Research led by Jersey-based governance consultancy CoSteer has been published in the international peer-reviewed journal Advances in Corporate Governance.
The paper, The Complexity of Governance: Towards a Pragmatic Systems Model, authored by Perrin Carey and Divya Mahendran (pictured), sets out a systems-based framework for understanding and evaluating governance. The work forms part of CoSteer’s global research programme, which has been running since 2021 in collaboration with the Good Governance Academy.
CoSteer’s governance model approaches governance as a human system rather than focusing solely on structural or compliance measures. Its publication formally recognises the methodology within academic literature and places it within wider international governance discussions, including evolving standards such as ISO 37000, which emphasise purpose, ethics, culture and outcomes.
Perrin Carey, CEO of CoSteer, said: “Many boards and organisations are keen to assure, and have obligations to evaluate, the quality of their governance, and CoSteer have been a leading provider in this space for several years now. Few providers of these services, however, can actually stand by their methodology of evaluation, it’s subjective, unscientific and provides little assurance or strategic value.
“This publication ensures that we offer the only published, research-backed, and peer-reviewed governance and board evaluations in the market that views governance as a human system. This provides you with confidence that our work and outcomes are valid, assured, and add measurable value”
Professor Sezer Bozkuş Kahyaoğlu, Editor in Chief of Advances in Corporate Governance, added: “This study offers a valuable and timely contribution to the growing body of scholarship addressing the evolving nature of governance in an increasingly interconnected and uncertain world. By presenting a pragmatic systems model, the authors bring clarity to a field characterized by multidimensional pressures, institutional complexity, and the need for adaptive decision-making frameworks.
