ISO 37005:2024

ISO 37005:2024 gives governing bodies guidance on developing and using indicators in their governing activities under ISO 37000. Clause 4 explains what indicators are (quantitative and qualitative conditions measured, calculated or described), their structure (a quantity OF a quality BY or PER a principle, a context or an accountability, always with uncertainty), the three comparisons they serve (between options, between decision and execution, between actual and expected results) and the stages of their development. Clause 5 gives a taxonomy: the means-to-ends chain from input, activity and output indicators to organizational outcome and impact indicators, and subjective against objective indicators. Clause 6 covers using the taxonomy: choosing an indicator and its type, impact indicators, the characteristics of assurability, timeliness and comparability, and seven risks of indicator selection and use (unintended consequences, lack of accountability, non-alignment of purpose and sustainability, measuring purpose against measuring effectiveness, method indicators, too much information). Clause 7 selects indicators by the ISO 37000 principles, in particular for decision making, strategy, partnerships and collaborations and the organizational strategy; clause 8 uses indicators to choose between options and to decide after assessing performance; clause 9 covers implementation. Guidance, not certifiable; it does not itself supply indicators of effective governance.