Title: The role of assisted reflection in identifying positive boardroom behaviour: evidence of shared behaviours from simulated board meetings

Authors: Chris Bart; Mark A. Fuller

Addresses: The Caribbean Governance Training Institute, The Caribbean Institute of Directors, St. Lucia, WI, Canada ' Schwartz School of Business, St. Francis Xavier University, 3090 Martha Drive, Antigonish, B2G 2W5 Nova Scotia, Canada

Abstract: This study examines the contribution of assisted reflection in identifying positive boardroom behaviour in order to promote corporate governance reform from within the firm. A quasi-experimental research design involving nine cohorts of a director education program each partook in six simulated board meetings. With the aid of facilitators and the use of reflective learning exercises, participants' observations coalesced around eight shared behaviours they believe contributed toward improved boardroom performance. The commonality of these behaviours across multiple cohorts suggest that the use of assisted reflective learning can contribute to shared positive behaviours in the boardroom, leading to enhanced boardroom performance, and in so doing, helping to address the governance deficit created by the use of externally-situated mechanisms such as checklists, prescribed guidelines and best practices.

Keywords: corporate governance; reflective learning; assisted reflection; boardroom behaviour; Canada; board of directors; positive behaviour; shared behaviours; simulation; board meetings.

DOI: 10.1504/IJBGE.2016.082602

International Journal of Business Governance and Ethics, 2016 Vol.11 No.4, pp.313 - 334

Accepted: 17 Oct 2016
Published online: 02 Mar 2017 *

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