In this revised, second edition of the A/E Board of Directors Manual, we delve into the whys, hows, and whatfors of A/E firm boards of directors. Updated with more recent examples and data, along with an increased focus on the humans who comprise the board,Board of Directors Manual for A/E/P and Environmental Consulting Firms, Second Edition will give firm leaders, board members, potential outside board advisors, and executive management in A/E firms practical information about what their boards should be doing and how to create more effective, responsive, and efficient boards.
Summary of What's Inside:
• Learn about the board's role and what duties it performs
• Learn how to align your board with the strategic goals of your A/E firm
• Investigate the critical aspects of creating a successful board
• Learn how to appropriately compensate board members at your A/E firm
• Hear about common challenges boards face in the A/E industry
• Explore the criterion for choosing the right board members
• More!
Details
Who are those people and what do they do, anyway?
Most architecture, engineering, and environmental consulting firms have boards of directors and can benefit from debating what makes a strong board. Even the smallest design and environmental firms can derive a benefit from the right board of directors; Board of Directors Manual for A/E/P and Environmental Consulting Firms, Second Edition will give firm leaders, board members, potential outside board advisors, and executive management in A/E firms practical information about what their boards should be doing and how to create more effective, responsive, and efficient boards.
In addition, Board of Directors Manual for A/E/P and Environmental Consulting Firms, Second Edition offers best practices advice on structuring the board, getting the board to concentrate on the right tasks, and compensating them fairly. With Zweig Group’s Board of Directors Manual for A/E/P and Environmental Consulting Firms, Second Edition, you will learn how a board of directors can benefit a firm, how to find the right talent to staff the board, and what other firms have found works when putting together a board of directors.
Board of Directors Manual for A/E/P and Environmental Consulting Firms, Second Edition, is also filled with real-life case studies and descriptions of real boards of directors in the industry today. You’ll get a behind-the-scenes look at how other A/E firms are structuring their boards, who’s involved, and what their biggest challenges are. The case studies profile firms of all types and sizes in the design and environmental industry, so you can see how firms just like yours are using their boards to their advantage.
Don’t just lead... lead effectively. Board of Directors Manual for A/E/P and Environmental Consulting Firms, Second Edition will show you how!
Table of Contents
Chapter 1: Defining the A/E Board of Directors
- What Exactly is a Board of Directors?
- Small vs Large and Public vs Private
- Do Small Firms Even Need a Board of Directors?
- Trend Toward More Boards Across All Firms
Chapter 2: Putting Together a Board of Directors
- Profiling the Firm
- Writing the Board Prospectus
- Personal Qualities in Directors
- Job Descriptions
- Recruiting
- Voting By the Shareholders
- Terms of Service
- Structuring the Board
- Size Matters
- Insiders Only?
Chapter 3: Duties of the Board
- Major Areas for Board Focus
- Setting the Firm’s Mission
- Policy-Setting and Strategic Planning
- Recommend and Approve Significant Transactions
- Fiduciary Oversight
- Committees
- Business Development
- Management Oversight
- Self-Evaluation
Chapter 4: Challenges Facing A/E Boards of Directors
- Choosing the Wrong Leaders
- Ineffective Meetings
- An Uncomfortable Relationship with Top Management
- Setting Inappropriate Target Goals for the Business
- The Too-Large Board
- A Disconnect Between Strategic Decisions and Their Implementation
- Contents
- Too Many Mixed-Up Hats
- Difficulty Incorporating Outside Directors
- Not Compensating Outside Directors Appropriately
- Letting Politics and Cliques Horn In
Chapter 5: Keys to a Successful A/E Board of Directors
- Worthwhile Meetings
- Communication
- Trust
- Farsightedness
- Clear Expectations
- Performance Evaluations
- Diversity
- Structure and Process
- A Strong, Organized Chairperson
- Carefully Selected Directors
Chapter 6: Special Issues
- Ethics and Conflicts of Interest
- Legal Concerns
- Meeting Minutes
- Mergers and Acquisitions
Chapter 7: A/E Boards of Directors Case Studies
Publish date: ©️2013
