The 2008 financial crisis that led to the collapse of companies and economic recession in most countries has also increased the concern for transparency, accountability and regulatory oversight and once more put corporate governance and board effectiveness on the front burner of big business issues all over the world. The board is seen as a key player in governance of companies and there is need for a better understanding of how this body works. Majority of the research work in these areas has been in developed economies and not much work has been done in the area of board effectiveness in the emerging markets of Africa. This thesis examines the relationship between key board characteristics and board effectiveness. It also explored the impact of certain mediators on this relationship. Unlike most studies on board which focus on firm performance and mostly in developed markets, this study was conducted in an emerging market and the focus was on board effectiveness. Based on the work done by other researchers in developed economies the researcher developed a theoretical framework and a set of hypotheses to examine the relationship between board characteristics and board effectiveness and the impact of certain mediators on this relationship. Board characteristics considered in this research include board size, CEO duality, board independence, and board diversity. In addition, the impact of board human capital on board effectiveness was also considered. Additionally, the researcher examined if the relationships between board characteristics and board effectiveness will be affected by organization type, ownership, age and size. The empirical examination of the hypotheses developed from the theoretical framework presented in this study show that board characteristics, apart from professional human capital, do not have any significant impact on board effectiveness. Board professional human capital was found to have a positive relationship with board operations and board cohesiveness and also with board effectiveness. The results show that in Nigeria, board diversity and human capital are the most important board structural factors that impact board effectiveness. They also show that board processes of operations, cohesiveness and decision making have significant impact on board effectiveness. Finally the results show that board process factors are more important than board structural factors in determining board effectiveness. The study shows that these relationships were not significantly affected by organization type, ownership, age or size. The study contributes to understanding of board effectiveness in an emerging market where board roles and processes are still developing; by examining both traditional variables such as board size, CEO duality, board independence and other organizational attributes such as board job related diversity and board professional human capital variables. In addition, this is the first study to examine board effectiveness in publicly quoted companies in Nigeria. The study will also contribute to better governance practices in Nigeria, where lack of good governance has been blamed for the slow economic development and growth. The theoretical framework and the findings of this thesis are expected to stimulate scholars for further research into identifying the characteristics that boards must possess if they are to be active and effective. They should also stimulate practitioners and scholars of strategy, organizational behaviour and corporate governance to examine boards and their activities from many perspectives, particularly from the process side.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:582891 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | Ogbechie, Christopher Ike |
| Contributors | Koufopoulos, D. |
| Publisher | Brunel University |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
| Source | http://bura.brunel.ac.uk/handle/2438/7667 |
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