Plain Governance uses concepts as models for analysing situations. These models are simplified representations of how things are done. They help users configure even a complex situation so they can identify its critical governance aspects.
At the simplest level, a definition provides a basic configuration of a situation. For example, ‘accountability’ means that someone is answerable to someone for something. A ‘recommendation’ means that someone puts to someone that something be done. Such patterns help identify the elements of an arrangement and what needs to be specified.
Two or more models can also be combined. For example, accountability for a recommendation means that someone is answerable to someone for putting to someone that something be done.
There are also complex models. For example, the model about how to carry out a procedure: a convention exists and is accepted within an organisation under which appropriate participants, in appropriate capacities and appropriate circumstances, carry out the required actions correctly and completely to perform an act, have any required thoughts, feelings, or intentions, and subsequently act as required.
At an elementary level, governance design often consists in defining a role and assigning it to someone, with responsibilities, duties, powers, authority, rights, and accountability relationships attached to it. A model makes those assignments and relationships explicit.
In the models below, the italicised parts of each sentence can be replaced with the people, bodies, acts, and matters involved.
Roles and obligations
Someone occupies a position within an arrangement.
Someone is assigned a kind of work or action.
Someone is charged with doing or ensuring something.
Someone is required to do or refrain from something under a role, relationship, or rule.
Someone is under an obligation to someone to do or refrain from something.
Someone is answerable to someone for something.
Power and authority
Someone has the capacity under an arrangement to make a decision or take an action.
Someone is permitted to do something in a particular capacity.
Someone is entitled to do, receive, or require something.
Someone may exercise judgement among permitted choices when deciding a matter.
A decision may be made only by someone.
Someone places someone in a role.
Someone with power to grant authority gives someone else authority to exercise a function.
Someone with authority permits someone else to perform an act.
Decisions and contributions
Someone gives someone information or judgement about a matter to help them decide.
Someone puts to someone that something be done.
Someone determines what is to be done, accepted, or required about a matter.
A body formally decides something under the applicable rules.
Someone with authority consents to something proceeding, taking effect, or being accepted.
Someone with authority instructs someone to do or refrain from something.
Someone seeks people's views or information about a matter to inform a decision.
Someone gives someone an account of something.
Plain Governance, developed by Dr Julien Maréchal. © 2026 The Governance Practice.
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