Trust but verify - heavy on the verify

If a decision happens but nobody writes it down, does anybody hear it?
If a decision is published but nobody checks to see that it is being followed, will anybody follow it?

Why can't you see the glass as half-full once in a while?
We've got good people here. We told them what we wanted to do. They don't need to be baby-sat.

If everyone was in agreement we would just go ahead and do it.
The reason we have highly-paid executives to decisions is that there are conflicting points of view as to the best course of action.
Therefore, whatever they decide is going to differ from what a good proportion of the next layer or two in the organization would have done if left to themselves.

At the same time, most executives didn't get where they are by having no political instincts, which means that quite often they say things that they don't really believe because that seems like the proper thing to say at the time.
So it's entirely possible that a decision isn't really a decision, more like a pronouncement to kick the real decision down the road a while.
All very Byzantine.

So what do people do while trying to get on with life in their smaller part of the organization?
If the executives don't have the gumption or the stamina to make sure that their decisions are carried out, it sends a pretty strong signal that they don't care too much either.
Then the people who didn't agree with the decision in the first place won't be very deterred from giving it at best lip-service until they find out whether this initiative is anything more than the fad of the month.
The first sign that the decisions aren't really decisions is that the deciders don't really want anyone to know what they decided or why.
It removes their latitude later for changing their minds.
Of course, in the short run, it also means that it is more likely that the decision will be ignored.

If our governance decision authorities (whether boards or individuals) are serious about having their decisions respected and followed, then:

Write down what was decided in clear terms: Who will do what by when with what resources

Include enough information to understand why the decision was reached and any issues that were raised<\li>

Publish the decisions to those who are affected - at all levels. That way intermediate managers can't slow-roll or pocket-veto.

Follow up on the progress of the actions that were decided on

When it makes sense to do so, change a decision and publish the fact that it has been changed

Assuming that the PMs and/or staff have done due diligence before offering up solutions for the board to approve, then the approved course of action should be achievable.
If the intermediate managers can't or won't get things done, find someone who will.
Preferably someone who was rooting for the original decision. It will greatly improve the quality of analysis in the future.