Before the ball drops in Times Square to usher in a new year, I wanted to revisit some of the high points of 2015 here on this blog, and thank you for your participation and readership.
A couple of observations:
- You’re consistent. This year’s most-viewed blog entries tended to be those tied to risk, change, and cybersecurity. That aligns with the key areas of interest expressed in several of our surveys this year, including our Internal Audit Capabilities and Needs Survey, our Executive Perspectives on Top Risks Survey, the IT Priorities Survey, and the 2016 Finance Priorities Survey.
- You’re forward-thinking. The topics of disruptive innovation and emerging trends received plenty of attention. This is a very good sign. Technology and global movements of people and workforce will continue to challenge businesses, and those with an eye on the emerging risks horizon are going to be the likely winners.
Not surprisingly, our most popular post of 2015 was Brian Christensen’s take on an article by The Institute of Internal Auditors’ President and CEO Richard Chambers advocating for continuous risk assessment as a way to elevate risk management and keep up with a rapidly evolving risk landscape.
Carol Beaumier’s piece on the changing role of chief compliance officers was our second-most viewed entry, followed by my take on cybersecurity. Matt Moore’s piece on risk appetite was among the most shared, along with our blog post on best global internal audit practices, drawn from our Internal Auditing Around The World report, which we published for the 11th year in a row.
Overall, it was an exciting year, with many important topics to consider. One of my personal favorites was the opportunity to write about the threat and promise of the Internet of Things. I would be remiss, however, if I didn’t take time, in this season of retrospect and gratitude, to extend my appreciation to those without whom our conversations wouldn’t be possible.
First, I’d like to thank the thousands of dedicated executives and professionals who took the time to respond to Protiviti’s many surveys. Without your valuable input, Protiviti professionals would literally have nothing to talk about other than their own personal experiences in the marketplace. While anecdotal knowledge is valuable, it is greatly enhanced with the “voice of the market” made possible through empirical studies. My hat is off to our many survey respondents – you gave generously of your time and experience, to the benefit of all.
I also want to thank our guest bloggers, my colleagues and friends, whose contributions consistently ranked among our most-read and most-shared entries. Your words and wisdom are invaluable, and your insights, profound. I enjoy learning from all of you.
Finally, I’d like to thank you, our readers. Your continued readership and engagement – as shown through your viewership, sharing and rating of our content – makes this effort worthwhile. Thanks to those of you who offered suggestions for topics. I cannot thank all of you enough for taking the time to read and contribute to The Protiviti View.
All of us have one thing in common – we seek an edge that helps us make a difference in what we do in the market. It is through shared knowledge that we will all move forward, together, informed and empowered to meet whatever challenges may come our way.
Best of the season to you and yours, and on behalf of Protiviti, I wish you all success and prosperity in 2016.
Jim
