Governance

If you want to drive the IT organization forward, start with taking inventory. What activities and assets add value, and which are valueless? Clear out the superfluous and free IT to do more than subsist. A thriving IT organization doesn't simply maintain the status quo; it innovates. And forward movement equals greater market share and more competitive advantage.

Glen Jenkins continues his deep dive into corporate governance through the years with today's analysis of some landmark events during the 1970s, brought on by a bank bailout, a corporation's bankruptcy and the Watergate scandal, the impacts of which reached much farther than the White House. Moral failures in each helped to set the stage for today's governance practices.

In recent years, restraints have been lifted somewhat with regard to corporate political spending, but, in response to increased pressure from the public, lobbying and political spending disclosure may very well be making a comeback. This being the case, organizations should have a good understanding of how disclosure should be properly and strategically handled.

Many of us knew before the Edward Snowden revelations that the government's reach is long, but when it was made clear just how much they truly have access to, it's fair to say that there were chills all around. Regardless of industry, organizations have a responsibility to protect consumer, patient or user data. If we don't know who's monitoring our...

How effective is corporate punishment when it comes to deterring illegal behavior? That's the question. The U.S. Sentencing Commission may soon be taking a harder line against corporations involved in cartel activity, though some experts question whether individual punishments would be better deterrents. 108 months of jail time could really drive home the message.

Executive compensation has been a mainstay in the news in the past few years. Concern about growing income inequality birthed the Occupy Wall Street movement in 2011 and the issue has remained on people's minds, with many incensed about the immense gap between the "1 percent" and everyone else. Here, we explore the actions companies are taking...

With the constant forward march of technology and the ever-increasing popularity of BYOD programs, records and information management gets more complicated every day. Businesses must, of course, ensure they're remaining compliant with applicable regulations, but one aspect of risk management in this department may mean challenging those requirements.

Achieving a corporate culture focused on ethics and compliance doesn't happen by accident. It takes a concerted effort from the Board of Directors, CEO and CCO, who all must understand the importance of a strong E&C program and be committed to championing the notions. Michael Volkov offers five key ways companies can strengthen corporate governance.

Leaders ought to be accessible to their staff, though not necessarily at all times. In fact, they may be more effective and get more accomplished if they unplug the phone, turn off email notifications and shut the door now and then. Like airline pilots, executives need to be able to focus during critical phases, and constant interruptions can cause crash...

From 1934, the year marking the passing of the Securities Exchange Act, and 1977, no major corporate reforms were passed. In the past 30 years, however, the situation changed dramatically. Huge corporate scandals, including Enron, WorldCom, Bear Stearns and Siemens have led to sweeping reforms. Is this the trend now? And should it be?

The Budget Control Act of 2011 promised to reduce the budget deficit, and deep cuts have been made across the board, with government contractors paying an especially high price. Historically, government contractors have enjoyed stability in terms of revenue and profits, but neither is certain in a period of market volatility when budget cuts are high priority.

A CCO's primary focus must be on culture - that is, building a culture of ethics and compliance throughout the organization. Lay this foundation and you'll have gone a long way to minimizing risk. Corporate culture should also make up much of what the CCO reports to the Board and senior management. Michael Volkov has some strong words for CCOs...