Product Description

This book provides a guide to the role of directors and the subject of corporate governance. It is aimed at managers, directors and shareholders of small as well as large businesses, and is relevant to Asia, America and Europe.'

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #1288933 in Books
• Published on: 2000-01-20
• Original language: English
• Binding: Hardcover
• 206 pages

Customer Reviews

Essentials of corporate governance from your jacket pocket
Corporate Governance is the stuff of short courses, diplomas, MBA’s and plenty of experience. However, until you are in a position to ask the relevant questions about the subject it is just accepted that company directors know what they are doing and how to do it.

Well, here is a useful tool to assist anyone learning the essentials of corporate governance. This tool provides the “key facts” and if you need more there is guidance on where to find it.

This was my first dabble into the world of “The Economist Pocket Series” and I was pleasantly surprised. I was initially put-off by the small narrow format and wondered if the book was impersonating a heftier tome.

The layout is a simple A to Z of key words plus appendices that guide the reader through ‘what I should be doing’. References to other key words are in capitals and this is useful because it draws your eye to it if you are quickly scanning a section. The level of jargon is acceptable and anyone referring to this type of book has probably the necessary word power to understand all but the “keywords”.

An aspect I liked about the definitions is simple real life examples were given to drive home points. Key European and American terminology are explained in plain English and before long some of the mystery disappears. A point that I did enjoy was the systems were compared and strengths and weaknesses given with further examples.

The disadvantage for some might be the compact pages crammed with facts with very few diagrams to break up the format. I personally like simple diagrams rather than lots of words and I think a few more figures could have been used. However, it really is a ‘pocket-book’ and is easy to carry with you and pull out of your jacket pocket if you have a quiet moment.

I would recommend this guide to anyone getting into the subject because if nothing else it points you in the right direction of further more detailed help. I would imagine that several existing company directors would be somewhat surprised if they dipped into the book and realized the extent of what they could be doing or dare I say, should be doing.

the first book in any corporate governance library
As the editor of Corporate Governance, the internet site, I frequently get requests from new directors who are looking for a practical guide to help them meet the most challenging task in the modern corporate world, how to improve their effectiveness and that of their board. What single book will explain their duties, describe needed core competencies, evaluation practices and inform them of fundamental debates in corporate governance? The Pocket Director not only deals with these issues, it also includes an A-Z dictionary of the field's most important ideas and concepts, a list of best practices, proforma charters, sources of information and recommendation for further reading. --The most amazing feature of the Pocket Director is its universal relevance for directors in every situation, from nonprofits and family firms to public corporations in locations as varied as Afghanistan, Zimbabwe and the United States. As the editor of Corporate Governance - An International Review, Bob Tricker is uniquely qualified to provide examples common to most directors but explained in terms specific to the cultural circumstances of individual countries. Frankly, I wouldn't have thought it possible, especially in a slim volume not much larger than a checkbook. The Pocket Director should be the first book in any corporate governance library.