Should Independent Board Members with Social Ties to Management Disqualify Themselves from Serving on the Board?

Posted: 30 Sep 2010

See all articles by Udi Hoitash

Udi Hoitash

Northeastern University - Accounting Group

Date Written: September 29, 2010

Abstract

This paper examines whether independent directors who are socially tied to management (inside directors) can effectively perform their fiduciary duty to monitor management on behalf of shareholders. Ex ante, it is not clear whether social ties will enhance or obstruct the quality of board performance. Theory suggests that directors who are socially tied to management are ineffective and would make decisions favoring management. However, social ties can increase trust and information sharing between management and independent directors, improving directors’ ability and effectiveness in governing the company (Westphal 1999).

To examine these contradicting predictions I use social network analysis and construct proxies for social ties between management and independent board members. Using these proxies, I first demonstrate that social ties are associated with higher managerial compensation. Further analyses reveal that these results are driven by social ties that include members of the compensation committee. Conversely, I demonstrate that financial reporting quality is improved when social ties exist. Specifically, I find that the likelihood of material weaknesses in internal controls and the likelihood of financial restatements is lower in companies with social ties. I further observe that this improved financial reporting quality holds only when social ties include members of the audit committee. I conclude that ethically, socially tied independent directors should disqualify themselves from serving on compensation committees where social independence is essential. However, in tasks where collaboration with management is essential, socially tied directors can add value to shareholders.

Keywords: CEO compensation, Corporate governance, Financial reporting quality, Independent directors, Social network, Social ties

Suggested Citation

Hoitash, Udi, Should Independent Board Members with Social Ties to Management Disqualify Themselves from Serving on the Board? (September 29, 2010). Journal of Business Ethics, Forthcoming, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=1684694

Udi Hoitash (Contact Author)

Northeastern University - Accounting Group ( email )

360 Huntington Ave.
Boston, MA 02115
United States
671-373-5839 (Phone)

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