This timely and engaging book examines how maximizing shareholder value has played a dominant role in corporate governance over recent decades, and analyzes the resulting effect on share prices in the stock markets. Alongside the rise in corporate power and deepening economic inequality, the author investigates corporate law reform as a corrective remedy.

The corporate objective, namely, in whose interests a company should be run, is the most important theoretical and practical issue confronting us today, as this core objective animates or should animate every decision a company makes. Despite decades of debate, however, there is no consensus regarding what the corporate objective is or ought to be, but clarity on this issue is necessary in order to explain and guide corporate behaviour, as different objectives could lead to different analyses and solutions to the same corporate governance problem. In addition to the study on the corporate objective in Anglo-American jurisdictions, the discussion of this topic in the context of China is also very important on the grounds that China has become the second largest economy in the world and is playing an increasingly significant role in global affairs. Though a socialist state, China has also been relying heavily on the corporate vehicle as the most important business organisational form to ensure its rapid economic development since its market reforms in 1978. Adolf Berle and Gardiner Means’s observation made over eight decades ago that large public companies dominate the world remains true today, not only in the West but also in China. The regulation and governance of such companies will have a material impact on the further development of the Chinese economy, which could in turn directly affect the world economy. Company law and corporate governance therefore receive much attention and have become a vital issue in China. Although the current focus is primarily on corporate performance, the fundamental question at the heart of corporate governance, namely the corporate objective, is still unresolved. Contrary to the widely held belief that the corporate objective should be maximising shareholder wealth, this book seeks to demonstrate that the shareholder wealth maximisation approach is both descriptively inaccurate and normatively unsuitable. As an antithesis to it, stakeholder theory generally develops to be a more suitable substitute. Justifications and responses to its main criticisms are offered from descriptive, normative and instrumental aspects, whilst new techniques of balancing competing interests and more workable guidance for directors’ behaviour are brought forward as essential modifications. Along with the unique characteristics of socialist states, the stakeholder model is expected to find solid ground in China and guide the future development of corporate governance. This book will be important and useful to researchers and students of corporate law, corporate governance, business and management studies.

From the author of Capitalism at the Crossroads, a call to consciousness—and action—for individuals, organizations, communities, and nations. Our current Milton Friedman–style "shareholder primacy capitalism," as taught in business schools and embraced around the world, has become dangerous for society, the climate, and the planet. Moreover, Stuart L. Hart argues, it's economically unnecessary. But there are surprising reasons for hope—from the history of capitalism itself. Beyond Shareholder Primacy argues that capitalism has reformed itself twice before and is poised for a third major reformation. Retelling the origin story of capitalism from the fifteenth century to the present, Hart argues that a radically sustainable, just capitalism is possible, and even likely, in our lifetime. Hart goes on to describe what it will take to move beyond capitalism's present worship of "shareholder primacy," including corporate transformations to re-embed purpose and reforms to major economic institutions. A key requirement is eliminating the "externalities" (or collateral damage) of our current shareholder capitalism. Sustainable capitalism will explicitly incorporate the needs of society and the planet, include a financial system that allows leaders to prioritize the planet, reorganize business schools around sustainable management thinking, and enable corporations not just to stop ignoring the damage they cause, but actually begin to create positive impact.

The authoritative, practical guide to internal control after COSO (Committee on Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission) Beyond COSO unravels the complexities of the COSO Report while providing clear-cut guidelines on how to implement the various internal controls it mandates. Just as important, it builds on the COSO framework to provide a more rigorous system that corporate executives and directors can use to transform the internal control function into a valuable strategic tool for leveraging corporate strengths and improving performance. The first practical guide to complying with COSO Report mandates, Beyond COSO: * Clearly explains the intricacies of the COSO Report * Describes proven techniques for complying with COSO requirements * Provides a detailed account of the internal control oversight process * Offers expert recommendations on how to carry out internal control responsibilities more efficiently * Supplies a wealth of ready-to-use internal control documentation Beyond COSO is an invaluable working resource for internal and external auditors, CFOs, members of audit committees, and corporate directors. www.wiley.com/accounting

The Hardy brothers are confronted with the supernatural in these six ghost stories which include the Walking Scarecrow and the Haunted Castle.

Following a series of corporate scandals, legislators have company executives in their sights and are arming themselves with ever-greater regulatory firepower. All agree that good governance is essential but must not be allowed to stifle business performance. Beyond Governancedevelops the concept of Enterprise Governance, an emerging framework which unites performance, conformance and corporate responsibility and shows how addressing all of these areas in a concerted, coordinated fashion will deliver value to the organisation and its stakeholders. In particular, it focuses on the skills, processes and systems that are required to deliver excellence in each of these areas, giving readers a practical insight into the issues and an understanding of best practice in each area. Many firms are rethinking their finance activities in the light of e-commerce, shared service centres, business intelligence technology and cost pressures. Beyond Governance explores the challenge of building a modern, flexible finance function, describing the emerging role of the new CFO and how finance professionals should respond to this new business environment. "In the days of corporate scandals and shrinking investor confidence this is a timely book. By exploring the connections between shareholder value, corporate governance and corporate responsibility, it recognises the crucial role that skills, systems and people play in delivering Enterprise Governance for the 21st Century." —Professor Andy Neely, Chairman of the Centre for Business Performance, Cranfield School of Management, and author of The Performance Prism

This insightful book features valuable advice from the CEOs of leading high-tech and consumer product companies and top manufacturing, financial and service businesses. William L. Simon's research shows that traditional cost-based financial assessments have become less accurate in predicting the true success of a product, venture, or company. His book will help uncover faulty financial measures and ensure that financial reporting systems quickly capture and emphasize necessary details. 30 illus.