Top 5 Information Technologies in 2007
There are five new technologies that appear to be the ones to watch this year according to Computerworld’s Vital Signs survey of 252 IT executives. To start, 1) Server Virtualization has caught the eye of organizations that want to transition from multiple operating systems to a smaller number of strategic platforms. Such virtualization masks server resources and creates partitions known as environments. The end result is that new automated servers begin to manage themselves. In the world of publishing, 2) Enterprise Content Management (ECM)...
Read MoreAudits of Process Effectiveness
Unfortunately, most audits focus on the conformity of a process, not its true performance. This emphasis on meeting requirements is important, but evaluating how well a process is achieving its planned results is critical. ISO 9001:2000 requires internal audits to determine not only if the quality management system conforms to planned arrangements, but also if it has been “effectively” implemented. ISO 9000:2005 defines effectiveness as the “extent to which planned activities are realized and planned results achieved”. So, how do we...
Read MoreBenefits of an ISO 9001-based System
What are the benefits of having an ISO 9001-based quality management system? Lets begin by looking at the benefits to your employees and the organization: Employee Benefits To successfully implement and maintain a quality management system, employees need to understand its value to them. The better they understand what’s in it for them personally, and how the organization also benefits, the more receptive they will be to the changes and work involved to make it happen. Employees benefit from the improved internal communication and top...
Read MoreResponsibilities of a Process Owner
The processes of a quality management system need to be established, implemented, controlled, and improved for an organization to consistently deliver products and services that satisfy its customers. To ensure this happens, each process should have an owner named. To understand the term “process owner”, lets begin with the definition of a process. A Process is a set of interrelated or interacting activities which transforms inputs into outputs. The inputs of a process are the outputs from other processes. And, processes are...
Read MoreGuide to SOX 404 Assessments
The Institute of Internal Auditors has published “Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404: A Guide for Management by Internal Control Practitioners”. The Guide incorporates guidance from the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board, The Institute of Internal Auditors, and the real-world experience and insight of practicing internal auditors. The Guide focuses on how costs can be minimized without impairing the effectiveness of your internal controls. It also discusses the interplay between the requirements...
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