Korporaadid

Korporaadid is an Estonian term used to refer to governing or deliberative bodies within organizations, often translated as "corporate boards" or "counsils." The word is formed from korporaad, meaning a body or corporate entity, with the plural suffix -id. In contemporary Estonian, korporaadid is relatively uncommon in everyday business language, where terms such as nõukogu (supervisory board) and juhatus (management board) are standard; korporaadid more often appear in historical texts, legal translations, or descriptions of traditional organizations with collegial governance.

Function and composition of korporaadid vary by organization and era. A korporaad typically exercises oversight, approves strategic decisions, and supervises administration, though the exact powers are defined by the organization's charter or governing statute. Membership may consist of senior members, representatives of stakeholders, or elected delegates, and term lengths are set by the same rules. The specific structure is context-dependent and can differ between historical and modern applications.

Relationship to other governance bodies: korporaadid historically may intersect with or supervise other management bodies; in modern usage, the term is often superseded by more specific terms. The concept is closely related to korporatsioon (corporation or student corporation) and to contemporary governance entities such as nõukogu and juhatus. See also korporatsioon, nõukogu, juhatus.