Corporate governance case study examples

In the year 1986, Ms. Hillary Clinton was appointed as a lawyer to the Wal-Mart board. The board consisted of 15 members. She worked for the corporation for 6 years. Ms. Clinton declined to talk about her Board membership at Wal-Mart posing questions as to whether it will impact negatively, or positively in her quest for the white house.
Her board membership is likely to impact negatively on her race to the White house. During her campaign for the Democratic ticket for the presidency in 2008 elections, her post at Wal-Mart was rarely discussed. She herself avoided the topic in the campaign speeches. Both parties accused Wal-Mart of offering unaffordable health insurance and mistreating its workers (Barbaro, 2007). Ms. Clinton worked for this corporation but there is no single moment she is mentioned addressing the workers’ welfare.
Ms. Clinton was described by her colleague board members as someone who used her position for personal causes. She wanted more women to join management and advocated for an environment plan (Barbaro, 2007). The Wal-Mart Corporation was strongly against unionism (Barbaro, 2007). While Ms. Clinton worked for the corporation she failed to address the anti unionism issue. Her colleagues said that she was largely silent about the Wal-Mart’s stand on unions. Her board membership would not have attracted the democratic base, but rather minimize her chances of clinching the presidential ticket.
During her six year tenure at Wal-Mart she received tutorial on publicly undesired practices of the American business. If she ever mentioned her board membership, she would have tainted her campaign for the White house. Ms. Clinton’s silence and practices portrayed her as not being a good board member, but rather a person who acted for personal cause.

Reference

Barbaro, M. (2007, May 20). As a Director, Clinton Moved Wal-Mart Board, but Only So Far. The New York Times [New York], p. 20.