When documents for the board of directors are hard to find or confusing directors are less likely at meetings prepared to discuss strategies and take decisive actions. This is especially true when the agenda for board meetings arrives late or if changes are not communicated to entire board in real time, leading to confusion around what is «the appropriate version» to look over.
Boards can also struggle to monitor and oversee an organisation if they don’t have complete information or enough director meetings between board meetings. Board meetings without specific agenda items that may not provide adequate background on the strategic issues, or that are too long with irrelevant discussions, make it difficult for the chair of the board to steer the board forward.
The role of boards is to perform as stewards for their companies and often have a significant influence on business performance. However, boards that are ineffective can be toxic. A dysfunctional board might be characterized by unruly members who try to simplify complicated issues or engage in discussions diverge from the subject. Or, even worse than that, it may have members who are silent or MIA.
Boards are complex institutions, and their success depends on the participation of diverse individuals who bring different perspectives experience, knowledge, and skill sets to the table. This is why a number of boards have established audit and compensation committees, nominating and governance committees as well as financial services-regulated risk committees in addition their committees for board members. Some boards have committees on ad hoc that help them deal with urgent, short-term issues.