Many public company boards are downright timid when it comes to considering issues that touch on science and technology. Too often, they focus on security and digitization – a defensive posture that doesn't consider the larger opportunities that can arise from new materials, space science, and a deeper understanding of genomics, to name just a few. It's easy to make the mistake of thinking that science doesn't matter to non-tech companies. But that distinction doesn't mean much when it comes to capitalizing on the opportunities that come from technological change that is now ubiquitous, rapid, tumultuous, and often coming from increasingly unlikely places.
The authors provide first-hand observation of an effective approach to closing this gap: board technology committees. Drawing on the work of technology committees at AES, Johnson & Johnson, and Altria (companies where the authors serve or have served on the boards of directors), the authors explain how these organizations can advance the interests of their organizations and offer advice on how to establish a technology committee.
