Effective collaboration at the top of the firm : a behavioral perspective

This study presents new insights on how effective collaboration between a firm’s top decision-making bodies is linked to proper corporate governance and the long-term success of firms. Drawing on state-of-the-art management research as well as socio-psychological theories, the dissertation examines aspects such as the emerging role of supervisory boards to provide strategic advice to a firm’s top management and how this impacts a firm’s long-term value creation, how heterogeneity in professional and personal backgrounds of top decision-makers, such as CEOs, can influence a firm’s R&D investment strategy or how collaboration between decision-making bodies and relevant stakeholder groups can vary depending on the characteristics of the present governance system. Presented results are based on empirical data from the largest stock-listed firms in Germany as well as case-based analyses.