styrelseform

Styrelseform is a Swedish term describing the form or structure by which an organization is governed through its board. It refers to how authority is distributed between the board of directors (styrelsen) and the management, how the board is composed, and how it operates to steer the organization. The concept is used in corporate governance, nonprofit, and public-sector settings to describe the governance arrangement rather than the day-to-day operations.

In practice, a typical styrelseform features a board-led mode of governance where the board bears ultimate responsibility for strategic direction, oversight, and the appointment and supervision of the chief executive. Day-to-day operations are delegated to management. The exact form is usually defined in governing documents and in applicable law. In Sweden, many aktiebolag (limited companies) have a board elected by the shareholders at the annual general meeting, often including a chair (styrelseordförande). The board may approve budgets, strategic plans, major investments, and financial reporting, and may establish committees such as audit or remuneration to assist with specific tasks.

The term also applies to other organizations, such as associations and municipalities, where governance is organized through a board with defined responsibilities and decision-making rules. The specific styrelseform is shaped by legal requirements, the organization’s statutes, and internal rules such as a board’s arbetsordning (working order).