Independent directors help ensure decisions are driven by what objective?

• A. Driven primarily by management's preferences.
• B. Driven by objective assessment to protect shareholder value.
• C. Driven by day-to-day operational concerns.
• D. Driven by external consultants alone.

Answer: (B)

Independent directors provide an external, objective check on management, anchoring decisions in shareholder value rather than internal politics or day-to-day convenience. Because they are not embedded in daily operations and have fiduciary duties of loyalty and care, they evaluate strategic choices—such as acquisitions, capital allocation, and executive compensation—on whether they improve long-term value for shareholders. This minimizes agency costs by ensuring governance aligns with the goal of protecting shareholder interests, using evidence, risk assessment, and market signals rather than management preferences or reliance on external consultants alone.