Additional resources
Blueprint content:
Links to Blueprint resources that provides context or further information on this course topic
Purpose for PLCs – Time for Boards to focus
Together with a group of Chairs, NEDs and advisors, Blueprint has produced this short paper which aims to move Board’s understanding and ownership of purpose beyond the framing of the FRC Guidance. We argue that plc Boards must step up now to meet the challenge of societal expectations in the post covid recovery and to do this they need to commit seriously to becoming “purpose-led”
The paper sets out in simple practical terms what this implies in terms of profit, ESG, behaviour and measures, and ends with 6 questions for Boards and Board members individually to ask themselves.
External content:
Links to books & other external resources
The Error at the Heart of Corporate Leadership by Joseph L. Bower and Lynn S. Paine for HBR Magazine 2017. “Most CEOs and boards believe their main duty is to maximize shareholder value. It’s not“.
In his book Boards: A Practical Perspective Patrick Dunne provides a practical, realistic, thought-provoking and useful guide to life as a board member.
This report published in April 2020 by Federated Hermes sets out five guiding principles with the ultimate goal of enhancing board effectiveness: Guiding Principles for an Effective Board.
This report provides guidance to boards of directors on how to enact purpose. It draws on research findings from different academic disciplines together with best practice insights from some of the UK and continental Europe’s leading businesses and institutions: Enacting Purpose within the modern corporation – A Framework for Boards of Directors.
In What does good governance really look like? Trina Hill FCG gives us her view on what good governance looks like and what companies should focus on to achieve this.
This HBR article 10 Proactive Questions Every Board Member Should Be Asking discusses how Boards only see what they’re presented with and can easily become passive recipients of agendas created by powerful CEOs and senior executives. And presents 10 questions for board members to ask that can enable change.
Long term matters: Is your board colluding with E(rratic) S(uperficial) G(reenwash)? – this article from IPE Magazine has some good practical suggestions for how Boards can focus on the longer term.
Legislation, regulation and reporting links: