Vlerick Leuven Gent Working Paper Series 2007/03 ... - Vlerick Public

While there is an extensive amount of research on boards and a large body of work on
group effectiveness, very little integrative studies can be found. Supported by qualitative
findings of recent empirical field studies on boards of directors, we extract the significant
variables from literature and integrate them into a theoretical model of board effectiveness.
Relying on the input-process-output approach, we have explored variables that we believe are
critical in determining the effectiveness of boards. We go beyond the structural characteristics
of boards of directors to also include behavioural or attitudinal measures of board
effectiveness. We have argued that cohesiveness, debate and conflict norms may be
intervening variables which mediate the relationships between board input and board
outcomes. In doing this, we have tried to clarify the inconsistent results found in empirical
research on boards. Furthermore, specific relationships have been proposed. Empirical
research is required to confirm the model and to validate the proposed relationships. We
believe this kind of research may help to explain the differences between successful boards
and board failures.
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