"This is a vote of no confidence from [Qualcomm's] owners. Qualcomm is a national treasure and investor resistance stoked by ISS and Broadcom is a quixotic tantrum with no purpose," Sonnenfeld says. "Dell, Nordstrom, and many other companies often evaluate family buyouts without removing the interested directors. This is the purpose of related party and transactions committees where those who conflicted recuse themselves as the relevant sensitive moments. Qualcomm's board was reckless to remove strategic, scientific, and cultural core of their business by having Paul Jacobs step off."