One of the first steps in strategy formulation is to understand your strategic perspective: what does winning look like in your kind of business or industry. To answer this question, you must identify top players in your sector, or the key technology innovators and any other drivers of growth in your kind of business. Such analysis helps give perspective to where your business is against the top players, it also challenges your strategic team to think about the bigger picture. During my strategic sessions with clients, I pose the following question; “Where do you see your organization in the next…
How to rise through the ranks as a CFE
Are you a CFE or a newly certified fraud examiner? How do you gain instant recognition across the organisation especially at the senior and top executive levels? Why do some CFEs raise quickly through the ranks, while others tend to stagnate in the lower and middle levels? How can a CFE have a direct reporting line to the Board, considering that investigation is more critical and high risk compared to audit? As a CFE, how do you show your value to all key stakeholders and grow your career and the profession? ___ The answer may not be something you think.…
Craft a strategy for a new era
Many organizations are mediocre because they are still stuck in the traditional approach to strategic planning.The times have changed. You need a strategy for the new era.There are several developments in the 21st Century. We cannot continue doing things using the 19th Century models and frameworks. The traditional approach to planning should be stopped; as it has lots of weakness, specifically: a)Lack of context b)Too abstract or theoretical. You get a strategic plan which is like a research paper. c)Too much unnecessary analysis, with little benefit to the strategy. d)Easy to be predicted by the competitors e)Keeps the company in…
Crossing the Ethical Boundary 3:Insights from a fraud investigator.
Why people cross the ethical line? Read: Crossing the Ethical boundary Part 2 People cross the ethical line due to four things summarized in the fraud diamond Everyone works in order to earn a salary to pay for their needs and wants. You want to drive a good car, live in a good apartment or house. Get successful partners. You are motivated to make money and it is your DNA! You’re motivated to earn more and live a good life. The problem is that human condition of greed makes us want more. Because there will always be someone better than us.…
The willpower to succeed: error on positive float
Isaiah 40:31. But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. In this part 5 of willpower, I explore the reward for not giving up. When I started a consulting business on 20 June 2004, I felt on top of the world being my own boss. I thought succeeding as entrepreneur was all about starting a business. I was naïve. Running a business is not easy as I later found out. The good thing is it helped…
Crossing the Ethical boundary Part 2: Insights from a fraud investigator
What do you think is the number one reason why many people do not succeed in their life? Read: Crossing the Ethical boundary Part 1 Here is my story. After getting all the records, summarizing work and documenting all the evidence I needed, I was ready to present my findings to the director. As investigators, we don’t report unless we have had a chat with the suspects in our report. Clearly, the bursar was a key suspect. But he could not have worked alone. The head teacher and the director of studies too, were part of the deal. How do…
