Northampton Electronic Collection of Theses and Research

The 'chemistry factor' in the Chairman/CEO relationship

Kakabadse, A. P., Kakabadse, N. K. and Knyght, R. (2010) The 'chemistry factor' in the Chairman/CEO relationship. European Management Journal. 28(4), pp. 285-296. 0263-2373.

Item Type: Article
Abstract: This paper reports a study into the nature, dynamics and effects of the ‘chemistry’ of the Chairman/Chief Executive Officer (CEO) relationship. A qualitative, semi-structured interview, narrative analysis methodology over a twenty-eight month period was adopted. A sample of CEO’s, Chairmen and Non-Executive Directors (NEDs) across the boards of nine corporations, agreed to participate in in-depth discussion. Personal narratives of the board director’s experience, particularly from the perspective of enabling understanding of the ‘chemistry’ of the Chairman/CEO relationship, were analysed in terms of boardroom and organisational effect. There are two elements to ‘chemistry’, analytical interpretative capacity (sense making) and deep friendship (philos). Both emerge as primary to determining Chairman/CEO effectiveness and in combination nurture meaningful knowledge sharing as well as a desire for learning in the boardroom. Absence of either allows for a workable relationship, but with neither, the Chairman/CEO dyad and the organisation are harmed. This qualitative study draws attention to the criticality of sense making and philos as determinants of the quality of the Chairman/CEO relationship. The study results emphasise the critical nature of the Chairman/CEO relationship in determining boardroom and organisational effectiveness. Development of this dyadic interaction is considered to positively benefit boardroom dynamics and organisational performance.
Subjects: H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD2709 Corporations > HD2745 Directors of corporations
H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor > HD28 Management. Industrial Management > HD38.2 Executive management. Chief Executive Officers
Creators: Kakabadse, Andrew P, Kakabadse, Nada K and Knyght, Reeves
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd.
Faculties, Divisions and Institutes: University Faculties, Divisions and Research Centres - OLD > Faculty of Business & Law > Business and International Management (to 2010)
Faculties > Faculty of Business & Law > International Strategy & Business
Date: August 2010
Date Type: Publication
Page Range: pp. 285-296
Journal or Publication Title: European Management Journal
Volume: 28
Number: 4
Language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.emj.2010.05.001
ISSN: 0263-2373
Status: Published / Disseminated
URI: http://nectar.northampton.ac.uk/id/eprint/2725

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