Phd - Peter Crow | Helping boards govern with impact

Published on: 20 May 2015

Three conferences in three weeks, starting in 13 days

Here's the trip schedule:

In just under two week's time (June 1), I embark on another trip to England and Europe. The main purpose of this trip is to attend three important corporate governance conferences, to contribute to the emerging conversation. Many of the world's leading advisors, company directors and academics will be at the conferences. I am honoured to be speaking at two of them.

June 2
June 3–5

June 8–9
June 11–12
June 15
June 17–20
June 20

Arrive in London
International Corporate Governance Network Conference, London
(click to set up meeting at conference)
Available in London or nearby (Want to meet? Get in touch)
International Governance Workshop, Barcelona (my paper abstract)
Limited availability in London (Want to meet? Get in touch)
European Academy of Management, Warsaw (my paper abstract)
Return to New Zealand

If you are interested in a specific conference presentation but cannot attend, please let me know. I'll try to attend for you and post a report. Conference updates will be posted here and on Twitter during the conferences, so check back if you are interested.

I'm looking forward to reconnecting with #corpgov friends and associates, making some new connections and testing some of the ideas that have emerged from my research work. Much coffee will be drunk, no doubt! If you'd like to meet up, at a conference or separately, please get in touch.

Published on: 7 May 2015

NACD announces "long-term value creation" commission

The National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) has announced the establishment of a Blue Ribbon Commission to investigate the board's role in driving long-term value creation. You can read the full announcement here.

Twenty-six "distinguished corporate leaders and governance experts" have been appointed as commissioners. Surprisingly, no corporate governance academics have been appointed. This begs the question of how the BRC intends to go about its work, and to conduct empirical research in particular. I hope the opportunity to investigate what value creation is—and how it is created—is not lost.

I'm in two minds about this investigation. On one hand, it confirms the profession has a serious problem: that we simply don't know how boards add value or influence performance begs the question of what directors and boards actually do. On the other hand, congratulations are due to the NACD taking the bold step of commissioning the investigation. The subject is topical (in the last six months alone, I have been party to well over 100 conversations and debates on the topic of strategy in the boardroom), to the point of being somewhat personal (the subject is at the heart of my doctoral research).

Consequently, I intend to watch developments closely especially as the commission seems to be very similar to a study undertaken last year. If asked, I will make my research findings available to the BRC.

Published on: 30 March 2015

Even small milestones are important. They mark progress.

Just over three years after first setting out, I arrived at a small but significant milestone on my doctoral research today. The candidate final draft of the thesis (a 'mere' 336 pages) was sent to my supervisors for their detailed review. I'm hoping that, subject to relatively minor edits and changes, this draft will be submitted for examination.

Tomorrow will be my second day off in 2015. After a steady diet of 14 hour days, my wife is not sure what I'll do with myself. I've got a fair idea: it'll probably involve a Colnago, and I doubt there will be a word processor in sight! Thank you to everyone who has provided support to this point. The journey is not over yet, but I'm hopeful that the end is not too far away now.

The personal satisfaction of arriving at this point is palpable: Some of the numbers: read over 1000 articles; listened to over 6GB of audio recordings of board meetings and interviews; read and analysed over 900 printed pages of documentation; untold hours spent wrestling with candidate theories; and, written over 83,000 words (this is what remains, I've probably written and scrapped at least 20,000 more than this). The going has been tough lately, because writing up a thesis, in an academic style is not my forte. A couple of months ago, I expressed some frustration. Today, the sun shone again, and it was good.

Published on: 20 March 2015

Oh the demand...

Nine business days after arriving in England for meetings and speaking engagements in several English and Swiss cities, I am once more seated at Heathrow: this time to enjoy Air Zealand's service on the long flight home—and to sleep! Reflecting on fifteen meetings, eight hotels and many conversations, the main thought to emerge from this trip is "demand". Simply, the level of interest in boards, board practice and how to get boards doing the 'right' things in order to achieve the business performance outcomes expected by shareholders has been almost overwhelming. For example:

Professors from two English universities and one Irish university have offered to organise masterclasses to expedite healthy debate about boards and the difference they can make.
Two different groups of people, both based in Zurich, including professorial staff at unisg.ch, have said they want to organise teaching and learning seminars, to raise the bar amongst banks and international businesses.
The team at Ethical Boardroom has invited me to provide the editorial commentary for their summer issue.
Several (sorry, I'm not at liberty to disclose details) have requested advice on matters relating to board structure, apprenticing, strategy and business performance.

That so many people are actively seeking help to improve business performance through effective contributions in the boardroom has caught me on the hop. After all, the public persona presented by boards and chief executives is that they have everything under control. However, when the conversation moves beyond platitudes, its seems most are worried. I have put myself at the service of all who are interested. If you would like to know more, or to schedule some assistance, please contact me.

Published on: 28 January 2015

Research update: turbulence at the pointy end of the process

I've spent the last six weeks working hard (seven days a week), towards my goal of completing the doctoral research thesis, in readiness for a final check by my supervisors before it is submitted for examination. That process has involved long hours of focussed concentration and a fair dose of pedantry. Those of you who have completed doctoral research will know exactly what I mean, no doubt.

Progress has been steady, but the pointy end of the process is taking longer than expected; more so following the arrival yesterday of some feedback from one of my supervisors. The feedback received over the past few weeks has been positive and encouraging. However, the latest feedback has introduced some unexpected obstacles to be dealt with. It's frustrating to say the least.

While it would have been nice for my supervisor to have signalled the issues to be dealt with earlier than this, the bigger picture—of providing an explanation of how boards can influence business performance—remains my guiding motivation. If the unsolicited feedback received from people around the world is any indication, many boards and business leaders are eagerly waiting to read and understand the recommendations. That's a huge responsibility. Consequently, I choose to remain focussed, even though the goal is now a little further away than previously thought. I'll keep you informed.

Published on: 22 December 2014

Thank you!

Christmas is nigh. In four days time, the hurly-burly that typically precedes Christmas—decorating houses, selecting gifts, preparing food and organising travel and accommodation—will be over. The decorations will be taken down and packed away, and most of us will take some time off work. As we relax, many of us recall major events from the year and ponder what the future might hold. I'm no exception, although I have some unfinished business to deal with first: to say thank you.

Thank you for your support and encouragement through 2014.
Thank you for your interest in the research outcomes that are starting to take shape.
Thank you to those unnamed people that have been there when the going has been tough.

The goal I set twelve months ago, of completing the doctoral thesis for submission by Christmas, has slipped my grasp. However, good progress was made throughout the year. My new goal, of submitting the thesis by Waitangi Day, is quite achievable. Despite this hiccup, the level of support and encouragement that has flowed throughout the year has been amazing. Thank you. I have met people—some of whom have become friends—at conferences; in business meetings; at workshops; and, on LinkedIn, Twitter and email. Some of the conversations have blown me away. That such a broad church of people from all around the world might be interested in learning how boards can influence business performance has given me great hope; that the research may have some real value in practice.

I will 'sign off' from the thesis write-up on 23 December, and not return to it until 2 January. I'm tired and need a break to recharge for the final push to submit the thesis and then to prepare for the oral examination.

Looking to 2015, I have three main priorities:

Complete the doctorate!
Recommence advisory work, and share my research findings
Secure one, or maybe two, new board appointments

If you think you might want some assistance in 2015; or, if have a board vacancy; or, if want to hear about my research or have me speak; or, if you simply want stay in touch, please let me know. I'd love to hear from you. To follow my work, please check this page periodically—the musings will continue to be published for as long as people read them and say they are helpful. Merry Christmas.

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