Ten Corporate Culture Topics: Discussion Guide for Directors

The board of directors plays an important role in overseeing the corporate culture, including but not limited to the culture of compliance and ethics. The following is a sample of the types of questions in 10 areas that directors can ask and consider as they assess and seek to improve corporate culture.

1. Assessing Corporate Culture: Does our corporate culture and the way we do business reflect our corporation's stated mission and values? Does the board have adequately insightful discussions establishing links between our corporate culture by employees (e.g., in person, on social media) consistent with the board's view of corporate culture? How are strategic business and operational decisions informed by broad ethical considerations? What role does the company's general counsel play to support and help promote a strong corporate culture? How has the company's corporate culture evolved over the decades of senior directors? Do directors conduct site visits to assess corporate culture?