<P>In the world of corporate governance, the board of directors is often viewed as the "black box" of companies: only the board members who are seated at the meeting table understand how this "decision-making machine" works. In this book, a board member with over 25 years' experience pulls off the lid and shows both how boards have worked and how they could work.</P>
<P>This book is grounded in extensive research in three different surveys: one with more than 100 Brazilian directors, another with 340 board members from 40 countries, and a final one with 103 Brazilian directors serving on 238 boards. It also includes interviews with&nbsp;Ira Millstein, Sir Adrian Cadbury, Robert Monks and Mervyn King. The inner-workings of the board of directors are revealed: </P>
<P>• What keeps directors awake at night </P>
<P>• Obstacles to efficient decision-making </P>
<P>• Behavioral dynamics, both within the board and in relation to the&nbsp;management</P>
<P>• Pitfalls that arise from individual and group biases</P>
<P>Based on these insights and the author's own consulting and board experience, the book presents a guide to behavioral tools enabling directors and executives to confidently navigate the boardroom, improving interactivity and the efficiency of the decision-making process. Intended for directors and executives who are directly involved in the board's activities, as well as for leaders responsible for strategy implementation, this book provides a behavioral compass for all those interacting with the "black box."</P>