What ASC graduates of the Collège des administrateurs de sociétés (CAS) tell me is that they notice significant changes in Board meetings when, lets say 30 %, of the members are women. They report more riguor, more discipline, more civility, new perspectives concerning the strategy of the firm and a more collaborative climate on the Board, amongst other things.
Quebec has voted a law to modernise the governance of the State-own Enterprises that « promulgue », amongst other things, that Boards should reach parity within the next two years (we are almost already there !). The change in the composition of the Boards is a very good research subject, one that could show the benefits of adding a signifiant number of capable women on the Board.
If anyone wants some more reading on this, here is a summary of a longer piece of research that supports the view that once you get to three women on a Board, things change for the better. Ce sommaire exécutif a été transmis via LinkedIn par Adam Quinton, Adjunct Associate Professor of International and Public Affairs à la Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs. Le document est issu d’une recherche qui date de 2006, mais je crois que les conclusions sont encore plus vrais aujourd’hui. À lire (3 pages).
Critical Mass on Corporate Boards : Why Three or More Women Enhance Governance
Par V. W. Kramer, V. Kramer & Associates; A. M. Konrad, Ivey Business School; S. Erkut, Wellesley Centers for Women
http://vkramerassociates.com/writings/CriticalMassExecSummary%20PDF.pdf
Gouvernance | Jacques Grisé 