Cynicism and CEOs

The public have every right to be confused re CEOs their remuneration and the role that they play in an organisation. It seems to me that the CEO is the head of his organisation answerable only to the board of directors. Their job is to make certain that the systems and policies required by the board are in place to ensure that the business runs smoothly. In turn the CEO employs the staff required to make it happen. The board is therefore removed from the people that have to make the business run smoothly. Is it any wonder that there are so many examples of dysfunctional organisations. If members of the board were rostered to clean the smoko room and toilets every so often they may garner a bit of knowledge of how the other half exist.

The CEOs generally have it easy. Not only do they get richly remunerated and control the pursestrings but they are able to take extended leave and tend their garden if the going gets a bit tough. The organisation hardly misses a beat. They shuffle a few chairs and carry on as if nothing happened. So why exactly, do we need them? And why are they so hard to find that it takes a six figure sum to try and separate one from the masses. Is it because so many of the suited class are not interested in gardening any more? If the aforementioned six figure sum was spread over the lowest paid workers you may actually increase your productivity without the need for a fearless leader.