Help or Hindrance? Boardroom Network Connectivity and Firm Performance

Date
2016
Authors
Ngataki Andersen, A
Gilbert, A
Supervisor
Item type
Degree name
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Auckland Centre for Financial Research, AUT University
Abstract

While boardroom networks should act as a conduit for resource sharing between firms, and in doing so improve firm performance, recent evidence on the value of connected boards is limited and inconclusive. This study aims to provide additional evidence on the impact of board connectivity on firm performance by exploring Australian listed firms between 2001 and 2011. We employ four dimensions of connectivity; measuring the quantity, speed and quality of information flow and resource sharing, and a firms access to the best-connected boards. We also employ a factor of the four connectivity dimensions. Our findings show more connected boards have lower firm performance, measured with Tobin’s Q. The results remain consistent after controlling for alternative measures of firm performance, and model specifications. The results suggest that boardroom networks are not a value-enhancing tool for boards.

Description
Keywords
Corporate Governance; Resource Dependence; Board of Directors; Social Networks; Centrality
Source
2014 Auckland Finance Meeting, 18-20 December 2014 AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand.
Rights statement
NOTICE: this is the author’s version of a work that was accepted for publication. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. A definitive version was subsequently published in (see Citation). The original publication is available at (see Publisher's Version).