Summary: By Adam Turteltaub<br> <br> Corporate culture, tone at the top, proper governance and the relationship between the board and compliance have all been frequent subjects of conversations of late. In this podcast, <a href="https://www.linkedin.com/in/marshaershaghihames/">Marsha Ershaghi Hames</a>, partner at <a href="https://www.tapestrynetworks.com/">Tapestry Networks</a>, shares recent research into governing boards and their role in shaping corporate culture.<br> <br> The report, <a href="https://www.tapestrynetworks.com/publications/assessing-corporate-culture-a-practical-guide-improving-board-oversight">Assessing Corporate Culture: A Practical Guide to Improving Board Oversight</a>, and the research leading up to it, revealed that culture Is most definitely a focus of directors, and there is a strong need for board alignment on what the culture should be.<br> <br> Turning that vision into a reality requires building bridges and a partnership between the board and the management team. It also requires data to measure where an organization is and to track progress about where it is going.<br> <br> That is not all, though. Directors who formerly held compliance roles were quick to point out that there is a need to think beyond the numbers and balance quantitative, qualitative and anecdotal evidence. All these measures are essential to developing a holistic view.<br> <br> The report, which was developed after interviews with 40 directors from 65 publicly traded companies, revealed five keys to success:<br> <br> * Prioritize culture on the agenda<br> * The board has to challenge its own culture<br> * Monitor and measure, but also create blended data sources<br> * Ensure that the culture is articulated and simplified enough that it can be measured<br> * Calibrate the board and management structure to optimize the information flow<br> <br> The last step means enabling managers, including compliance, to communicate directly with the board as needed to give it a fuller picture of the organization.<br> <br> Listen in to learn more about how to help the board lead in shaping corporate culture.
