ISO 37000:2021
ISO 37000:2021 Governance of Organizations — Guidance. Provides guidance on the governance of organizations, establishing principles and key aspects of practice to help governing bodies and other stakeholders. Applicable to all organizations regardless of type, size, or sector. Focuses on purpose, value generation, strategy, oversight, and accountability.
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Framework Domains (5)
Governance Foundations
Principles and structures that form the foundation of effective organizational governance.
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| ISO37000-GF-01 | Cl. 6.9 Ethical behavior — Acting with integrity, honesty, equity, and social responsibility |
| ISO37000-GF-02 | Cl. 6.5 Accountability — Being answerable for decisions and actions to stakeholders |
| ISO37000-GF-03 | Cl. 6.7 Transparency — Disclosing information to enable informed decision-making by stakeholders |
| ISO37000-GF-04 | Cl. 5 Rule of law — Compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and governance codes |
| ISO37000-GF-05 | Cl. 6.6 Stakeholder rights — Respecting and protecting stakeholder rights across governance decisions |
Organizational Culture and Capability
Fostering a culture that supports purpose achievement and building organizational capability.
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| ISO37000-CC-01 | Cl. 5.2 Governance culture — Tone at the top promoting integrity, accountability, and transparency |
| ISO37000-CC-02 | Cl. 7.6 Organizational resilience — Capacity to anticipate, respond to, and recover from disruptions |
| ISO37000-CC-03 | Cl. 4.3.2 Competence — Leadership development, succession planning, and talent management for governance |
| ISO37000-CC-04 | Cl. 6.8 Data and decisions — Data governance and information management for informed decision-making |
Oversight and Assurance
The governing body's oversight of management and organizational performance.
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| ISO37000-OA-01 | Cl. 4.3 Governing body — Composition, independence, competence, and commitment of the governing body |
| ISO37000-OA-02 | Cl. 4.2.2 Delegation — Clear mandates with accountability for delegated oversight of management |
| ISO37000-OA-03 | Cl. 6.4 Oversight — Internal control and assurance systems for managing risks and ensuring compliance |
| ISO37000-OA-04 | Cl. 7.5 Monitoring and evaluation — Regular review of governance effectiveness and performance |
Purpose and Value Generation
Establishing and pursuing the organization's purpose to generate value for the organization and its stakeholders over time.
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| ISO37000-PV-01 | Cl. 6.1 Purpose — Defining organizational purpose aligned with stakeholder expectations |
| ISO37000-PV-02 | Cl. 6.2 Value generation — Creating and preserving value for the organization and stakeholders over time |
| ISO37000-PV-03 | Cl. 6.6 Stakeholder engagement — Understanding and responding to stakeholder interests and expectations |
| ISO37000-PV-04 | Cl. 6.10 Social responsibility — Integrating economic, social, and environmental considerations into governance |
Strategy and Direction
Setting organizational strategy and direction aligned with purpose, managing risks and opportunities.
| Code | Title |
|---|---|
| ISO37000-SD-01 | Cl. 6.3 Strategy — Formulating strategy aligned with organizational purpose and stakeholder expectations |
| ISO37000-SD-02 | Cl. 7.3 Risk governance — Identifying and managing risks to strategic objectives through risk-based thinking |
| ISO37000-SD-03 | Cl. 7.4 Resource governance — Ensuring resources are deployed to achieve strategic priorities and generate value |
| ISO37000-SD-04 | Cl. 6.11 Viability and performance — Setting measurable objectives and monitoring outcomes for sustained performance |
Maps to 21 other frameworks
Frequently Asked Questions
What is ISO 37000:2021?
ISO 37000:2021 is a compliance framework from International with 5 domains and 21 controls. ISO 37000:2021 Governance of Organizations — Guidance. Provides guidance on the governance of organizations, establishing principles and key aspects of practice to help governing bodies and other stakeholders. Applicable to all organizations regardless of type, size, or sector. Focuses on purpose, value generation, strategy, oversight, and accountability. It is used by organisations to establish and maintain compliance with industry standards and regulatory requirements.
How many controls does ISO 37000:2021 have?
ISO 37000:2021 has 21 controls organised across 5 domains. The largest domains are Governance Foundations (5 controls), Organizational Culture and Capability (4 controls), Oversight and Assurance (4 controls). Each control defines specific requirements that organisations must implement to achieve compliance.
What frameworks does ISO 37000:2021 map to?
ISO 37000:2021 maps to 21 other compliance frameworks. The top mapping partners are NHS Healthcare Leadership Model (48% coverage), Goleman Emotional Intelligence Leadership Framework (48% coverage), ICN Leadership for Change Programme (43% coverage). Use our comparison tool to explore control-level mappings between frameworks.
How do I get started with ISO 37000:2021 compliance?
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