EXPLORE WHAT FOLLOWS
How governance fits together
Explore who does what, who may act, and who answers to whom.
Select a concept or a line to open its details. Drag a concept to move it. With a keyboard, press Tab until a concept is highlighted, then use the arrow keys to move it.
CHANGE THE ARRANGEMENT
For the same person and task
Use your own example
Change the people, task, or authority below, then select “2 · Example” to see your changes on the map. Your entries stay on this page and clear when you reload it.
The ideas behind the map
This activity explores five connected ideas from Plain Governance. Read the framework’s concepts and sentence patterns and connections.
The experiments use two working rules: responsibility carries accountability, and delegation does not remove accountability for a responsibility that is retained. They expose gaps or mismatches under those rules. Leaving an account unspecified is different from removing the underlying accountability.
In the fictional meeting, Alex retains responsibility for the wider task when delegating to Sam. Being accountable does not mean doing every part yourself. The scope of Sam’s responsibility and their own accountability must also be stated.
Adapted from Plain Governance, developed by Dr Julien Maréchal. © 2026 The Governance Practice. Framework materials are licensed under CC BY 4.0. Scope and attribution. Logos and website software are excluded from that licence.