An earlier book, A Strategic Approach to Corporate Governance (Gower, 1999), examined corporate governance from a philosophical and 'big picture' standpoint. This book digs deeper and explores the operational issues around corporate governance, giving examples of good practice. It is a 'how to' book, which focuses on processes and practical issues, making the case for corporate governance in terms of measurable business benefits and competitive advantage.

The author explores a number of key themes:

• How corporate governance has expanded in scope and importance worldwide
• How to engage with the wider range of stakeholders whose support is essential for success in a competitive world
• How to distribute power to those who need to use it to perform effectively at all levels in the organisation
• How to encourage the behaviours needed to effect good governance
• How to embed best practice in the daily routine of the organisation
• How to adapt best practice to meet the needs of different organisations
• How effective corporate governance can build sustainable business success
• How corporate governance may evolve to meet the needs of the future

Corporate governance should address the needs of people seeking to cooperate effectively in a shared endeavour. It should be adopted, not imposed and Adrian Davies provides an eloquent and authoritative guide to this process.