Organization 21C: Someday All Organizations Will Lead This Way

Concluding Thoughts

In the 21st century, boards will be held more accountable for their actions and for the performance outcomes of the companies they oversee. This will pose both dilemmas and opportunities for boards. Without adequate governance practices that both empower and assess overall performance, boardrooms are far more likely to fall prey to the dilemma side of the equation. In other words, they are likely to remain largely passive players in the governance process—best equipped to handle a few tasks such as succession planning and coaching. Their capacity to proactively address major crises will be akin to firemen who arrive at the scene long after the fire has started. In this chapter, we have outlined how boards and their governance ...