I've seen it hundreds of times. Companies invest millions in ICM software, then manage exceptions in spreadsheets.
The Duct Tape Symptoms
- Exception requests via email (no tracking)
- Approvals via Slack (no audit trail)
- Policy documents in someone's Google Drive (no version control)
- Disputes resolved by whoever yells loudest (no consistency)
- Changes communicated via all-hands (no acknowledgment)
Sound familiar?
Why This Happens
Governance is boring. It doesn't close deals. It doesn't generate revenue. It doesn't make the demo look cool.
So it gets skipped.
Until:
- An auditor asks "who approved this exception?"
- A rep sues over inconsistent treatment
- A calculation error costs $2M
- The board asks "how did this happen?"
The Hidden Costs
- Time — Comp teams spend 40% of their time on firefighting
- Trust — Reps don't trust their paychecks
- Risk — Every undocumented decision is a liability
- Sanity — Your comp admin is updating their resume
The Fix
Governance doesn't have to be painful. Start with:
1. Exception workflow — Define categories, approval paths, documentation requirements
2. Change management — Version control, effective dates, communication logs
3. Dispute resolution — Standard process, escalation paths, precedent tracking
4. Audit readiness — Can you answer any question in under 5 minutes?
The Investment
Proper governance costs time upfront. It saves multiples of that time in reduced firefighting, faster audits, and fewer disputes.
Your duct tape is a liability. Replace it before it fails.
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