Taking stock, looking ahead -

The start of a new year is an important opportunity for boards to take a step back and reassess their agendas to help ensure that they are appropriately focused on the most critical issues for the company. Given the increasing breadth and complexity of issues that directors must oversee and the volatility and uncertainty of the business and risk environment, is the board—through its committee structure and allocation of oversight responsibilities—spending time on the right topics and in the most effective way? Leaving room on the agenda to consider future scenarios and address the unexpected (in addition to the must-dos) will be essential.