Training Module
Governance Design
Define clear roles, decision rights, governance mechanisms & escalation paths in management systems
Training module overview
Many organizations face challenges with day-to-day decision-making, even with documented responsibilities, leading to inconsistent outcomes and ineffective governance structures.
This module addresses these issues by providing a framework for designing and documenting governance within a management system to support clear decision-making. Participants will learn to define roles, authorities, and escalation paths, and to design fit-for-purpose governance mechanisms for both single-entity and multi-entity contexts, focusing on practical application rather than theoretical concepts.
Applicable environments
This module is applicable across a wide range of management systems and organisational contexts. The concepts are not tied to a specific ISO standard and are used wherever organisations need clear, workable processes, defined ownership, and embedded controls.
It is commonly applied in quality, information security, environmental, and other ISO-based management systems, as well as in non-certified environments that require structured, auditable operations.
Target audience
Management system implementers and coordinators
Executives and department heads accountable for management system performance
Those responsible for processes, policies, assets, risks, and controls related to a management system
Auditors seeking insights into management-side best practice (not audit technique)
Management consultants working with management system design, governance, or improvement
Decision support
Is this module for you?
It is a good fit if you…
are accountable for the overall design or oversight of a management system.
struggle with unclear decision rights, ownership, or escalation paths.
experience governance topics resurfacing mainly during audits or incidents.
want governance to support effective decisions rather than slow them down.
need governance that enables accountability without unnecessary bureaucracy.
If most of the points above apply, this module is likely a good fit.
It may not be the best fit if you…
already operate a clear, well-understood governance model that works in practice.
have no mandate or interest in shaping roles, decision rights, or escalation paths.
need detailed operational process design or control implementation.
are looking for risk methods, audit execution, or documentation architecture.
Agenda
Governance in a management system
Roles, responsibilities, and authority
Governance mechanisms
Governance in multi-entity / group structures
Governance documentation that actually gets used
Maintaining governance over time
Technology as an enabler
Case-based workshop
Show detailed agenda...
Learning outcomes
Key outcomes
Define roles, authorities, and interfaces for explicit decision ownership
Design practical governance mechanisms with clear purpose and decision scope
Structure governance across multi-site or multi-entity organizations
Additional capabilities
Map decision rights and escalation paths suitable for organizational complexity
Produce fit-for-purpose governance documentation that supports continuity and oversight
Establish a cadence to review and maintain governance arrangements
Utilize AI-assisted prompts to identify role overlaps and ambiguous interfaces for governance review
Additional benefits
Learning materials
Slide deck
Participant workbook
Templates & tools
Practical, reusable artefacts to apply the module directly to your organisation.
Governance design canvas
Role definition template
Organizational unit definition template
Committee charter template
Escalation path diagram template
Governance review checklist
AI prompt set
Confirmation
Certificate of completion
Module ID
HAM-AG-C-04
Discipline
ISO clause
5: Leadership
Domains
Audience
Manager
Languages
English
Delivery
Live virtual
Duration
7 h
List price
CHF 550
Excl. VAT. VAT may apply depending on customer location and status.
Delivery & learning format
Virtual live teaching
This module is delivered live, with a strong focus on discussion, practical application, and direct interaction with the instructor.
Sessions work through realistic examples, clarify concepts in context, and apply methods directly to participants’ organisational realities.
Custom delivery options
For organisations with specific constraints or learning objectives, the module can be adapted in format or scope, including in-house delivery and contextualised case material.
For an optimal learning experience
Preparation guidance
This module is designed as part of a modular training approach. Topics are deliberately distributed across modules and are not repeated in full, in order to avoid unnecessary redundancy. Each module is self-contained and can be taken on its own. Where prior knowledge or experience is helpful, this is indicated below so you can decide whether any preparation is useful for you.
Assumed background
No formal prerequisites. The module assumes general familiarity with how a management system is implemented and operated in an organisation.
Helpful background includes:
Basic understanding of organisational roles, accountability, and decision-making
Familiarity with common management system structures (policies, processes, responsibilities)
Preparatory modules
Foundational modules (depending on background)
Useful if you are new to the underlying concepts or want a shared baseline before attending this module.
