压力下的过程

COVID-19 has impacted work environments in ways never imagined. Teams, offices – even entire companies – have shifted to working from home. The “new normal” is pressure-testing processes and technology at most every organization.

We so often hear, “我们一直都是这么做的,” but this pandemic is forcing us all to challenge whether the way things have been done in the past is optimal, or even necessary. It might be a good time to complete a business process optimization to help identify gaps in your organization’s internal controls and processes. For instance …

Have your processes, people or technology resources been reduced in light of COVID-19?

If yes, how has this impacted your control environment? Many times, we adjust in order to make things work with a “do more with less” mentality, 但这可能会使组织面临更多风险. For example, as the number of people supporting a process decreases, risks related to inappropriate segregation of duties increase. New and adjusted processes should be challenged to ensure there are no major gaps in your internal control environment.

Are current pressures requiring you to challenge how processes can be more efficient?

Now’s the perfect time to challenge your existing processes – even more than you have since this all started! Teams have been getting used to making workplace adjustments and will be open to thinking of new ways to complete tasks. Processes, for instance, can often be over-controlled, making them prime candidates for optimization. Do you have reports that go through several levels of review? Why? 你是否充分利用了技术? Understanding existing processes versus risks will allow for identifying efficiencies that will grant more time for employees to focus on other tasks while still ensuring that risks are still appropriately mitigated.

Schneider Downs Risk Advisory Services team can assist with a 业务流程优化. We’ll review risks and processes within specific areas of your organization, 挑战现有的实践和控制, and identify opportunities for efficiencies and risk enhancement to ensure that your organization is as efficient as possible while avoiding significant risk exposure during these unprecedented times.