Building a World-Class Compliance Program: Best Practices and Strategies for Success

Chapter 5. CA's Compliance Rebirth: Don't Lie, Don't Cheat, Don't Steal

"Have the courage to say no. Have the courage to face the truth. Do the right thing because it is right. These are the magic keys to living your life with integrity."

—W. Clement Stone

It's not often that a person or an organization gets a second chance to right an awful wrong. But redemption and positive change can occur, even from the wreckage of corporate fraud and scandal. Such is the case with CA, Inc. (formerly Computer Associates), which is a major technology company with worldwide operations. CA suffered through several years of a very public government investigation, media headlines of accounting fraud at the highest levels, prosecutions and convictions of many in their executive leadership, and a negative impact on their reputation and shareholder value.

The fact is that CA did not have a compliance program when the massive accounting fraud was occurring. There is a strong argument to be made that if an effective program had been in place, this chapter would not be necessary. Yet, the very positive changes that CA subsequently made provide learning points and best practices for other organizations. Ultimately, CA endured a very painful process and survived as a company, albeit a much changed and better one.

CA is one of the world's largest information technology management software providers. They develop, market, deliver, and license software products that allow their customers to manage systems, networks, ...