Dr David Beech, an organisational psychologist and Lecturer at Salford Business School, recently presented his research on corporate leadership and governance at the tenth Worldwide Interdisciplinary Network for Institutional Research (WINIR) conference in Prague, Czechia.
The WINIR conference brings together leading researchers from across the social sciences and humanities to examine how institutions – the rules and routines that enable and constrain collective action – shape societies. This year’s theme focused on institutions, entrepreneurship, and shared prosperity.
Expanding the scope of corporate governance
David’s paper proposed that the private interest focus of corporate leadership and governance for the benefit of private shareholders is too narrow. Drawing on seminal roots in sociology and organisation science, David proposed that corporate leadership is defined by three interrelated domains:
- Governance leadership: exercising responsibilities in both the public and the private interest under public constitutional law and private commercial law.
- Managerial leadership: driving entrepreneurship under private commercial law.
- Frontline operational leadership: ensuring compliance with private and public laws, such as private property, public health and safety, and financial, which is mostly public law.
Learning from history
David highlighted how the mid-19th century political economy innovation of the limited liability company has transformed quality of life across the world. However, since the early 1980s its strong private-interest orientation has also contributed to environmental degradation, climate change, and biodiversity loss.
He argued for a shift back to an earlier model of corporate governance – one that views corporations as trustees of the public interest as well as agents for private constituency rights. This, he believes, would better balance the needs of shareholders with the wider responsibilities organisations hold to society.
Building global connections
The conference provided David with valuable networking opportunities, paving the way for potential international collaboration in transforming corporate leadership and governance.
His research aligns closely with the University of Salford’s mission to “innovate to enrich lives,” showing how bold thinking in corporate leadership and governance can help create more sustainable and equitable systems for the future.