Innovationdriven business development - the boards role in future -proofing the company

Purpose and goal: ** Denna text är maskinöversatt **

The project´s aim is to increase knowledge about how boards of medium-sized companies can contribute to securing the future by developing processes and tools for strategic foresight. The focus is on mapping board practices that promote innovation and long-term sustainability. The project builds on current research that shows that the board of medium-sized companies is under strong pressure and in need of renewal and revitalization.

Expected results and effects: ** Denna text är maskinöversatt **

The study shows that the board´s contribution to a future proofed company contain professionalizing the board work, intense and constructive interaction between board, owners and management, continuous development of the board and the assisting in external monitoring. In addition, processes that support scalability (structure and culture) and a team-based working method are favorable for strategic foresight. The results are expected to inspire board development in SMEs in general.

Approach and implementation: ** Denna text är maskinöversatt *

The project is based on a qualitative method and contains two parts, interviews with twenty experts, and in-depth case studies in four companies. In phase one, the experts´ views on board work in (S)MEs as well as factors expected to have great impact on board work are discussed. In phase two, the development board work in four companies with stated ambitions to use the board as a strategic resource is reported.

The selection of cases is based on variation in ownership and industry. Thematic analysis is combined with context-based analysis in the four cases.