In July 2021, Sir Andrew Likierman published research in association with the Chartered Governance Institute (CGI) on the 12 elements of independent judgement applied to a UK board and its committees. The elements are:
The raw material
• Giving full attention to the written and spoken material presented
• Checking, and where necessary questioning, the information provided, including measures and assumptions used
• Avoiding undue reliance on a single individual’s expertise or the majority view
• Taking account of context – objectives, precedents, relevant comparisons, legal requirements and ethical issues
Attitudes and feelings
• Developing an informed view based on the appropriate method of challenge
• Freedom from undue influence by sectional interests or agendas
• Awareness of one’s own biases, agendas and emotions as well as collective values, such as fairness
• Understanding risk and uncertainty and how to mitigate them
The choice
• An environment where diverse views are encouraged and dissent is seen as safe
• Checking for the way options have been framed, including those which might have been excluded from consideration
• Appreciation of the implications of trade-offs in the choice, including timing, consequences and feasibility
• Awareness of the need for any consultation on the choice with relevant stakeholders and other interested parties
The report can be downloaded from the CGI website.