Title:
From Compliance to Adaptation: Toward a Unified Governance Theory for Complex Risk Environments

Authors:
Dr. Robb Shawe, USA

Abstract:

Governance systems across critical sectors increasingly operate amid volatility, uncertainty, and rapid technological change. Traditional compliance‑based governance models—designed for stable, predictable environments—are no longer sufficient for managing dynamic, interconnected risk landscapes. This manuscript introduces the Adaptive Governance Systems Framework (AGSF), a unified theoretical model that reconceptualizes governance as a dynamic, event‑responsive, learning‑oriented system. The framework further establishes governance intelligence generation and operational observability as foundational capabilities for adaptive governance within complex cyber-physical and AI-enabled environments. The AGSF positions governance as an adaptive capability rather than a static regulatory function and integrates four core components—structural boundary conditions, human oversight, real‑time sensing, and validation loops—to support continuous recalibration of governance assumptions, policies, and operational protocols.

DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.51505/ijaemr.2026.11323