This is a really interesting topic and something that I have been thinking about over the last little while.
ik978.. I admit that I have no idea of what the fiduciary duties of directors are, but then I am but a lowly engineer..
It seems to me that managers and technical staff reside at opposite ends of the spectrum. In this country, people in management roles have more flexibility to shift from company to company and position to position than people such as engineers and pilots. We don't necessarily have that same luxury because our chosen professions are highly specialised and the job market for our skills is significantly smaller. Also, not everyone wants to, or even can, move overseas to chase other opportunities.
This was highlighted brilliantly back in the day when Strong was CEO. He was speaking at an employee roadshow and taking questions when one employee prefaced his question with the fact that he had been with the company for 15 years.
JS immediately retorted that the subject employee had been there too long!
Firstly, this indicates that managers have no idea of the concepts of loyalty or dedication and secondly, that they really have no understanding of the mechanics (no pun intended) of our industry.
It may be fine for a manager to change jobs or companies every 3 to 7 years, given they regard this necessary for their professional development, but to apply this same philosophy to all employees in their charge displays a high level of ignorance and contempt.
I, for one, am sick and tired of the latest and greatest management catchphrases and buzzwords spouted by business school graduates with no real world experience. Give me an MBA graduate and I'll show you how to run a great company into the ground!