Across world the public feel that their organisations are not well governed. They feel that those charged with being ultimately accountable for delivering total organisational effectiveness, the directors, are not competent. They are usually correct. Our organisations are the apex of human development. Directors are accountable for both giving them direction to achieve their purpose; and simultaneously ensuring their prudent control. So, it is a paradox that directorship, the most important job needed to sustain and develop our human organisations, is often given to those with the least training to fulfil the related duties.
This book explores the challenging world of corporate governance. Often a mystery to the public and treated as a 'have to do' rather than a 'want to do' by many directors and boards. Rather than accept corporate governance as the legal framework for their key role in an organisation most view it simply as an irritating minor additional task nice to do if only we had time. This book argues that by so doing they are avoiding their legal and professional duties; to steer the organisation through complex and difficult times and keep it under prudent control. To do this they need adopt a radically new and holistic perspective of their organisations external and internal worlds. However, most registered directors have a fear of finding out their legal duties. This book seeks to dispel those fears.
Bob Garratt is the worlds pre-eminent expert on company boards and corporate governance. His personal boardroom experience as a chairman, both in London and in Hong Kong, has made him a trusted advisor and mentor to chairs and chief executives internationally. Author of five previous bestselling books on boards - including the renowned The Fish Rots From The Head - company directorship, and corporate governance, he is Professor Extraordinaire at the University of Stellenbosch Business School, and Chairman of its Centre for Corporate Governance in Africa. Involved for decades in various capacities with major business schools and board development efforts for major companies, he helped create the Chartered Director National Award programme for the UK the very first such programme in the world. His consulting experience extends to five of the worlds continents. Among his clients have been large corporates, family businesses, family offices, state- owned enterprises, professional practices, not-for- profits, regulators, central and local governments, the International Monetary Fund, the Public Investment Corporation (South Africa), and the Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority. A member of the City Values Forum restoring integrity to City of London firms, he is a Freeman of the City of London, and Past Master of the Worshipful Company of Management Consultants.
