Adaptive governance: Integrating emergent design for agile corporate boards

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Abstact

In today’s rapidly evolving corporate landscape, traditional stability-focused governance frameworks often struggle to effectively address unexpected challenges. This article examines how emergent design principles can introduce much-needed agility and adaptability into corporate governance. Leveraging insights from the Archipelago of Design (AoD) principles, a literature review, and case studies of adaptive governance, the study presents a hybrid governance model that combines accountability with flexibility. The findings indicate that integrating emergent design principles strengthens corporate boards’ ability to make timely decisions, proactively manage risks, and align with stakeholder interests, ultimately promoting resilience and long-term sustainability.

Keywords: Corporate Governance, Emergent Design, Strategic Emergence, Agility, Adaptive Governance, Systems Thinking, Risk Management

JEL Classification: G34, L21, M14

Received: 04.11.2024
Accepted: 08.11.2024

How to cite: Correia, A., & Água, P. B. (2025). Adaptive governance: Integrating emergent design for agile corporate boards. In M. Pazarskis, A. Kostyuk, V. Santolamazza, & P. Capuano (Eds.), Corporate governance: Scholarly research and practice (pp. 9–14). Virtus Interpress. https://doi.org/10.22495/cgsrapp1