Decision governance before delivery governance

Placeholder draft copy: This article will unpack the distinction between delivery governance and decision governance. The final version should replace this paragraph with Trevin’s specific examples from complex systems programs.

Lorem-style placeholder: Large programs often create more forums when confidence drops. More forums can help coordination, but they do not automatically make decisions clearer, faster, or better owned.

“The useful question is not whether a steering committee exists. It is whether leaders know which trade-off they are being asked to own.”

Signals that decisions are drifting

• The same topic appears in three meetings without a changed recommendation.
• Teams can name the risk but not the decision-maker.
• Dependencies are escalated as status updates instead of choice points.

Placeholder draft copy: The final article should add Trevin’s working language for framing decision rights, decision cadence, and the evidence leaders need before committing.