What is this standard about?
BS 13500:2013 sets out the fundamental requirements for delivering effective governance of organizational performance.
Who is this standard for?
- Any organization, large or small, looking to implement good governance
- Both private and public-sector organizations
Why should you use this standard?
Society’s expectations of organizational behaviours and performance are growing, as is the evidence that good governance positions organizations and ultimately society for success.
While there’s a growing amount of sector level guidance on governance, there’s relatively little in the way of summary level definitions of the fundamentals of good governance. BS 13500:2013 addresses this and offers more detail on the important principles that lie behind much sector-specific guidance by distinguishing different accountabilities to different stakeholders. It also offers a baseline for all organizations, including those for which sector-specific standards might not exist.
BS 13500:2013 is intended to be used as a basic checklist to ensure that all the elements of a good governance system are in place.
When an organization can demonstrate that it’s implementing all the code’s recommendations, it can be said to have a system for delivering effective governance. Having such a system does not guarantee effective governance but it does at least encourage and support positive organizational values and behaviours.
