Office of the Public Sector Standards Commissioner

Good Governance

Nine Governance Principles

Principle 2: Management and oversight

The organisation's management and oversight is accountable and has clearly defined responsibilities.

Well defined management responsibilities and accountabilities, meaningful strategic plans and work programmes, as well as independent oversight are cornerstones of governance in any type of organisation. Principle 2 outlines how these concepts should be translated into practice in the unique environment of the public sector.

Standards (what is required?):

2.1

A document defines roles, responsibilities and accountability for all relevant levels of management (e.g. those involved in setting the organisation’s key strategic goals and outcomes and monitoring organisational performance).

Mandatory requirements | Guidelines | Good practice examples

2.2

Where boards and committees exist, the relationship between the parties must be clearly defined.

Mandatory requirements | Guidelines | Good practice examples

Operations (how do you achieve it?):

2.3

A strategic plan outlines the organisation's key strategic goals and outcomes and outputs.

Mandatory requirements | Guidelines | Good practice examples

2.4

Operational plans and programmes of work exist that define critical success factors and outline how key strategic goals and outcomes will be accomplished at all levels of the organisation.

Mandatory requirements | Guidelines | Good practice examples

2.5

A delegations framework defines authority levels.

Mandatory requirements | Guidelines | Good practice examples

Monitoring (how do you know you are meeting the standards?):

2.6

Performance measures are defined and monitored for the organisation's strategic goals.

Mandatory requirements | Guidelines | Good practice examples

Reporting (how do you let the right people know?):

 

The organisation's annual report identifies compliance levels against the relevant standards.

Annual compliance reporting addresses compliance with WA's requirements for good governance.

All material matters are reported to the relevant oversight bodies.

Mandatory requirements | Guidelines | Good practice examples

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Key resources


Disclaimer

OPSSC is providing the Good Governance Guide and the related Maturity Model free of charge to the WA public sector and the wider community. OPSSC, on behalf of the State of Western Australia, retains all intellectual property rights. OPSSC must be properly acknowledged whenever reference is made to the Good Governance Guide, the Maturity Model, other products of the Good Governance Guide or parts thereof. None of these products or parts thereof may be used for the purpose of generating profit for yourself, your organization or a third party.

Page last updated: August 17 2009