Boards are failing to challenge traditional thinking and shape the future. The boards of many companies ruin corporate prospects and lose money for shareholders, according to a continuing investigation at the University of Lincoln, led by Prof. Colin Coulson-Thomas. Speaking at a conference on corporate governance, Professor Coulson-Thomas, author of "Shaping Things to Come", argues that boards need to think and act differently if they are to improve their own performance and create more value for customers, investors and other stakeholders. “Despite codes of governance best practice the boards of many companies still miss opportunities, cripple corporate prospects and destroy shareholder wealth,” says Coulson-Thomas, “They are looking over their shoulders at others, copying and playing catch up rather than shaping the future”.