4Boards.ai is a research initiative that aims to identify, codify, and disseminate best practices for corporate boards to leverage AI and other emerging technologies. It will conduct interviews and workshops with boards to explore challenges, practices, and solutions regarding digital transformation and governance. The goal is to develop a framework of checklists, services, and training to help boards successfully oversee innovation and sustainability efforts involving new technologies. The initiative is led by academics from Chalmers University of Technology and the Stockholm School of Economics and invites various organizations to participate in and provide input to the research.

1. 4Boards.ai
The challenges of AI for sustainable corporate governance
R2B Summit, March 2019
Prof Robin Teigland, Chalmers University of Technology
Chair NED IPD-C Liselotte Engstam Innovisa/Digoshen & multiple
Fernanda Torre & Anthony Larsson, SIR, Stockholm School of
Economics
4Boards.aiMarch 2019
Michael Watson

2. The Challenge:
The impact of complexity & speed of change on Boardwork
Research; Understanding Digital Maturity – MIT/CapGemini 2018
The challenges of AI for sustainable corporate governance
March 2019 4Boards.ai

3. Boards and top management not aligned on AI importance
Research; AI in Europe & Sweden by EY and Microsoft 2018 (n=267)
March 2019 4Boards.ai

4. •62% of
boards report
they are digitally
savvy
Source: MIT CISR 2014 Board Survey, 81 companies.
Based on public
data, 24% of
boards are digitally
savvy
Source: MIT CISR 2018 Board Study, 1122 companies, based on
coding of public proxy data.
© All rights reserved Digoshen AB
Boards overestimate their Digital Savviness

5. Rethink board
processes and
procedures
(software, tools, etc.)
Rethink board competences
and mindsets
(IT quotas, “hooders” on boards)
Rethink board task focus
(disruptive innovation, new business models)
Rethink corporations and value creation
(boards in the digital era, digital transformation of
society and business)
“Boards and four levels of digitalization” - Morten Huse
Elements in
Corporate Governance
The Solution & Result: 4Boards.ai
Research-based initiative to explore & impact Board Practices
4Boards.ai Objective
To identify, codify and disseminate a set of best practices
to enable corporate boards to more successfully govern
and leverage AI and other exponential technologies in
their innovation and sustainability efforts
Prof Robin Teigland
Chair NED Liselotte Engstam
Fernanda Torre &
Anthony Larsson,
Institute for Research
March 2019 4Boards.ai

6. We invite IVA, Federations, & Company Boards
Opportunity to (under confidentiality & Chatham House rules)
• Apply to host multi-company workshops
• Apply to join multi-company workshops to explore & discuss value creation and board
dilemmas and best practices
• Propose best practice boardwork and board members for interviews
• Join surveys to establish insights
• Apply to receive insights from 4Boards.ai presentations and reports
March 2019 4Boards.ai
Website: 4Boards.ai
Contacts
Robin.Teigland@chalmers.se
Liselotte.Engstam@digoshen.com

7. extra

8. 4Boards.ai – The Approach
Phase 1 Actions
• WP 1, 2, 3 & 4: Identifying
current insights from current
research and commercial
writing
• Developing bases for future
insights and more detailed
and comprehensive
methodology
• Outlining alternative
approaches
• Piloting of methodology
Phase 1 Background & Approach
Nov 2018 to Dec 2019
Phase 2 Interviews & Workshops
January 2019 to March 2020
Phase 2 Actions
• Collecting research data- In-
depth interviews for all WPs
with board members and key
stakeholders for current
challenges, current practices
and best practices
• Conducting workshops with
selected boards and board
networks aiming at exploring
best practices
Phase 4 Actions
• Evaluating applicability of
proposed framework
• Drawing conclusions and
consolidation of knowledge
according to WP 1, 2, 3 & 4
• Sharing of insights with
selected boards, board
networks and research articles
Phase 3 Actions
• Analyzing data and
summarizing findings and
learning needs from each WP
1, 2, 3 & 4
• Developing a framework
including checklists, services
and skill enhancement
activities for boards
• Presenting resulting framework
to selected boards
• Adjusting according to
feedback
Phase 1 Deliverables
• Literature review paper
• Piloted and refined interview
guide
• Identification of participants
for interviews and workshops
Phase 2 Deliverables
• 25-30 interviews with board
members and key
stakeholders, depending on
saturation
• Five workshops with boards,
two within the participating
companies, Combient and
Qlucore.
Phase 4 Deliverables
• Final report
• Minimum one article in top tier
academic journal
• Two articles in practitioner
literature
• Sharing of research results and
framework in at least three
board networks
• Social media strategy
Phase 3 Deliverables
• Creation of a tested and
refined corporate governance
framework
Phase 3: Framework Development
April 2019 to April 2020
Phase 4: Framework Advisory,
Research Writing, Dissemination
April 2020 to October 2020
March 2019 4Boards.ai