Ask most leaders about the key ingredients for a successful corporate initiative, and you'll often hear about the importance of clear vision, detailed planning, committed sponsorship, and ample resources. Some might even mention effective communication and change management. But it’s rare—if ever—to hear them include governance structure as a critical element of success.
Yet, time and again, I hear clients say things like, “In all my years here, we’ve never faced so much change at once!” or “It’s been one thing after another.” Organizations across every industry are grappling with unprecedented challenges and conflicting priorities, making it more crucial than ever to evaluate whether their transformation governance is where it needs to be.
At Aspirant, we believe that strong governance isn’t just a competitive advantage—it’s essential for achieving strategic goals. David McCoy, a Senior Engagement Manager in our Strategy & Delivery practice at Aspirant who advises clients on governance best practices, puts it this way: “Effective governance is critical because, without it, nothing gets done. You can have a plan, but unless it has the right visibility and audience, no one’s watching, and nothing moves forward—especially in a chaotic environment.”
Without formalized governance, many companies find themselves bogged down by slow decision-making, conflicting priorities, and incomplete projects. Despite its importance, building an effective governance structure that can drive initiatives forward remains a challenge for many.
Governance is the framework that defines how decisions are made, who is accountable, and how progress is communicated throughout an organization. It ensures that the right people are involved in the right discussions, at the right time. In many organizations, governance includes structures like a Steering Committee, Operating Council, or Transformation Oversight Office.
If you’re leading or sponsoring any initiative that will create change in your organization (spoiler alert: that’s almost every project) you need a formal governance structure. In fact, when we begin scoping any strategic project with clients, whether it’s a digital transformation, organizational redesign, or process improvement, one of our first questions is always, “Tell us about your governance structure.” Why? Because it reveals your organization’s level of engagement, discipline, and readiness to drive the project forward. Strong governance reflects leadership's commitment and keeps activities focused on the end goal.
Good governance enables leaders to quickly address challenges and seize opportunities that arise during a transformation. A common mistake is blending transformation oversight with day-to-day operational governance. But keeping these separate is crucial. Without this distinction, the urgent demands of daily operations often overshadow long-term transformation goals, leading to months of stagnation on critical projects.
In fact, 50% of organizations facing governance challenges report disjointed decision-making, where different departments make conflicting choices, causing confusion and inefficiency. Even more concerning, 70% of large-scale change programs fail due to poor governance, misaligned strategy, and lack of disciplined execution. These failures often stem from the absence of a structured approach to managing complex projects and transformations.
At a minimum, a strong governance structure should include:
To build effective governance, we recommend starting by simplifying the process. As David McCoy advises, “Focus on aligning the most important initiatives with the organization’s strategic direction. Set stretch goals that can be tracked and measured.” Additionally, from the outset, establish a meeting cadence with leadership to regularly review and manage progress. This helps ensure that the plan remains on track and that momentum isn’t lost.
By emphasizing governance, you’ll ensure that your initiatives aren’t just well-planned—they’re positioned for success. It’s the secret sauce that keeps your organization agile, focused, and able to achieve its most ambitious goals.
Our Business Strategy experts have successfully guided clients across diverse industries in building a structure that leads to organizational success. If you're looking for support with any of our services, don't hesitate to reach out!
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