When stability fails: Why over-optimization creates organizational brittleness
Most organizations would say they value stability. Predictable operations, consistent output, and well-defined processes are generally considered marks of maturity. The assumption is simple: if a system can be made reliable, it becomes resilient.
Yet in practice, a system that is optimized for reliability alone often becomes fragile. It performs well under expected conditions but struggles when circumstances change. The failure feels sudden, but the brittleness was created gradually, often through well-intentioned efficiency efforts.
Related articles
-
OpinionBeyond the Binder: Policy governance in practice
Most compliance professionals have faced it: a regulator or client requests a policy, and several slightly different “final” versions appear. The issue often stems from reactive, siloed work without a unified governance framework.
-
OpinionEvidentiary Debt: The blind spot liability
On a gray Tuesday morning, the audit seemed routine. A stack of binders sat on the table, the compliance officer was confident, and the regulator’s tone was cordial. Then came the question that changed everything.
-
OpinionDecision Debt: The silent crisis undermining compliance and governance
Decision debt is the practice of leaving key compliance decisions unresolved, and it is a crisis few compliance leaders are willing to name. Some of the world’s largest financial institutions, including Wells Fargo and Citibank, have learned this lesson the hard way.
More from Opinion
-
PremiumQ&A with former FCPA unit chief Charles Duross on the DOJ’s monitorship policy
Compliance Week recently interviewed Charles Duross, former Chief of the DOJ’s Fraud Section’s FCPA Unit, to talk about the Department of Justice’s recently revised monitorship policy.
-
OpinionAgentic AI and the policy blind spot: Why security can’t wait
The current AI policy and regulation landscape is still emerging globally. While some regulations and standards exist, governments, industry, and security leaders have critical gaps to close, especially around agentic artificial intelligence.
-
OpinionThe CFO, AI, and the New Compliance Frontier
As CFOs use AI to streamline operations, they face new compliance risks tied to accountability and algorithmic governance. CCOs must work with them to ensure transparency and oversight throughout adoption.