Governance
The Orange Book, Management of Risk - Principles and Concepts, Published by HM Government in 2020, sets out the main principles underlying effective risk management in all government departments and arm’s length public bodies with responsibility derived from central government for public funds. It defines governance as: ‘….the system by which organisations are directed and controlled. It defines accountabilities, relationships and the distribution of rights and responsibilities among those who work with and in the organisation, determines the rules and procedures through which the organisation’s objectives are set, and provides the means of attaining those objectives and monitoring performance. This includes establishing, supporting and overseeing the risk management framework.’
Project Routemap, Setting up projects for success, Organisational Design & Development, UK Module, published by the Infrastructure and Projects Authority in 2021, states: ‘Governance defines relationships and the distribution of rights and responsibilities among those who work with and in the organisation. It determines the rules and procedures through which the organisation’s objectives are set and provides the means of attaining those objectives and monitoring performance.’
The glossary of statistical terms, published by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), defines governance as: ‘the exercise of political, economic and administrative authority necessary to manage a nation’s affairs.’
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- Draft environment (principles and governance) bill.
- GDPR.
- Governance for Railway Investment Projects (GRIP).
- Governance risks.
- Governance statement.
- Government Construction Strategy.
- Procurement.
- Public procurement.
- Public project.
- Risk.
- Risk management.
- The construction playbook.
- The green book.
- Types of risk.
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