Taking readers behind the Boardroom door, this book demystifies the role of the CEO, debunks the three most widely-held organizational myths about the limits of openess and personal power, and details a system of metrics to measure and manage a new set of competencies for the Board, its directors, and the company as a whole.
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Editorial Reviews
Review
"If you're serious about leading your business to a healthy and robust future, get hold of a copy right away." -- Business Voice, May 2003
"This is the book for you. Behind it there is good sense." -- Management Today , June 2003
There is more to governance than mere rules, a point interestingly explored by Bob Garratt." -- John Plender, The Financial Times, April 2003
"This is the book for you. Behind it there is good sense." -- Management Today , June 2003
There is more to governance than mere rules, a point interestingly explored by Bob Garratt." -- John Plender, The Financial Times, April 2003
From the Publisher
Taking readers behind the boardroom door, Thin On Top demystifies the role of the CEO, debunks the three most widely held organizational myths about the limits of openness and personal power, and details an innovative new system of metrics for the Board, its directors, and the company as a whole. With pragmatism and passion, Bob Garratt moves the continuing international debate on corporate governance away from the headline issues of board conformance to focus on what each and every director and executive can do to break the cycle of misdeeds and improve board performance. Thin On Top takes a global view of the corporate landscape to constructively and clearly describe the Ten Directoral Duties that define effective behaviors and values among Board members, details training and appraisal processes including a critically important director induction program, and introduces the highly innovative ‘Directoral Dashboards’ to replace traditional management accounts for measuring and monitoring performance.
In this wake-up call to directors and executives, government regulators and investors, Garratt advocates a back-to-basics approach based on the centuries-old value of good governance—accountability, honesty, and transparency to owners, whether public or private—in order to break the cycle of corporate misdeeds, professionalize directing, reduce corruption, and ensure a civil society.
Long before the fall of Enron, there was Robert Maxwell and the pirating of retirement funds in the UK. Out of the chaos of that international scandal came a process for corporate governance that has won the respect of politicians and industry leaders worldwide—including ex-chairman of the Federal Reserve Paul Volcker and the CEO of PricewaterhouseCooper. Thin On Top deconstructs US and UK corporate governance practices and lays out that plan for developing universal methods of learning, measuring, and managing a new set of competencies--a proven model for corporate governance.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
GUTSY, FORWARD-LOOKING, & CHALLENGING TO THOSE AT THE TOP!,
By Gerry Stern "Stern's Management Review Online" (Culver City, CA United States) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)
This review is from: Thin on Top: Why Corporate Governance Matters & How to Measure, Manage, and Improve Board Performance (Hardcover)
This is an enlightening, to-the-point, and highly absorbing probe of the role of the board. The author pulls no punches as he explores the rising power of CEOs and why boards fail. The book reveals how many recent business disasters are due to ignorance, strategic incompetence, and personal cowardice at the board level, along with the rise of the "celebrity CEO." Garratt does more than point up the core problems; he shows how boards can re-establish their governance role and primary loyalty to the company as a legal personality. Garratt's main aims for change are assessing board performance, developing a learning board, and professionalizing the board. Distinctions between UK and US boards are made, but Garratt sees boards in both countries facing the same root issues. This is a book that really delivers knowledge and keen observations. We at Stern's Management Review Online hrconsultant.com find that the author's views are carefully argued and gutsy, and his conclusions and direction for change are strategic, forward-looking, and challenging to those at the top. THIN ON TOP is THICK with insights and ideas. Must reading for directors, top executives, and other stakeholders.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
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This review is from: Thin on Top: Why Corporate Governance Matters & How to Measure, Manage, and Improve Board Performance (Hardcover)
This book gave clear example of what was wrong with boards however, lack clear direction on solutions. Felt I was reading to encourage hiring a consultant.
1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Thin on top!,
By Peter Gorer (Somerville, MA United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Thin on Top: Why Corporate Governance Matters & How to Measure, Manage, and Improve Board Performance (Hardcover)
Bob Garratt's book completes a trilogy: the others being "The Learning Organization" and "The Fish Rots from the Head". His offerings come at a particularly important time, both for the world of business and for civil society. Bob addresses issues around the globe, and his observations and opinions are of value within an equally wide variety of contexts. I hope that decision-makers will consider how his views and ideas relate to their own spheres of responsibilty, whether they are in corporate life or government.
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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Inside This Book
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First Sentence:
THIS BOOK ARGUES THAT THERE ARE fundamental differences between "managing" and "directing" an organization and that most current "board directors" are in reality merely rebadged managers. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
directoral dashboard, ten directoral duties, directoral competence, board conformance, board development process, prudent control, learning board, ten duties, existing directors, board performance, supervising management, boardroom door, separate legal personality, boardroom table, board learning, nonexecutive directors, effective corporate governance, board model Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Chartered Director, Adam Smith, Turnbull Report, Institute of Directors, South Africa, Hong Kong, Lord Weinstock, European Union, Federal Reserve, Financial Times, Stern Stewart, Warren Buffett, Gordon Gecko, Japanese Management Association, South Korea New!
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Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
THIS BOOK ARGUES THAT THERE ARE fundamental differences between "managing" and "directing" an organization and that most current "board directors" are in reality merely rebadged managers. Read the first page Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
directoral dashboard, ten directoral duties, directoral competence, board conformance, board development process, prudent control, learning board, ten duties, existing directors, board performance, supervising management, boardroom door, separate legal personality, boardroom table, board learning, nonexecutive directors, effective corporate governance, board model Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Chartered Director, Adam Smith, Turnbull Report, Institute of Directors, South Africa, Hong Kong, Lord Weinstock, European Union, Federal Reserve, Financial Times, Stern Stewart, Warren Buffett, Gordon Gecko, Japanese Management Association, South Korea New!
Books on Related Topics | Concordance | Text Stats Browse Sample Pages:
Front Cover | Front Flap | Table of Contents | First Pages | Index | Back Flap | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
Citations (learn more)
This book cites 37
books:
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8
books
cite this book:
See all 8 books citing this book
- Corporate Governance by David Hume Institute on 4 pages
- Corporate Governance by Robert A.G. Monks on page 29, page 104, and Back Matter
- Corporate Governance (History of Management Thought) by R. I. Tricker on page 34, and Back Matter
- The Mind of Wall Street: A Legendary Financier on the Perils of Greed and the Mysteries of the Market by Leon Levy on page 49, and Back Matter
- The Fish Rots From the Head: The Crisis in Our Boardrooms: Developing the Crucial Skills of the Competent Director by Bob Garratt in Back Matter (1), and Back Matter (2)
See all 37 books this book cites
- The Fish Rots From the Head: The Crisis in Our Boardrooms: Developing the Crucial Skills of the Competent Director by Bob Garratt in Back Matter
- New Corporate Governance: Successful Board Management Tools by Martin Hilb in Back Matter
- Chairing the Board: A Practical Guide to Activities and Responsibilities by John Harper in Back Matter
- Best Practice in Corporate Governance: Building Reputation And Sustainable Success by Adrian Davies in Back Matter
- The Healthy Organization: A Revolutionary Approach to People and Management by Brian Dive in Back Matter
See all 8 books citing this book
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