Emergence of Professional Management Layers

ERA III — Initial Implementation & Reality
Governance Practice
1974

Corporations increasingly relied on non-Native professional managers to operate complex enterprises.

What Happened

As corporate operations expanded, many boards hired external executives, consultants, and attorneys with expertise in finance, law, and business development. While necessary for compliance and growth, this created cultural and informational distance between management and shareholders.

Why It Matters Today

The management–shareholder trust gap often attributed to modern corporate behavior began during this transition, not as a recent deviation.

Related Patterns

Pattern 2: Authority Concentration
Pattern 8: Procedural Legitimacy vs. Trust

Related Governance Themes

Clear Distinction Between Corporate and Subsidiary Reporting
Alignment Between Operational Practice and Written Policy
Board Education and Governance Training

Sources

Primary Source
Secondary Source Link