On February 19th, we hosted the “Role of Integrated Thinking in Public and Private Sectors & Civil Society” webinar as celebrating the Good Governance Day (SDG 16: Feb. 16) in collaboration with the Good Governance Academy.
Online, 19 February 2025
The event was opened with an inspiring speech by Dr. Yılmaz Argüden, Chairman of the Trustees Argüden Governance Academy, and moderated by Dr. Erkin Erimez, Partner, ARGE Consulting.
Our esteemed speakers - Carolynn Chalmers, Chief Executive Officer, Good Governance Academy, Sait Tosyalı, General Manager, Education Volunteers of Türkiye (TEGV) and Can Nurkan Akbal, Strategy Development Director, Kadıköy Municipality - shared insights on how integrated thinking practices contribute to their organizations and sectors, their impact on decision-making processes and their role in sustainable success.
Dr. Argüden’s opening speech underscored the critical role of good governance in fostering trust within institutions. Trust is fundamental for enhancing quality of life and ensuring a sustainable future. He highlighted that all organizations—whether private, public, or civil society—rely on stakeholder trust to effectively achieve their accomplishments. Integrated thinking provides a framework that enhances governance by considering the long-term impacts of decisions across multiple dimensions, known as "capital dimensions" in the Integrated Reporting. By adopting this holistic approach, organizations can improve their decision-making and secure long-term success and sustainability.
Dr. Erkin Erimez highlighted the close relationship between governance and integrated thinking across all organizational types. Integrated thinking enables decision-makers to evaluate a broader range of possibilities and impacts, which encourages more thoughtful, inclusive decision-making. It promotes teamwork and collective decision-making, fostering collaboration and greater alignment within organizations.
Kadıköy Municipality, the first municipality in the world to prepare an Integrated Report using the integrated thinking approach, has adopted this framework to make their services more transparent, build public trust, and enhance accountability. Can Nurkan Akbal, Strategy Development Director said; “The municipality aims to use resources more sustainably, involve stakeholders in decision-making processes, and produce an integrated report to improve communication and governance. This approach also facilitates long-term strategic planning and ensures that citizens are included in the development of future initiatives. Integrated Reporting has proven to be an essential tool for communicating the municipality's achievements while enhancing interdepartmental communication.”
Sait Tosyalı General Manager, Education Volunteers of Türkiye (TEGV) emphasized; “Integrated Reporting fosters numerous benefits, particularly in terms of promoting teamwork and collective decision-making. It encourages a holistic approach, motivating management to collaborate effectively in overseeing the organization's processes. By focusing not just on short-term financial outcomes but also on the long-term and educational impact of programs, integrated thinking supports sustainability and better decision-making. Trust within the organization is cultivated through strong governance practices, with Integrated Thinking playing a vital role. Through the adoption of integrated thinking, TEGV has initiated impact assessments and developed measurement methodologies that have been endorsed by Harvard University.”
Carolynn Chalmers, Chief Executive Officer, Good Governance Academy, further elaborated on the key benefits of Integrated Reporting, emphasizing its capacity to enhance stakeholder confidence, optimize resource utilization, and promote collaboration, sustainability, and organizational resilience. Integrated Reporting also plays a pivotal role in strengthening governance and accountability within the public sector. By considering multiple capitals and engaging diverse stakeholders, it encourages critical questioning at the board level, which drives its wider adoption across the organization. This mindset, which starts in the boardroom, shapes the organizational structure and ensures that board diversity aligns with the multi-capital approach of Integrated Reporting. The framework fosters meaningful, strategic discussions, positioning the board's voice at the heart of guiding the organization's direction.
Chair of Trustees
Good Governance Academy
Chief Executive Officer
Education Volunteers Foundation of Türkiye
General Manager
Kadıköy Municipality
Strategy Development Director
Academic Council Member
