This month, Compliance Week and the Open Compliance and Ethics Group begin a regular series called “GRC Illustrated.” The interactive series—which will feature visual representations of key governance, risk, and compliance initiatives—is intended to help readers understand how to put principles into practice. Part I of the GRC Illustrated Series is sponsored by SAP and Cisco.

In our first entry, GRC Illustrated tackles how companies can align their governance, risk, and compliance initiatives. Faced with demanding shareholders and a growing body of complex regulations, savvy executives are integrating GRC processes to break down inefficient organizational silos, drive business performance, and participate in the “big picture” of enterprise strategy. Here’s how: