ABSTRACT
This chapter begins the applied perspective of the book, discussing oversight of the governance structure of boards. The components of the ethics paradigm organize the analysis. The foundation component deals with the identity of an organization, highlighting board competence and board role as hallmarks of governance ethics. In turn, these hallmarks denote associated moral imperatives: board competence denotes a moral imperative regarding oversight of term limits and board composition; and board role denotes a moral imperative concerning oversight of responsibilities and board effectiveness. The process component of the ethics paradigm addresses the accountability of the organization, highlighting board evaluation and succession planning as hallmarks of governance. In turn, these hallmarks denote associated moral imperatives: board evaluation denotes a moral imperative regarding oversight of fair evaluation processes; and succession planning denotes a moral imperative concerning oversight of system planning and continuous updating. The practice component of the ethics paradigm engages quality in an organization, highlighting leadership collaboration and system-wide strategy as hallmarks of governance ethics. In turn, these hallmarks denote associated moral imperatives: leadership collaboration denotes a moral imperative regarding oversight of working relationships; and system-wide strategy denotes a moral imperative concerning oversight of transformational change and strategic planning.
