FUNDAMENTALS OF GOVERNANCE, RISK MANAGEMENT AND COMPLIANCE: Governance, Risk Management, and Compliance (GRC) Book 1

Quite often your organization doesn't need more policies. It needs one connected system that identifies risks before they become crises. Fundamentals of Governance, Risk Management and Compliance is a practical, plain-language guide to building resilient, well-governed organizations where governance provides direction, risk management provides foresight, and compliance provides assurance—all working together to support better decisions and stronger organizational performance. Completely updated for 2026, this updated version reflects today's rapidly changing business environment, covering artificial intelligence, cybersecurity, operational resilience, third-party risk, financial distress, regulatory change, and modern governance practices. Rather than presenting GRC as a collection of technical standards, the book explains how to apply internationally recognized frameworks in a practical, business-focused way. Written by an economist and a governance, audit, fraud, and risk management specialist with extensive international public- and private-sector experience, this book transforms GRC from an abstract concept into a practical operating model that boards, executives, auditors, risk managers, compliance officers, lawyers, accountants, consultants, and business leaders can immediately apply. Inside, you'll discover how to: Understand governance, risk management, and compliance in plain language—and how they work together. Build a practical GRC operating model with clear roles, responsibilities, and accountability. Strengthen ethical culture, professional responsibility, whistleblowing, and investigations. Identify and manage strategic, operational, financial, cyber, and regulatory risks before they become crises. Detect the early warning signs of financial distress and help prevent insolvency and corporate failure. Strengthen cybersecurity, data protection, operational resilience, and business continuity. Govern artificial intelligence responsibly while managing third-party and emerging technology risks. Develop a modern compliance programme that adapts to changing regulations and evolving business risks. Implement an effective GRC programme using a practical step-by-step roadmap, complete with assessment tools, templates, checklists, dashboards, and a ninety-day implementation plan. This book is ideal for: Board members and corporate directors Chief executives and senior managers Risk managers and compliance professionals Internal and external auditors Lawyers and corporate counsel Accountants and finance professionals Corporate governance practitioners Consultants and business advisers MBA students and postgraduate researchers Anyone responsible for building resilient, ethical, and well-governed organizations Organizations rarely fail because they lack intelligence, talented people, or ambitious strategies. They fail because warning signs go unnoticed, responsibilities become fragmented, and critical risks are managed in isolation. Whether you are building a GRC programme for the first time or strengthening an existing one, this book provides the knowledge, tools, and practical guidance to help your organization move from compliance burden to organizational resilience.