Horngren’s Cost Accounting A Managerial Emphasis, Canadian 9th edition soluti...
Case study
1. 1
Corporate Governance
Case Study
Read the case study given below and answer the questions which follow.
In 2005, HP hired Mark Hurd as CEO, replacing Carly Fiorina. In contrast to HP’s long company
policy of employee retention known as “The HP Way”, Hurd embarked on a series of cost-cutting
measures which included the cutback of 15,000 workers. Hurd was also widely credited for
improving HP’s performance, increasing HP’s stock price double within two years. However, in
June 2010, Hurd was alleged to have submitted inaccurate expense reports to hide a personal
relationship with an HP marketing consultant. This was deemed to have violated HP’s standards
of business conduct. As a result, Hurd resigned from his positions as Chairman and CEO. This
was followed by much controversy surrounding Hurd’s excessive remuneration package. Hurd
then proceeded to join one of HP’s main rivals, Oracle, as its co-president and director (Teen,
2012).
a) Identify the corporate governance problems of HP during the tenure of Mark Hurd.
b) Explain how they influenced the deterioration of the degree of corporate governance of
HP.
c) What is the role that the board of directors could play in corporate governance of
companies? Do you think that the board of HP played its potential role during the term of
Hurd? Provide reasons for your answer.
d) What is the problem with Hurd joining Oracle after resigning from HP?