking strategic issues without over-stressing the hard-working executive team.

The final jewel in this book is the section on contributions that count. It is a great resource for any director and should be legislated as required reading for all Chairmen.

This is a practical and succinct book that I return to often. It has something of value for every board that I have worked with. On a scale of one to five this is definitely a ten!

* Julie Garland McLellan is a professional non-executive director, board and governance consultant and mentor. She is the author of "The Director's Dilemma", "All Above Board: Great Governance for the Government Sector" and numerous articles on corporate strategy and governance. You can find out more at [...]

This is an excellent book. I highly suggest it for anyone who desires to understand some of the best practices in corporate governance. It is one of the best. The following link suggests another excellent book regarding contemporary corporate governance. [ASIN:0976901919 Compliance & Conviction: The Evolution of Enlightened Corporate Governance]]