What is Governance?

<h1>What is Governance?</h1>Author: <a title="Gurdev Singh Randhawa, PMP ®" href="http://www.articlesbase.com/authors/gurdev-singh-randhawa,-pmp-®/103692.htm">Gurdev Singh Randhawa, PMP ®</a> What is Governance? Recently the terms "governance" and "good governance" are being increasingly used. Bad governance is being increasingly regarded as one of the root causes of all evil within our societies. Major donors and international financial institutions are increasingly basing their aid and loans on the condition that ensure "good governance". The concept of "governance" is not new. It is as old as human civilization. Simply put "governance" means the process of making-decision in advance and the methodology to assure that these decisions are implemented efficiently and effectively or not implemented. People sometimes erroneously confuse the term governance with the term government.The word governance derived from Latin that suggest the notion of "steering". One can contrast this sense of "steering a group or society” with the traditional "top-down" approach of governments "driving society”. It distinguish between governance's "power to" and governments "power over". The World Bank defines governance as the exercise of political authority and the use of institutional resources to effectively manage and control society's problems and affairs. 1) the formal and informal actors involved in decision-making and implementing the decisions made, and 2) the formal and informal structures that have been set in place to arrive at and implement the decision Actors are stakeholders, those include Government, Military, Police, NGO, Corporate, Public, Social, Religious, Media, Public/Private Co’s, Financial, Banks, Legal, or Educational organizations Formal decision-making structures are the means by which the decisions are formally arrived at and implemented. Informal decision-making structures is often the result of corrupt practices or leads to corrupt practices Why the governance of government sponsored projects are unique? Why governance of the Govt. sponsored projects are unique? Laws & regulations that set clear limits on the Government body, the executive leadership, the ministries, agencies and Govt. departments for sanctioning and approvals of funds or budgets. Utilization of public resources, since all the resources are generally funded through funds generated through public taxes Accountability to the public who are technically ‘project sponsors’. Public in general is the key stakeholder, since they are generally impacted by the Govt. decisions and finance projects by paying taxes. Unlike commercial projects, governments programs are used to set social goals, provide social services, and set priorities through public meetings and voting rather than purely based on ROI. Projects are audited by government auditors, media and courts Key government project stakeholders include: General public who pay taxes & those who are impacted by projects Regulators Opposition The press and media The future generation Private and public sectors World bank or other financial institutes financing government projects A key feature of government is presence of opposition. Govt. policies will change during the course of change of leadership and the personal managing Govt. projects also might be transferred.About the Author: Mr. Gurdev Singh Randhawa, PMP ®, 
 
Director - Project Management Services, 
 
 
 Gurdev Singh Randhawa, PMP ®, is an expert project management professional, a sought after speaker, and a renowned trainer on project management. He has trained entrepreneurs and large number of project management professional’s managing engineering projects, product development projects, R & D projects, maintenance projects, or other services related projects, including human resource and marketing personnel. 
Gurdev received his initial project management training from Royal institute on public administration, London and has been an assessor and contributor to the PMBOK Guide 3rd edition.Article Source: <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/">ArticlesBase.com</a> - <a href="http://www.articlesbase.com/management-articles/what-is-governance-683953.html" title="What is Governance?">What is Governance?</a>

What is Governance?

Recently the terms "governance" and "good governance" are being increasingly used. Bad governance is being increasingly regarded as one of the root causes of all evil within our societies. Major donors and international financial institutions are increasingly basing their aid and loans on the condition that ensure "good governance". The concept of "governance" is not new. It is as old as human civilization.

Simply put "governance" means the process of making-decision in advance and the methodology to assure that these decisions are implemented efficiently and effectively or not implemented.

People sometimes erroneously confuse the term governance with the term government.The word governance derived from Latin that suggest the notion of "steering".

One can contrast this sense of "steering a group or society” with the traditional "top-down" approach of governments "driving society”. It distinguish between governance's "power to" and governments "power over".

The World Bank defines governance as the exercise of political authority and the use of institutional resources to effectively manage and control society's problems and affairs.

1) the formal and informal actors involved in decision-making and implementing the decisions made, and

2) the formal and informal structures that have been set in place to arrive at and implement the decision

Actors are stakeholders, those include Government, Military, Police, NGO, Corporate, Public, Social, Religious, Media, Public/Private Co’s, Financial, Banks, Legal, or Educational organizations

Formal decision-making structures are the means by which the decisions are formally arrived at and implemented.

Informal decision-making structures is often the result of corrupt practices or leads to corrupt practices

Why the governance of government sponsored projects are unique?
Why governance of the Govt. sponsored projects are unique?

Laws & regulations that set clear limits on the Government body, the executive leadership, the ministries, agencies and Govt. departments for sanctioning and approvals of funds or budgets.

Utilization of public resources, since all the resources are generally funded through funds generated through public taxes

Accountability to the public who are technically ‘project sponsors’.

Public in general is the key stakeholder, since they are generally impacted by the Govt. decisions and finance projects by paying taxes.

Unlike commercial projects, governments programs are used to set social goals, provide social services, and set priorities through public meetings and voting rather than purely based on ROI.

Projects are audited by government auditors, media and courts

Key government project stakeholders include:
General public who pay taxes & those who are impacted by projects
Regulators
Opposition
The press and media
The future generation
Private and public sectors
World bank or other financial institutes financing government projects

A key feature of government is presence of opposition.

Govt. policies will change during the course of change of leadership and the personal managing Govt. projects also might be transferred.

Mr. Gurdev Singh Randhawa, PMP ®,

Director - Project Management Services,

Gurdev Singh Randhawa, PMP ®, is an expert project management professional, a sought after speaker, and a renowned trainer on project management. He has trained entrepreneurs and large number of project management professional’s managing engineering projects, product development projects, R & D projects, maintenance projects, or other services related projects, including human resource and marketing personnel.

Gurdev received his initial project management training from Royal institute on public administration, London and has been an assessor and contributor to the PMBOK Guide 3rd edition.

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