Hewlett-Packard built a legendary reputation in Silicon Valley for its kinder, gentler “HP Way” of conducting itself—but as anyone reading the headlines these days can see, how HP conducts investigations may be a different story.
The computer manufacturing giant’s ham-handed probe into media leaks holds lessons on how to conduct such investigations, and what oversight executives or the board should exercise over outsiders doing the investigating. Such lessons are especially important, says David Smith, president of the Society of Corporate Secretaries and Governance Professionals, because the potential damage from handling a probe the wrong way can go beyond criminal or civil liability.
