Board size and diversity as governance mechanisms in community development loan funds in the USA

Community Development Loan Funds (CDLFs) in the US help revitalize low-income communities by providing financial services to underserved populations. This article uses recently available data from several surveys to explore the link between performance and board size and diversity. Given the unique nature of CDLFs, specific hypotheses are formulated based on insights from the literature on governance in banks and nonprofit institutions. To capture the CDLFs multiple objectives, the article adapts an empirical approach used to study governance in banks. The results show that efficiency improves as the board size increases up to 13 members. The results also suggest that gender diversity has a positive impact, while racial diversity is associated with a negative but negligibly small impact.     

The Nature and Extent of Contemporary 'Audits' of Directors' Reports

Obligations on auditors to 'audit' directors'reports are different in the U.K., U.S.A. and Australia. This study deals with current practices and attitudes of auditors in Australia in relation to the audit of directors'reports contained in the Annual Report of listed companies. The majority of auditors responding to a questionnaire indicated that they do 'audit' directors' reports, but there was no consensus on the extent of the work done or whether it should be a statutory requirement.     

An Examination of Auditor Independence Issues from the Perspectives of U.K. Finance Directors

This paper presents an analysis of the opinions of U.K. Finance Directors – also known as Chief Financial Officers (CFOs) in North America – on factors which may effect the roles and responsibilities of the external auditor to the organization. A number of proposals have been put forward over the years to enhance auditor independence and these were treated as dependent variables in this study. A questionnaire was mailed to 3 000 named Finance Directors and 776 useable replies were received. From the responses to the questionnaire, three independent variables were identified: opinions on the value of the audit in general; opinions on the impact of the audit on the organization; and the relationship between the Finance Director and the auditor. The results reveal that those Finance Directors concerned in general about the value of auditing favoured the banning of non-audit work and the rotation of auditors. In addition, those Finance Directors with good relationships with their external auditors preferred the banning of non-audit services and the rotation of external auditors. Those respondents favouring the separate regulation of auditors were also concerned about the impact of the audit on the organization. The results of this study shed some light on the sensitivity of U.K. Finance Directors to ethical issues regarding external auditor independence.     

独立董事薪酬与公司治理效率

利用2003～2013年上市公司数据,本文基于独立董事薪酬视角对其治理效用的发挥进行了考察。研究发现,当独立董事的薪酬过低时,存在激励不足问题,不利于调动独立董事履职的积极性,由此造成公司高管变更与经营业绩间敏感性的降低及公司盈余管理程度的提高。与此相仿,当独立董事的薪酬过高时,存在激励过度问题,削弱了独立董事的独立性,也将导致较低的高管变更与经营业绩的敏感性及更高程度的公司盈余管理。最后,我们对独立董事薪酬影响其治理效用发挥的路径进行了考察,结果显示,过低的薪酬降低了独立董事参加董事会会议的意愿,而过高的薪酬造成独立董事更不会对董事会议案提出异议。     

股权结构、董事会特征与QFII持股的实证分析

通过对股权结构、董事会特征与QFII持股关系的研究,发现管理层持股比例、第一大股东持股比例、审计委员会设立状况以及公司规模与QFII持股显著正相关,独立董事比例、净资产收益率与公司成长性与QFII持股均没有显著关系。结果说明完善公司治理对于中国引入相关QFII有着重要作用。     

财务独立董事与公司经营绩效的关系——基于中国A股上市公司的经验证据

系统回顾国外关于财务专家与公司经营绩效之间关系的研究成果,以中国上市公司2004~2006年的经验数据为样本,在对财务独立董事分类打分的基础上,实证分析了不同类型的财务独立董事与公司经营绩效之间的关系。结果表明:有较高财务独立董事水平的公司有较好的公司经营绩效,会计专家型财务独立董事和金融型财务独立董事能够显著地促进公司经营绩效,而会计实务型财务独立董事和监管型财务独立董事与公司经营绩效并无相关性。     

董事会网络位置、市场化进程与企业双元创新

基于资源基础理论,以2010-2018年沪深A股上市企业为样本,从结构性嵌入角度研究董事会网络位置对企业双元创新的影响,并检验市场化进程对二者间关系的调节作用。研究发现：①董事会网络中心度对探索式创新的影响呈倒U型,对开发式创新的影响呈正U型;②市场化进程能够增强董事会网络中心度对探索式创新的倒U型影响以及对开发式创新的正U型影响;③将企业战略类型纳入研究框架,发现董事会网络中心度对探索式创新的倒U型影响以及市场化进程的调节作用在防御型企业与进攻型企业中均显著,而董事会网络中心度对开发式创新的正U型影响以及市场化进程的调节作用主要表现在进攻型企业中。     

Benjamin Greygoose & Sons: survival in the death industry

This case study concerns a company, operating within a highly sensitive industry, which needs to adopt new planning and control procedures along with performance measures in order to ensure its long term survival. The case explores the characteristics of the UK funeral industry, and the impact of the incursion of large overseas companies on the operation of small family businesses. Porter's (1980) Competitive Strategy framework provides a vehicle for the analysis of generic strategies to secure competitive advantage when cost leadership is not a practical possibility. Product diversification and niche marketing are explored in a Teaching Note to a rewarding case, but one which may raise the emotional sensitivity of subjects.