This model examines how a governance arrangement is applied. It considers the procedure under which carrying out certain actions counts as performing a specific act. For example, this could be the chair of a committee saying “I declare the meeting closed”, or a procurement manager selecting the winner of a competitive bid. You can apply this model to any act done under a governance arrangement.
There are seven stages to distinguish in the application of the arrangement.
Description
There is an arrangement with a particular conventional effect: following it counts as performing a particular act.
Typical failure
The purported arrangement does not exist.
Description
The arrangement is accepted within the organisation.
Typical failure
The arrangement exists but is not accepted.
Description
The participants, their capacities, and the circumstances are appropriate for using the arrangement.
Typical failure
The arrangement is invoked by inappropriate people or in inappropriate circumstances.
Description
The participants implement the arrangement in the required manner.
Typical failure
The arrangement is implemented incorrectly.
Description
All parts required to complete the act are performed.
Typical failure
The arrangement is left incomplete.
Description
The participants have whatever thoughts, feelings, or intentions the procedure requires.
Typical failure
A required attitude is absent.
Description
After implementing the arrangement, the participants act as it requires them to.
Typical failure
The required subsequent conduct does not occur.
The stages distinguish different relationships between the arrangement and its application:
- Existence and acceptance concern the arrangement's availability and recognition within a practice.
- People and circumstances concern its application on a particular occasion.
- Correct and complete execution concern how it is performed.
- Required attitudes concern the participants' thoughts, feelings, and intentions in performing it.
- Subsequent conduct concerns what its performance requires afterwards.
Failures at these stages will affect the act in different ways. A failure concerning the procedure, its applicability, or its execution may prevent the purported act from being accomplished. An act may nevertheless be accomplished while lacking a required attitude, or while subsequently going unfulfilled.
Plain Governance, developed by Dr Julien Maréchal. © 2026 The Governance Practice.
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