Be careful what you wish for if it is truly open debate in the boardroom

​Patrick Hosking, Financial Editor of The Times, writes of the importance of having robust deliberation in the boardroom. He cites examples such as Archie Norman, chairman at Marks & Spencer and Richard Cousins, formerly of Compass Group to describe scenarios and outcomes where rigorous debate is encouraged even to the point when board member might resign if the board can't reach an agreement. Hosking ends his commentary referring to a serious point made in Gerry's book The Independent Director, describing two disastrous types of of board and pointing out that sometimes too much debate can whip up further conflicts.