4.6 Board team outcomes

Question 1

Henley business school professors Dulewicz and Herbert produced 16 tasks of the board, clustered into 4 groups:

1 V_____, mission, values
2 Strategy and s_______
3 Supervision and m_________
4 Responsibility to s________ and other stakeholders

Answer 1

vision
structure
management
shareholders

Question 2

What is cohesion?

Answer 2

The tendency for a group to act in unity when working towards a goal.

Question 3

Why is cohesion in boards important?

Answer 3

It enhaces decision making, motivation, commitment and team satisfaction. This in turn is likely to drive higher performance.

Question 4

It is possible for a board to be too cohesive. What do we mean by this?

Answer 4

Boards can become over-friendly and be distracted by banter and personal exchange. This can lead to a groupthink environment.

Question 5

What is groupthink?

Answer 5

An overriding desire for concensus due to suppression of internal dissent.

Question 6

Board cohesiveness must be accompanied by a certain amount of c_______ to avoid groupthink.

Answer 6

challenge

Question 7

The key dynamic that must exist within the board to enable them to achieve their tasks is a balance of c______ and c________

Answer 7

cohesion

challenge

Question 8

What were the findings of Google’s Project Aristotle team effectiveness study?

Answer 8

The most effective teams are underpinned by a culture of psychological safety - team members can be vulnerable and take risks without feeling insecure or embarassed.