The Dutch Polder Model: From Pride to Paralysis

Dutch polder model governance: a uniquely Dutch invention Topics hide Dutch polder model governance: a uniquely Dutch invention The essence of poldering From cooperation to stalemate Poldering then and now Then: the early 1980s Now: the 2020s Inertia in healthcare and government Companies and the illusion of soft controls The farmers’ protests: a stress test … Read more

ASML and the Power of Governance: From Underdog to Global Chip Machine Leader

ASML governance history – the start Topics hide ASML governance history – the start 1. Origins: Philips’ Reluctant Child 2. The Japanese Era (1980s–1990s) 3. The American Model: Specialization Wins 4. ASML’s Breakthrough (1995–2010) 5. EUV: The 20-Year Bet What is EUV? Everyday analogy 6. By Approximation: Market Leaders Over Time 7. Geopolitics and Governance … Read more

Funding

Funding of retirement benefits Funding is the transfer of assets to an entity (the fund) separate from the employer’s entity to meet future obligations for the payment of retirement benefits.         IFRS terms or definitions come from the Official Journal of the European Union (© European Union, https://eur-lex.europa.eu). Individual jurisdictions around the … Read more

Joint venture

A joint venture is a joint arrangement whereby the parties that have joint control of the arrangement have rights to the net assets of the arrangement.         IFRS terms or definitions come from the Official Journal of the European Union (© European Union, https://eur-lex.europa.eu). Individual jurisdictions around the world may require or … Read more

Not the End of the World? Governance Lessons from CSRD and ESG

Not the end of the world governance lessons – the debate on climate change has become noisy, fragmented and often polarised. Scientists present alarming data, activists warn that the clock has run out, politicians stall or compromise, and businesses oscillate between ambitious promises and hesitant action. For boards and supervisory councils, this cacophony creates confusion … Read more

The Washing Machine and the Internet of Things: A Governance Story

Φ – IoT governance washing machine – At first glance, the washing machine is a simple device: a drum, some water, detergent, and a programme. But in the era of the Internet of Things (IoT), it becomes much more. It collects data, communicates with suppliers, predicts maintenance needs, and can even reorder detergent automatically. What … Read more

Step 4 – Information & Communication: The Nervous System of COSO

Step 4 – Information & Communication: The Nervous System of COSO Executive Summary Step 4 – COSO Information and Communication If risk assessment is the radar and control activities are the brakes and steering wheel, information and communication are the nervous system of the organization. They transmit signals, coordinate action, and ensure the entire body … Read more

ANZ Bank and the Price of Betrayed Trust: A Governance and Reporting Cornerstone

ANZ Bank misconduct fine 2025 – when the news broke in September 2025 that ANZ Bank had agreed to pay a record AUD 240 million fine for “widespread misconduct,” it did not just rattle the Australian financial sector. It reignited an uncomfortable global debate: why do large banks, armed with sophisticated compliance frameworks and audited … Read more

Governance in the Age of Uncertainty: Lessons from Crises, Trade Wars and Corporate Failures

Corporate lessons from uncertain times – Sailing in the Fog Topics hide Corporate lessons from uncertain times – Sailing in the Fog The Landscape of Uncertainty Governance as Anchor and Sail Lessons from the UK Carillion: A House Built on Sand Tesco: Pressure over Principles The Post Office Horizon Scandal Success Story: Unilever Lessons from … Read more

scenario analysis

A process for identifying and assessing a potential range of outcomes of future events under conditions of uncertainty.     IFRS S1   IFRS terms or definitions come from the Official Journal of the European Union (© European Union, https://eur-lex.europa.eu). Individual jurisdictions around the world may require or permit the use of (locally authorised and/or … Read more