Board Members’ Religious Affiliations and Corporate Governance Practice: An Exploratory Study

Rita  Goyal; Nada Kakabadse; Andrew Kakabadse

doi:10.1007/978-3-030-73847-1_9

Board Members’ Religious Affiliations and Corporate Governance Practice: An Exploratory Study

Rita Goyal
, Nada Kakabadse
, Andrew Kakabadse

University of Reading

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

1 Citation (Scopus)

303 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

The deleterious effects of a black-swan event, COVID-19, on companies and their governance are likely to be wide-ranging and unprecedented. To survive a potentially existential crisis that organizations are currently facing and remain sustainable, they may have to look beyond the standard governance models, leadership styles and leaders’ attributes. So far, the usual suspects of effective corporate governance have been the sound principles of management and law. The impact of corporate elites’ religious background on their decision making is seldom explored in the existing literature. However, the Upper Echelon perspective suggests that when faced with uncertain and complex situations, corporate elites turn to their background and experiences. This is done in order to interpret available information and make decisions. This chapter explores if corporate elites’ religious background influences their decision. We conduct the inquiry by interviewing 42 board members of listed companies in the UK. The study's findings suggest that corporate elites' religious beliefs shape their value-sets, decisions, and organizations’ strategic aspirations. The findings are explained with the help of interdisciplinary literature. The study’s contribution to theory, literature, and praxis is also discussed.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability during the Coronavirus Crisis
Subtitle of host publication	International Cases
Editors	A Sörensson, B Tesfaye, A Lundström, G Grigore, A Stancu
Publisher	Palgrave
Pages	185-211
Number of pages	27
ISBN (Electronic)	9783030738471
ISBN (Print)	9783030738464
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73847-1_9
Publication status	Published - 25 Jun 2021

Publication series

Name	Palgrave Studies in Governance, Leadership and Responsibility
ISSN (Print)	2662-1304
ISSN (Electronic)	2662-1312

Bibliographical note

Copyright © and Moral Rights are retained by the author(s) and/ or other copyright owners. A copy can be downloaded for personal non-commercial research or study, without prior permission or charge. This item cannot be reproduced or quoted extensively from without first obtaining permission in writing from the copyright holder(s). The content must not be changed in any way or sold commercially in any format or medium without the formal permission of the copyright holders.

Keywords

Upper Echelon theory; Religious affiliation of board members; Values of board members; Board diversity; Corporate governance
Board diversity
Corporate governance
Values of board members
Religious affiliation of board members
Upper Echelon theory

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Business and International Management

Access to Document

10.1007/978-3-030-73847-1_9

Post-PrintAccepted author manuscript, 1.62 MB

Cite this

Goyal, R., Kakabadse, N., & Kakabadse, A. (2021). Board Members’ Religious Affiliations and Corporate Governance Practice: An Exploratory Study. In A. Sörensson, B. Tesfaye, A. Lundström, G. Grigore, & A. Stancu (Eds.), Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability during the Coronavirus Crisis: International Cases (pp. 185-211). (Palgrave Studies in Governance, Leadership and Responsibility). Palgrave. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73847-1_9

Board Members’ Religious Affiliations and Corporate Governance Practice: An Exploratory Study. / Goyal, Rita ; Kakabadse, Nada; Kakabadse, Andrew.
Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability during the Coronavirus Crisis: International Cases. ed. / A Sörensson; B Tesfaye; A Lundström; G Grigore; A Stancu. Palgrave, 2021. p. 185-211 (Palgrave Studies in Governance, Leadership and Responsibility).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter › peer-review

Goyal, R, Kakabadse, N & Kakabadse, A 2021, Board Members’ Religious Affiliations and Corporate Governance Practice: An Exploratory Study. in A Sörensson, B Tesfaye, A Lundström, G Grigore & A Stancu (eds), Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability during the Coronavirus Crisis: International Cases. Palgrave Studies in Governance, Leadership and Responsibility, Palgrave, pp. 185-211. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-73847-1_9

Goyal R, Kakabadse N, Kakabadse A. Board Members’ Religious Affiliations and Corporate Governance Practice: An Exploratory Study. In Sörensson A, Tesfaye B, Lundström A, Grigore G, Stancu A, editors, Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability during the Coronavirus Crisis: International Cases. Palgrave. 2021. p. 185-211. (Palgrave Studies in Governance, Leadership and Responsibility). doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-73847-1_9

Goyal, Rita ; Kakabadse, Nada ; Kakabadse, Andrew. / Board Members’ Religious Affiliations and Corporate Governance Practice : An Exploratory Study. Corporate Responsibility and Sustainability during the Coronavirus Crisis: International Cases. editor / A Sörensson ; B Tesfaye ; A Lundström ; G Grigore ; A Stancu. Palgrave, 2021. pp. 185-211 (Palgrave Studies in Governance, Leadership and Responsibility).

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Board Members’ Religious Affiliations and Corporate Governance Practice: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Publication series

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Diversity of Perspective: Impact of Director Experience on Board Effectiveness in FTSE Companies

Cite this

Board Members’ Religious Affiliations and Corporate Governance Practice: An Exploratory Study

Abstract

Publication series

Bibliographical note

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

Diversity of Perspective: Impact of Director Experience on Board Effectiveness in FTSE Companies

Cite this