On value and value creation: Perspectives from board research and practice in SMEs

Abstract

While corporate governance research has been evolving over the last decade, it still has challenges to deal with. In this chapter we will discuss the contributions of the board of directors to value and value creation. This study reveals that, independent of the context of the board, there will be various definitions and perceptions about value and consequently on value creation in firms. In addition to a literature review of recent research on the governance of SMEs with a focus on value and value creation, results from interviews with board directors on SME boards are presented and reveal what directors perceive to be value and what they aim to do to create value. While research supports the practitioners’ perspective on value and value creation, there seems to be a disproportionate focus on financial performance and the structural aspects of boards in corporate governance research, which is not supported by the practitioners’ perspective.