Evaluating the Impact of Board Members' Attributes on Corporate Governance

Abstract

This study evaluated the impact of public entity board attributes on organisational
performance of state entities in Zimbabwe, guided by the Upper Echelon Theory. Boards have
been criticised for scandals that contributed to persistent losses. A pragmatist philosophy,
mixed methods approach, and cross-sectional survey design were adopted. The study targeted
permanent secretaries, executive and non-executive board members, using a sample of 261
participants for quantitative data and 25 for qualitative data. Data were collected through
semi-structured questionnaires and in-depth interviews, with reliability tested using
Cronbach’s alpha (α). Analysis was conducted in SPSS Version 25 and AMOS Version 21.
Findings showed that age, gender balance, limits on membership and tenure, strong
leadership, and sound ethics significantly influence performance. Visionary leadership and
ethical standards emerged as critical for public entity success. Gender diversity was linked to
improved profitability, innovation, decision-making, and risk awareness, while age diversity
brought innovation, risk-taking, and leadership continuity. The study recommends introducing
an age diversity policy for boards to enhance energy and innovation. Future research could
explore the effectiveness of board appointment systems in Zimbabwe’s private sector