Abstract
Hierarchical governance models face persistent structural limitations under volatile, uncertain, complex, and ambiguous (VUCA) conditions, generating slow adaptive response, information bottlenecks, and coordination failures that reduce organisational effectiveness in complex environments. This paper introduces the Swarm Governance Framework (SGF) — the first organisational governance framework derived from swarm intelligence (SI) theory — and the accompanying STRUM model (Signals, Trust, Resonance, Unity, Measure), a five-element design specification that translates the framework's design rules into actionable governance parameters. A critical theoretical review of four SI principles — stigmergy, self-organisation, emergence, and adaptive feedback — operationalises each into a concrete governance design rule, collectively constituting the SGF. The STRUM model simultaneously constitutes a configuration specification for AI coordination agents in agentic enterprise systems, positioning the SGF at the intersection of organisational governance and emerging agentic enterprise design. The paper represents the artefact construction phase of a Design Science Research programme. The dual applicability of STRUM to human governance units and AI agents positions the SGF as a theoretically unified governance framework for the integrated human-AI enterprise.