Exhibit B

Board of Advisors Survey 

  1. Does your company presently have a Board of Directors
    ____yes ____no

  2. If yes, how many members are on the board? _______

  3. Does your company have a Board of Advisors?
    ____yes ____no

  4. If no, indicate why by checking each of the following that apply, then stop after this question and return the survey:

    ____not familiar with Board of Advisors concept ___reluctant to confide data to outsiders

    ____have not found qualified people to serve on such board ___other (specify) _________________

  5. If yes, please indicate the number of advisors who are:

    ___former government officials ___ active in business ___retired___non-U.S. nationals ___Caucasian ___Hispanic___Asian ___African American

    For companies with a Board of Advisors, please answer the following:
  6. How did your company first decide to utilize a Board of Advisors? (check all that apply)
    • read about idea in trade publication 
    • came upon idea at meeting
    • suggested by a Director
    • suggested by accountant
    • suggested by management
    • prompted by company crisis
    • learned about idea in graduate business course 
    • other (please specify) ___________________

  7. What type of assistance does your Board of Advisors provide? (check all that apply)
    • develop company policy
    • hiring/firing decision
    • strategic planning
    • public relations
    • research and testing
    • marketing strategy
    • litigation decisions 
    • finance/accounting 
    • product development 
    • owner transition/succession
    • other (please specify)____________

  8. How often does the Board meet?
    ___Annually ___Quarterly ___Monthly

  9. Where are meetings conducted?
    • Company offices 
    • local hotel/restaurant
    • advisor's office
    • other (specify) ____________________________________

  10. What is the size of your Board of Advisors?

  11. How many advisors are:
    ___male ___female

  12. Are advisors compensated?
    ___yes ___no

  13. If advisors are compensated, what is the form?
    • hourly fee
    • meeting fee
    • annual stipend
    • stock options
    • company stock 
    • social outings at company expense
    • expenses reimbursed
    • other

  14. Which types of expertise does your company feel are most important for board membership? (check all that apply)? 
    • practical business experience
    • graduate degree in business
    • graduate degree, non-business 
    • good "common sense"
    • creativity
    • technical experience
    • industry expertise 
    • financial expertise 
    • other (specify) _____________

  15. How would you characterize interaction between your advisors and senior management?
    • Excellent
    • Good 
    • Satisfactory 
    • Below Expected
    • Very Poor 
    • Too Limited

  16. Which problems have encountered with your board? (check all that apply)
    • Advisors too interested in getting business for themselves than in providing assistance to company 
    • Advisors do not take time to understand company's problems 
    • Advisors lack practical expertise in areas needed by the company
    • Advisors seem too theoretical (rather than practical)
    • Friction between advisors and management make ideas unworkable
    • other (please specify)

  17. Please indicate the number of advisors who have the following backgrounds:
    • Accounting
    • Finance
    • Engineering
    • Law
    • Human Resources
    • Technology
    • Managerial/Strategic
    • Other (please specify) __________________
Back to '2.2: Board of Advisors'