All
Sector - Small Business
Sector - Nonprofits
Sector - Franchisees
Sector - Senior Living
Sector - Hotels
Sector - Healthcare
Sector - Biosecurity
Cybersecurity
Data Security
User Access & Privileging
Health and Safety
Manufacturing & Machinery
Supply Chain
Process Governance
Financial Discipline
Human Resources
Continuity & Recovery
Compliance
Artificial Intelligence
Data Regulations
Data Management
Software Development
Ethics & Sustainability
Getting Started
Intellectual Property Use and Protection
Intellectual Property (IP) is highly valuable, and is often considered the crown jewel of a company. It's what separates you from competitors. Others may attempt to steal, copy, or destroy your intellectual capital. Protecting these logical assets usually requires a multi-pronged proactive strategy. IP governance provides a structured approach to identify, develop, protect, defend, exploit, and manage the asset.
Prepare a Business to be Sold
There are many reasons an owner may want to sell a company, such as retirement, illness, moving on to something else, financial difficulties, divorce, or a hot market. To maximize a company's value, an owner should start preparing a business for sale, at least two years before approaching potential buyers. Be prepared to provide buyers with what they want to see before they ever ask. You can attract more buyers by demonstrating how well run your company is and why it would be a good investment.
Cash Flow and Liquidity Risk - Program Management
Cash is still king and critical for business success. Cash flow and liquidity management help you identify potential cash shortfalls, take proactive measures to address them, and strategically manage cash flow to support long-term goals. An effective governance program involves comprehensive oversight, robust risk management policies, accurate forecasting, ongoing monitoring, stress testing, contingency planning, and adherence to regulatory requirements. Failure to implement these measures may lead to increased vulnerability to a liquidity crisis, regulatory penalties, and the loss of stakeholder trust.
Cash Flow and Liquidity Risk - Operations Management
Operational controls around cash flow and liquidity risks are essential for companies to navigate the complexities of cash management effectively. Robust operational controls ensure efficient utilization of working capital, optimized cash flow cycles, mitigation of risks, and timely access to cash, enhancing the company's financial stability and resilience. Conversely, the absence of operational controls can lead to cash shortages, liquidity crises, missed growth opportunities, regulatory non-compliance, heightened exposure to financial risks, and erosion of investor trust.
Treasury Controls
A treasury function manages some of the most critical assets of a company. The data is highly sensitive and valuable. It is also heavily scrutinized both internally and by many external entities. Therefore, internal controls around the treasury function must be well defined and followed. Ensure your financial instruments are properly managed, optimized, meeting agreements, tracked and recorded, and secured.
Insider Threat Mitigation Program
Company employees, contractors, and other insiders poise a significant threat to your data security. If not managed properly, the risk of an intentional or unintentional data breach increases significantly. An insider threat mitigation program ensures the continuous evaluation of operations, employee involvement, and safe keeping of your critical data.
Financial Crime - Anti-bribery
An organization is responsible for ensuring a person within your organization or a company performing services for your organization does not commit bribery on your behalf. Companies that do not implement adequate anti-bribery controls can be held liable for failing to prevent a person from bribing to benefit your organization. But adhering to a structured anti-bribery program provides a defense against prosecution and can mitigate the financial impact if one is caught breaking the law.
Financial Crime - Sanctions
Sanctions are government restrictions on the import or export of certain goods and services, often to or from a specific individual, company, or country, to advance foreign policy objectives. Conducting business with a sanctioned entity creates severe legal and financial liabilities. Avoid penalties by developing a sanctions governance program to help manage economic sanctions and trade embargoes.
Outsourcing Labor
Focus should be on what differentiates your business from others. Your strength is where a difference is made, not in performing non-core work that many others can accomplish. Whether someone else does the task, job, service, or operation locally, on premise, offshore, or nearshore, proper controls will help ensure a successful outsourcing relationship.
First 100 Days for Leaders
Many leaders/managers are promoted or hired into a new role and expected to establish themselves immediately. This is rarely realistic. But when a company follows a structured approach during the first 100 days and provides guidance for each person moving into a leadership position, stress is reduced and productivity leaps. Most important, the chances of retaining a new leader are greatly increased.