Governance Governance is a decision system under pressure. This section examines how institutions structure accountability, embed integrity, and make defensible judgments when the stakes are highest. Governance Beyond Compliance: Why Integrity Is a Strategic Imperative Most damaging decisions are not rule-breaking. They are decisions that pass compliance but would fail any serious test of defensibility. Accountability That Works: Building Mechanisms People Trust and Leaders Can Defend Accountability is not created by policy. It is created by mechanisms people can use, leaders cannot sidestep, and institutions are willing to act on.