Saint Paul Pioneer Press, Minn., Dave Beal Column.

Byline: Dave Beal

Nov. 17--Corvu found the chairman of the board it wanted in John Bohn, but did Bohn have the company he wanted in Corvu?

He had his doubts.

Thus Bohn launched his own investigation of Corvu. Finally, after two months of scrutiny, he took on the job of leading the board of directors at the Edina-based software company.

Minneapolis attorney John Stout, Corvu's corporate secretary, says Bohn's caution is well advised. Stout says potential candidates for top corporate jobs are doing much more due diligence -- in-depth probing of conditions at the companies -- than just a year ago.

Call it a sign of the times.

Also, it seems fair to suggest that had William Webster investigated U.S. Technologies as Bohn researched Corvu, Webster likely would have turned down a seat on that troubled company's board. Had Webster done that, he could have avoided the huge controversy that forced him to quit as head of the nation's new accounting oversight …