COI risk assessments and program assessments are two different things. But they can overlap to some degree and so it makes sense to consider how/how much they should fit under “one roof.” This is particularly so when both procedures are based principally on employee interviews, with some danger of duplication.

Beyond this, any risk assessment needs to consider the efficacy of mitigation (i.e., a program assessment component) and any program assessment need to take into account various risk factors. So, in determining how/how much the two processes can be combined, it makes sense to start with an analysis of a company’s need for specific information regarding each.

Risk assessments

Conflicts of interest have long been seen as an area of significant risk. But that does not always translate into the conduct of meaningful risk assessments.

Part of the reason for this disconnect is a widespread belief that COI risks are already well known. Certainly every C&E professional knows that the major types of COI for most business organizations involve employees a) having financial ties to competitors and third parties that do or seek to do business with the organization, and b) hiring family and friends into the organization.  Similarly, the basics of the other two major COI categories – organizational and gatekeeper COIs – are generally understood by C&E professionals working in fields where risks of such conflicts are significant.

But understanding the general risks regarding COI may not be enough to generate the type of information that an effective risk assessment process requires, which is information that will help design or modify all the risk-sensitive elements of a program to mitigate COIs. These are policies, training  and other communications,  auditing and accountability. (Note the other main program elements – e.g., helplines, investigations,  incentives, discipline  – are obviously important too, but tend not to vary by risk area.)

Each assessment will vary in substance. But here are some areas of inquiry that may be useful to companies just starting out.

– Any relevant COI history at the organization – violations, near misses and inquiries.

– Any relevant COI history at competitors or otherwise comparable organizations, to the extent known.

– Same inquiry regarding customers, suppliers and other third parties with which one does business.

– COI standards that are not fully understood or appreciated.

– Weakness in “inner controls” (where – due to factors described in behavioral ethics research – moral constraints against wrongdoing are of diminished efficacy).

– Instances or prospects of prosocial COIs (“right v. right” risks).

– Industry-related risks.

– Cultural-related factors.

– Efficacy of process controls (particularly around COI disclosure/approval regimes).  This is an area where the  overlap between the two types of assessment is particularly strong.

Note that in some instances the inquiry can be done on an enterprise-wide basis but for others it should be granular (e.g., region, business line, function) too.

Program assessments

C&E program assessments sometimes have a general scope and sometimes are focused on a single substantive risk area – such as corruption or competition law. (Still others have elements of both approaches, i.e., general assessments and deep dives.)

For some companies it makes sense to do such a targeted/deep dive assessment for conflicts of interests. This is particularly so for those responding to a significant COI violation or “near miss,” but it is also the case where the likelihood of COI risks is heightened due to geographic, organizational or industry cultural considerations.

More generally, what does one look for in a COI program assessment? Hopefully, the following questions/comments could be helpful to some organizations seeking to determine whether/how to go down this road – and if so, how far.

– Risk Assessment. Has the company assessed COI risk? If so, has it done so in a documented way? Has it used the results of the assessment(s) in designing and implementing other aspects of the COI program? Beyond this, does the company have a good sense of its areas of jeopardy from what might be called “the risk assessment of everyday life”?

– Governance. Have the respective COI oversight roles of the board of directors and senior management been formalized? Do they receive appropriate reports of COI program activity? Are there sufficient escalation provisions regarding COIs?

– Culture. Are COI rules truly followed or are there double standards? What is the sense of “organizational justice” vis a vis COIs? Same question re: the “tone at the top.” Do employees – particularly senior ones –  understand the harm that COIs could cause the company?

– Policies. Presumably nearly every business organization has a COI provision in its code of conduct. But there are also many that need but do not have a standalone policy as well. Is your company in this category? Also, is your COI policy well known and readily accessible? Is it reviewed periodically by the C&E officer?

– Procedures. Are disclosure and related COI procedures clear, easy to use and well known? Do those tasked with reviewing COIs have enough knowledge and independence for the job? Are the reviews sufficiently documented?

– Training/other communication. Is there enough training given relevant COI risks (which tend to be high for senior managers/board members and in certain functions, like procurement)? Is training reinforced through other communications, particularly from senior managers?  Does the training/other communication use the learning from “actual cases”?

– Auditing and monitoring. Are the COI disclosure practice and other aspects of the program audited? Same question for monitoring (e.g., conditionally approved COIs).

– Responding to allegations/request for guidance. Do employees feel comfortable seeking guidance on possible COIs? Are investigations truly independent? Are violations of the COI policy treated with sufficient seriousness? Does the company conduct a “lessons learned” analysis of significant COI failures?

Of course, there is much more that could be included in a COI program assessment (and I encourage you to browse the blog for ideas in this regard). But hopefully the above will be a useful foundation for starting.

The same point should be made with respect to risk assessments – what I have provided above is a starter list – not the last word.