Stronger governance, better outcomes

Practical guidance for boards

Insight
4 minute read
April 2026

Why does strong corporate governance matter?  
It creates accountability so you can:

Support disciplined growth

Strengthen organizational resilience

Build credibility with stakeholders

Enable long-term value

Governance isn't static. As strategy evolves, risks change, and stakeholder expectations shift, boards need to step back and reassess whether their oversight approach remains fit for purpose.

Intentional governance to support long-term performance

To help boards navigate this environment with greater clarity, and remain successful and competitive, the Committee of Sponsoring Organizations of the Treadway Commission (COSO) developed Corporate Governance: Guiding Principles for Board Oversight. The publication introduces 12 guiding principles that provide a practical lens for board oversight—from governance structure, board composition, and accountability to culture, strategy and performance oversight, stakeholder engagement, executive leadership and succession, and risk oversight.  PwC was the principal author of the publication.

The publication is designed as a practical, easy-to-use reference highlighting widely recognized governance practices and considerations. It provides flexible guidance that boards can draw on to intentionally evolve governance over time in ways that reflect their strategy, risk profile, ownership structure, and operating complexity.

Read the full publication, Corporate Governance: Guiding Principles for Board Oversight, on COSO's website.

How PwC can help you build a fit-for-purpose governance model  

At PwC, we help organizations translate governance principles into practical approaches tailored to their circumstances and assess their effectiveness. We help clients step back and ask an important question: Is our governance model still fit for purpose? By periodically reassessing governance design and oversight practices, boards can strengthen decision-making, reinforce accountability, and support long-term value creation. 

PwC helps boards apply the COSO principles through governance reviews, board and committee effectiveness assessments, and director education tailored to the organization’s strategy, risk profile, and operating context. That approach can help strengthen oversight, clarify accountability, and support better decision-making as governance needs evolve.

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PwC’s Governance Insights Center helps boards and management translate the COSO principles into practical action across a wide range of governance priorities. From technology, risk, and culture to compensation, succession, and transformation, we help organizations strengthen oversight, improve information flow, and support more effective decision-making.

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