In academia, we call it committee work; in corporate areas, it is the same thing, just called something different: governance.

I read about the importance of governance everywhere I turn. I am actively involved in several governance groups in my current job. I’m here to tell you it’s all a farce.

I have yet to see an example of an effective, well-run governance group in all my years of experience. I don’t quibble with the general idea behind it but I think in most regards, it’s simply a cop-out on the part of higher level management, who often go ahead and do whatever it is they think best anyway, disregarding whatever the governance group recommends.

I realize this makes me sound quite cynical. I prefer to call it realistic; telling it like it is.