The board of directors

In this lesson

1. 0:00 Board of Directors governance overview
2. 1:04 Board roles and responsibilities explained
3. 2:25 Typical board meeting agenda items
4. 3:44 Unitary versus two-tier board structures
5. 6:10 Unitary board structure advantages and disadvantages
6. 7:47 Two-tier board structure advantages and disadvantages
7. 9:06 CEO and chair separation best practice

About this lesson

You'll learn the key roles and responsibilities of boards, understand the two main board structures (unitary and two-tier), and examine why separating the CEO and chair roles strengthens governance and board independence. The lesson covers six core areas: the board's role and responsibilities, non-executive directors, induction and performance evaluation, board diversity, board committees, and remuneration. You'll discover what effective boards do—from setting strategy and monitoring financial performance to establishing internal controls and engaging with stakeholders. You'll also examine the trade-offs between unitary boards (faster decision-making, shared accountability, flexibility) and two-tier structures (clearer independence, strategic focus, but slower coordination). By understanding these governance practices, you'll be better equipped to identify what organisations in case study scenarios are doing well—or where they're falling short. This knowledge helps you make stronger recommendations and demonstrate the governance expertise examiners expect at SBL level.

Duration: 11m