Episode Description
More governance does not always create more confidence.
In this episode of the Organisational Friction Series, we explore how governance can sometimes shift risk rather than reduce it, especially when decisions are pushed upwards, expertise arrives too late, or approval becomes a substitute for clear decision rights.
We look at the difference between guardrails and stage gates, why some formal approvals are entirely appropriate, and where repeated approval can create delay, diffuse accountability and weaken learning.
We also explore what healthier governance looks like: clear boundaries, earlier specialist involvement, proportionate evidence, intentional escalation and governance that helps people make better decisions closer to the work.
A question to take back to your organisation:
Where does governance genuinely reduce risk, and where does it mostly move responsibility somewhere else?
And then:
What would need to change for that governance to help the people closest to the work make a better decision earlier?
The episode draws on Matthew Coxall’s upcoming body of work around Harmony, including Harmony, The Harmony Operating Model and Harmonised.
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The views and thoughts expressed in this podcast are those of the author.
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