About UsThe Decision Factor offers insightful comments and observations on analytics—from views on new technology approaches and market dynamics to the latest industry trends driving demand for faster, smarter information analysis. This blog contains personal views, thoughts, and opinions from SAP employees, mentors, and friends working in the area of analytics. It’s not endorsed by SAP nor does it constitute an official communication of SAP. |
Posted by: Greg Ertel January 8, 2013  There are many ways people rationalize away risk when it comes to their companies. Ever heard someone say, “We don’t manufacture a tangible product, therefore, we’re not at risk for global trade violations”? Or, “We only sell to domestic markets.” Or even, “Our product is simple and clearly for civilian use, so it poses no military threat.” Assumptions like these could be putting your company at extreme risk.
Screening Business Partners Is Good
Companies that do any type of business must, at a minimum, screen …
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Posted by: Norman Marks December 20, 2012  I truly believe that amazing developments are arriving that will make future decision-making far more effective. I want to talk about two in this post; admittedly one is more a hope and the other more a prediction.
The prediction can be expressed this way:
In the near future, which is getting nearer every day, decision-makers will have moved from an experience-based process to an information-based process. They will have reliable, useful information delivered to the palm of their hand in near real time that will let them …
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Posted by: Bruce McCuaig November 13, 2012  Help Wanted: Risk Owner Position Available
I’d like to consider for a moment the concept of risk ownership. ISO 31000 defines a risk owner as a “person or entity with the accountability and authority to manage a risk.” I’ve seen risk registers listing risk owners, but I don’t think I’ve ever met anybody who proudly proclaimed they were a risk owner.
I have never read a resume with a list of risks owned by a job applicant.
I have never seen a course at any level that …
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Posted by: Bruce McCuaig November 8, 2012  Years ago, I worked in a bank. I‘m sure the concept of a “register” came from a banker initially. Banks had registers for everything.
One of my jobs was to keep the collateral register postings up to date. When a customer opened a line of credit, they were required to pledge something, usually marketable securities, as collateral. I posted the collateral in the register and someone else placed the securities in the vault, where they’d stay and gather dust. (I think bankers invented segregation of duties too.)
Occasionally, the bank auditors …
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Posted by: Norman Marks May 17, 2012  When you drive, assuming you’re a prudent driver, you slow down when the visibility on the road ahead gets worse—because you don’t want to drive faster than you can see.
But when the visibility improves and you can see the road ahead with clarity, you speed up.
Other factors that affect how fast you drive include:
The traffic information on the radio has warned of congestion half a mile ahead The temperature gauge on your car’s dashboard indicates the engine temperature is rising There are a number of drivers …
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Posted by: Bruce McCuaig May 3, 2012  Several years ago, my son was living with us while he went back to school. Students are usually short of cash, so when my wife and I went on a small vacation, I gave him one of my credit cards for “emergencies.”
Three days later, sitting beside a pool in Palm Springs, my phone rang. My credit card company advised that my card had been stolen and was cancelled. It was used in a college book store and pub, and the total amount involved was less than $100.00. Apparently, …
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Posted by: Helen Dwight April 4, 2011  For 3 hours and 21 minutes, yesterday, I sat glued to the TV watching one of the most electrifying ATP men’s singles tennis finals, the Sony Ericsson Openstreaming live from Miami, where amazingly talented Novak Djokovic (world #2) took on the great Rafael Nadal (world #1) for the second time in the space of a few weeks. They’re …
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