A camel is a horse designed by a committee
Gary Linton
Board Governance - Chairman of Board - Non-Executive Director - Strategy -Executive Search -
We’re all familiar with the analogy that a camel is a horse designed by a committee.
It’s a rather unflattering comment on the ineffectiveness that can arise when too many people with conflicting opinions need to arrive at a decision that, by definition, will reek of compromise.Which is why the composition of committees – and, indeed, their close relations, task forces – is so important to a board fulfilling its primary governance function of wise and considered decision-making. The board needs the help, input and assistance from various committees to allow it to do just that.
That’s because appointed committees can look at issues and areas of attention in far greater depth and with far sharper focus than the board has time to do.
So what precisely is a committee and, more importantly, its terms of reference?
Follow the link to read more: https://www.governancematters.com.au/committees-designing-horses-key-to-board-governance/#more-4084
Source: GovernanceMatters.com.au?
A camel is actually a very specialised animal adapted for its natural environment. In fact a horse carrying extra large water-bags for surviving in arid conditions would be the committee solution to what a camel achieves
Project Consultant
8 年And of course the opposite is group think. Monitoring and understanding where the group is in the decision process along with where and how to swing the pendulum in the other direction is a great executive skill