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Stanford Closer Look Series

The Stanford Closer Look series is a collection of short studies through which we explore topics, issues, and controversies in corporate governance. In each study, we take a targeted look at a specific issue and explain why it is important.

Stanford Closer Look|

Where Does Human Resources Sit at the Strategy Table?

Courtney Hamilton, David F. Larcker, Stephen A. Miles, Brian Tayan
Stanford Closer Look Series. Corporate Governance Research Initiative, February
2019

Two decades ago, McKinsey advanced the idea that large U.S. companies are engaged in a “war for talent” and that to remain competitive they need to make a strategic effort...

Stanford Closer Look|

The Wells Fargo Cross-Selling Scandal

Brian Tayan
Stanford Closer Look Series. Corporate Governance Research Initiative, January
2019

In this Closer Look, we examine the tensions between corporate culture, financial incentives, and employee conduct as illustrated by the Wells Fargo cross-selling scandal. In 2016, Wells Fargo admitted that...

Stanford Closer Look|

Scaling Up: The Implementation of Corporate Governance in Pre-IPO Companies

David F. Larcker, Brian Tayan
Stanford Closer Look Series. Corporate Governance Research Initiative, December
2018

Companies are required to have a reliable system of corporate governance in place at the time of IPO in order to protect the interests of public company investors and stakeholders....

Stanford Closer Look|

The Double-Edged Sword of CEO Activism

David F. Larcker, Stephen A. Miles, Brian Tayan, Kim Wright-Violich
Stanford Closer Look Series. Corporate Governance Research Initiative, November
2018

CEO activism — the practice of CEOs taking public positions on environmental, social, and political issues not directly related to their business — has become a hotly debated topic in...

Stanford Closer Look|

Cashing It In: Private-Company Exchanges and Employee Stock Sales Prior to IPO

David F. Larcker, Brian Tayan, Edward Watts
Stanford Closer Look Series. Corporate Governance Research Initiative, September
2018

Companies in the United States are staying private longer, and this trend has important implications for companies and their employees. Employees holding equity awards in private companies are restricted from...

Stanford Closer Look|

Netflix Approach to Governance: Genuine Transparency with the Board

David F. Larcker, Brian Tayan
Stanford Closer Look Series. Corporate Governance Research Initiative, May
2018

The hallmark of good corporate governance is an independent board of directors to oversee management. However, it is not clear that independent directors receive the information they need to make...

Stanford Closer Look|

The Big Thumb on the Scale: An Overview of The Proxy Advisory Industry

James R. Copland, David F. Larcker, Brian Tayan
Stanford Closer Look Series. Corporate Governance Research Initiative, May
2018

Proxy advisory firms have significant influence over the voting decisions of institutional investors and the governance choices of publicly traded companies. However, it is not clear that the recommendations of...

Stanford Closer Look|

Governance Gone Wild: Epic Misbehavior at Uber Technologies

David F. Larcker, Brian Tayan
Stanford Closer Look Series. Corporate Governance Research Initiative, December
2017

In this Closer Look, we examine the roles that leadership and culture play in contributing to chronic misbehavior and the manner in which it takes root in an organization. We...

Stanford Closer Look|

Critical Update Needed: Cybersecurity Expertise in the Boardroom

David F. Larcker, Peter C. Reiss, Brian Tayan
Stanford Closer Look Series. Corporate Governance Research Initiative, November
2017

The board of directors is expected to ensure that management has identified and developed processes to mitigate risks facing the organization, including risks arising from data theft and the loss...

Stanford Closer Look|

Building a Better Board Book

Alex Baum, David F. Larcker, Brian Tayan, Jacob Welch
Stanford Closer Look Series. October
2017

Board members rely on information provided by management to inform their decisions. Unfortunately, some research calls into question the adequacy of the information the board members receive and, by extension,...

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