Governance

Governance refers to the set of processes used by those in power to direct a group of people.
These processes can be:

• Explicit: like the laws of the land.
• Implicit: for example, "that's just the way things are done" within a company.

These processes define:

• How decisions are made,
• By whom they are taken,
• And who is responsible for their application.

Governance in self-organizing teams

Contrary to popular belief, governance is not confined to authoritarian regimes. On the contrary, it plays an essential role in self-organized teams, where authority is distributed.

The importance of explicit rules

In an organization where teams self-organize, it's crucial to have clear rules and expectations that are accessible and understandable to all.
Without this written framework, things can quickly become chaotic.

In hierarchical companies, employees are used to asking their superior what they should do. Conversely, in self-organized teams, it's essential to clarify who can do what, when and how.

The Holacracy framework

InHolacracy, the constitution defines the rules and processes for the governance and operations of the organization that signs it.
This constitution is one of the major assets of the holacratic model, as it provides a clear set of rules to follow.

Although many companies choose to adapt this constitution for greater flexibility and to better meet their specific needs, starting from a structured framework can be extremely useful.