Research Paper and Research Thesis Topics

Board of Directors – 25 Research Topics

1. The Impact of AI Literacy on Board Effectiveness in the Digital Era
2. Board Diversity Beyond Gender: Ethnicity, Skills, and Age Diversity Trends
3. How ESG Expertise is Reshaping Corporate Boards
4. The Evolving Role of the Board Chair in a Post-COVID Governance Environment
5. Interlocking Directorates: Risk or Resource in Today’s Governance Landscape?
6. Cybersecurity Oversight and the Board’s Fiduciary Duty
7. Board Evaluation Practices: Global Trends and Effectiveness
8. Independence of Independent Directors: Illusion or Reality?
9. Virtual Board Meetings: Efficiency, Risk, and Legal Challenges
10. Role of the Board in Overseeing AI and Data Ethics
11. Family-Owned Businesses and Professionalisation of the Board
12. Board Oversight in Climate Risk Governance
13. Dual Board Structures vs. Unitary Boards: Which is More Effective in Emerging Markets?
14. Succession Planning: How Boards Prepare for CEO Turnover
15. Impact of Regulatory Reforms on Board Composition in India and the US
16. Shadow Directors and Liability in the Age of Startups
17. Women on Boards: Global Quotas vs. Voluntary Targets
18. Boardroom Dynamics in Decentralized Autonomous Organizations (DAOs)
19. How Boards Govern in Private Equity-Owned Firms
20. The Role of Corporate Secretaries in Strengthening Board Governance
21. Crisis Management and the Role of Boards During Geopolitical Turmoil
22. Board Oversight of Corporate Social Impact Initiatives
23. Benchmarking Board Practices: A Cross-Border Analysis
24. Stakeholder vs. Shareholder Focus in Boardroom Decisions
25. The Role of Boards in Fostering Innovation and R&D Governance

Executive Compensation – 25 Research Topics

1. Linking Executive Pay to ESG Performance: Trends and Challenges
2. Executive Compensation Disclosure and Investor Reactions: A Global Study
3. Say on Pay Votes: Effectiveness in Curbing Excessive Compensation
4. Pay Equity and Gender Gap in Executive Compensation
5. Stock Options vs. Performance-Based Pay: What Motivates Executives in 2025?
6. The Role of AI in Designing Executive Incentive Packages
7. How CEO Pay Ratios Affect Employee Morale and Public Perception
8. Clawback Policies in Executive Pay: Post-Scandal Governance Tools
9. Long-Term Incentives vs. Short-Term Bonuses: Balancing Sustainability and Performance
10. Executive Compensation Trends in ESG-Driven Organisations
11. CEO Duality and Its Influence on Pay Structures
12. Regulation of Executive Compensation: Comparing SEC, SEBI, and EU Approaches
13. Linking Compensation to Non-Financial Metrics (Cybersecurity, Diversity, etc.)
14. Compensation Governance in Tech Unicorns vs. Traditional Corporations
15. Golden Parachutes and Change-in-Control Payments: Ethical Implications
16. Behavioural Economics and Executive Compensation Design
17. Compensation in Times of Crisis: Lessons from COVID-19 and the Ukraine War
18. Pay Transparency Laws and Their Impact on Compensation Practices
19. How Board Compensation Committees Navigate Stakeholder Expectations
20. Executive Pay in ESG Funds vs. Traditional Index Funds
21. Deferred Compensation and Risk-Taking Behaviour: A Study of Financial Institutions
22. Use of AI Tools in Benchmarking Executive Pay
23. Performance Evaluation Metrics and Compensation in Social Enterprises
24. The Role of Proxy Advisors in Shaping Executive Pay Trends
25. Incentive Pay in Family Businesses: Professional vs. Legacy Executives

Shareholder Activism – 25 Research Topics

1. ESG Activism and Its Impact on Boardroom Decisions
2. The Rise of Retail Investor Activism Through Social Media Platforms
3. Green Shareholder Proposals: Trends in Climate-Related Activism
4. Hedge Fund Activism in Emerging Markets: Legal and Governance Challenges
5. The Role of Proxy Advisors in Modern Shareholder Campaigns
6. Shareholder Activism in SPACs and De-SPAC Transactions
7. Engagement vs. Activism: What Works in Driving Corporate Change?
8. Shareholder Rights in Dual-Class Share Structures
9. Cross-Border Shareholder Activism: Challenges in Multinational Firms
10. Legal Frameworks Supporting Activism in India vs. the US
11. The Role of Institutional Investors in ESG-Focused Activism
12. Gender Equity and Activism: Shareholder Push for Diversity
13. Cybersecurity and Data Privacy as Grounds for Shareholder Resolutions
14. Voting Technology and Blockchain in Shareholder Decision-Making
15. Measuring the Long-Term Impact of Activist Interventions
16. Anti-Activism Measures by Management: Poison Pills and Beyond
17. Shareholder Activism in Family-Owned Public Companies
18. Stakeholder Activism: Beyond Shareholders to Employees and Communities
19. Campaigns for CEO Accountability: A Decade in Review
20. The Role of Litigation in Amplifying Shareholder Activism
21. ESG Ratings and Their Role in Activist Campaign Targeting
22. Shareholder Engagement Post-COVID: Virtual AGMs and Participation Trends
23. Role of AI and Big Data in Identifying Activist Targets
24. Collaborative Activism vs. Confrontational Activism: Which Is More Effective?
25. Activist Campaigns and Board Refreshment Strategies

Stakeholder Engagement – 25 Research Topics

1. Stakeholder Engagement in ESG Strategy Execution
2. Corporate Purpose and Stakeholder Capitalism: Measurement and Outcomes
3. Technology and Real-Time Stakeholder Communication Platforms
4. Engaging Stakeholders in AI Ethics and Policy Frameworks
5. Stakeholder Dialogue in Environmental Justice Issues
6. Integrating Stakeholder Views in Sustainability Reporting (GRI, SASB)
7. Role of Boards in Overseeing Stakeholder Relations
8. Stakeholder Mapping Using AI and Predictive Analytics
9. Materiality Assessments and Stakeholder Voice in Annual Reporting
10. Human Rights Due Diligence and Stakeholder Consultations
11. Community Engagement in Resource-Intensive Industries (Mining, Energy)
12. Impact of Social Media on Stakeholder Expectations and Trust
13. Stakeholder Theory vs. Shareholder Primacy: Evolving Legal Perspectives
14. Labour Unions and Stakeholder Governance in the Gig Economy
15. Stakeholder Inclusion in Crisis Communication Planning
16. Engaging Indigenous Communities in Business Projects: Legal and Ethical Views
17. Customer-Centric Governance Models: Emerging Trends
18. DEI (Diversity, Equity & Inclusion) and Internal Stakeholder Engagement
19. Multi-Stakeholder Initiatives in Climate Transition Plans
20. Employee Voice in Governance: Whistleblower Mechanisms and Beyond
21. Stakeholder Engagement in M&A: Risk and Reputation Management
22. AI Transparency and Stakeholder Communication Frameworks
23. Blockchain for Stakeholder Voting and Consent in Projects
24. NGOs as Strategic Stakeholders in Corporate Strategy
25. Measuring the ROI of Stakeholder Engagement: Tools and Frameworks