ABSTRACT
How do effective directors ensure the culture of the organisation is the best it can be?
Based on a framework of global corporate governance best practice, which can be used in all organisations anywhere in the world, this chapter of Questions To Ask (QTA) in the boardroom gives a high-level but succinct introduction to the culture of organisations.
All directors should ensure that they are setting the tone from the top on culture and that they are aware of the culture throughout the company they serve.
The chapter considers how culture influences the organisation and its strategic goals. This includes looking critically at the board itself and how the directors role model the right (or wrong) culture, assessing the culture on a regular basis, conducting regular culture surveys with stakeholders, looking at values, and assessing how the CEO and executive management team use culture as an integrated part of their own leadership development. It includes as well, how the board should consider whether the key performance indicators reinforce the right culture and if the organisational culture is regarded as an asset.
The chapter’s introduction leads into outlining the key Questions To Ask in the boardroom, giving the reader further insight into how to initiate discussions about the practical details requiring the attention of the board.
