---
id: "prereq-board-fiduciary-duties"
type: "prereq"
source_timestamps: ["§ . . ."]
tags: ["corporate-governance"]
related: ["framework-board-cyber-engagement"]
reason: "Necessary to understand why the authors advocate for executive oversight rather than technical meddling by directors."
sources: ["governance"]
sourceVaultSlug: "hbr-seg-governance"
originDay: 7
articleStem: "hbr-cl-83-boards-cybersecurity"
sourceUrl: "https://hbr.org/2026/04/boards-are-falling-short-on-cybersecurity"
sourceTitle: "Boards Are Falling Short on Cybersecurity"
---
# Understanding of Board Fiduciary Duties

## Prerequisite

An understanding of the fundamental role of a corporate **board of directors** — specifically their **fiduciary duty** to oversee risk and ensure the long-term viability of the organization, rather than managing day-to-day operations.

## Why it matters

This is necessary to grasp why the authors advocate **executive oversight** over technical meddling by directors. The whole thrust of [[framework-board-cyber-engagement]] — evaluate the leaders, don't become the expert — only makes sense once you accept that a board's job is oversight, not operations.


## Related across articles
- [[prereq-fiduciary-duty]]
- [[concept-ai-fiduciary-duty]]
- [[prereq-corporate-governance-d7]]