This study investigates the often claimed linkage between board of directors' attributes and corporate performance in the construction and technology sectors during the financial year 2000-2001. More specifically, this study examines the impact of board composition and control function on firm performance. The study also explores the differences in board diversity ratio and category of auditing firms within each sector with regards to company financial performance by employing Multivariate Analysis of Variance (MANOVA). Paired sample t-test is employed to test the mean differences of variables between the two sectors. In conclusion, it can be stated that there are certain aspects of board attributes and control functions that differ between the two sectors, and these significantly influence firm performance. This study thus confirms that there are differences in the business nature and environment between the two sectors.

The important roles of board of directors can be analyzed from the resource dependence perspective. Based on the resource dependence perspective of organizational theory, boards are viewed as playing an important function in making timely information available to executives. Furthermore, because of the status associated with their professions and communities, directors are able to extract resources which help the company achieve its goals of efficiency and improved performance. Directors absorb environmental uncertainty by providing information, thus enhancing company performance.

The main objective of this study is to investigate whether the claimed linkage between board of directors attributes and corporate performance (Zahra and Pearce, 1989), varies across different sectors and business environments, focusing on the performance of companies in the construction and technology sectors of Malaysian economy. Specifically, this study compares board size between companies in the construction and technology sectors and its impact on firm performance. This study also investigates whether the existence of independent directors contributes positively to companies' performance. The study thus explores the possible relationship between the composition of independent directors in the board and companies performance. Considering the mixed views on the impact that role duality has on a company's operations and performance; this study examines the existence of role duality and its possible implications. This study also explores the relationship between the choices of auditing firms and company performance.

The Malaysian economy grew at an average rate of 4.90% between 2001 and 2006, as shown in Table 1. During the period, the construction and the technology sector (represented by electrical and electronic sectors) grew at an average rate of 1.72% and 6.77% respectively. In terms of growth volatility as shown by standard deviation (SD), it is obvious that the technology sector (SD = 10.43) experienced far higher volatility compared to the construction sector (SD = 1.47) as well as the Malaysian overall economy, indicating different business environments between the two sectors. By comparing the two sectors it can be noted that the technology sector is highly export-oriented while the construction industry is primarily domestic-oriented. Being export-oriented, the technology sector is highly influenced by external factors like global demand on semiconductor products. In contrast, the construction sector, being domestic-oriented, highly depends on domestic infrastructure and construction spending. This partly explains the higher growth volatility for the technology sector compared to the construction industry. In the light of these differences in business environments, it is interesting to study how managers of companies operating in the different sectors respond and control changes in the environment.

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