Do frequent exceptions indicate resistance, or that the governance model no longer fits?

Governance Organizational Culture PMO

Lissette Indhira Pimentel Sosa

Community Champion

Program Manager| HARPER SRL Santo Domingo / Distrito Nacional, Dominican Republic

When teams repeatedly bypass processes, it may not be a discipline issue. It can signal that the model is not aligned with how work actually happens, forcing teams to adapt around it.

Posted: Aug 17, 2026 10:46 AM

Srikana Ray

Community Champion

Project Professional, PMP

I think it could be both. When governance goals or objectives do not align with a team’s day-to-day work and processes, adding governance steps and artifacts can create resistance, especially when teams feel they add work without clear value to their responsibilities or the organization’s objectives. Frequent exceptions can also consume significant time, effort and coordination that may not have been accounted for in the team’s capacity.

However, when governance is mandatory and adds clear value, such as regulatory requirements, the focus should be on collaborating with teams and their leads or delivery managers. They should understand the process, its importance, relevance and the effort required upfront. At the same time, governance should be adapted to the team’s capacity, context and needs wherever possible, while still meeting the required objectives. This can create better alignment, reduce unnecessary friction and minimize the need for exceptions.

Posted: Aug 17, 2026 11:36 AM

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Do frequent exceptions indicate resistance, or that the governance model no longer fits?

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