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Why size matters
Author(s) -
Oliver Caroline
Publication year - 2003
Publication title -
board leadership
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 1542-7862
pISSN - 1061-4249
DOI - 10.1002/bl.38620036702
Subject(s) - point (geometry) , representation (politics) , order (exchange) , law and economics , sociology , computer science , operations research , political science , business , law , mathematics , politics , finance , geometry
Abstract There are a number of reasons why a board may be large, among them the desire to have diverse representation. But whatever the reasons, there comes a point at which a board becomes too cumbersome to effectively represent its ownership. It is difficult to have meaningful debate in large groups—progress is slow, factions may form, and resources are wasted. In this article, Caroline Oliver lays out some critical questions that boards should consider in order to determine if their membership is too big; she then offers some preliminary suggestions about how a board may get its membership to optimum size and maximum effectiveness.