Adaptive governance: Towards a stable, accountable and responsive government

Organizations are expected to adapt within a short time to deal with changes that might become disruptive if not adequately dealt with. Yet many organizations are unable to adapt effectively or quickly due to the established institutional arrangements and patterns of decision-making and governance. Adaptive governance should enhance the capacity of an organization to deal with and adapt to changes, while protecting the same organization from becoming unstable. Strategies of adaptive governance include utilizing internal and external capabilities, decentralizing decision-making power, and seeking to inform higher-level decisions from bottom-up. At the same time, adaptive strategies may challenge stability and accountability, which remain essential for governments. This means that adaptive governance implies a 'balancing act', and a reliance on ambidextrous strategies. The aim of this editorial is to introduce the concept of adaptive governance and discuss its implications for governments in the digital age.