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Corporate Governance  TO COMMENT on the article,                                     Corporate Governance
              EMAIL the author at eslam_elrayes@hotmail.com




 By: Islam Al-Rayes    Edited By: Ayman Abdlerahim                           effective at this stage to strengthen the
 Corporate Governance ...                                                    required efficiency with less presence than
                                                                             those of previous guidance practices.
 Company Life Cycle  1. Foundation or establishment  2. Growth               Renewal and innovation stage:
                                                                             During this stage, companies seek to
                                                  -  Increasing number of sharehold-
            -  Enterprise owned by one or two
                                                   ers and adding new customers
            persons
            -  Few employees.                     - Increaseing number of employ-  venture with the goal of increasing
                                                                             revenue and gain access to new markets
            - Simple  business  cycle             ees                        or create new products.  Governance
                                                  -  Minor complexity of business   practices need to be strong at its two
                                                   envirnment
                                                                             sides, guidance and control, to ensure
                                                                             company continuity and not to take any
                                                                             ill-conceived adventure.
                                                                             As in many cases there will be a fifth
                                                                             stage, i.e. regression stage.   As the
                                                                             company profits and growth begin to
                                                                             decline, here, control governance practices
                                                                             must be effective to protect the rights of all
                                                                             parties from exploitation if the company is
                                                                             no longer able to continue.  Sometimes the
            4. Renewal and innovation              3. Stability and maturity  cycle may continue again if the company is
            -  Put to IPO when company              Increasing number of sharehold-  bought by new investors to start the cycle
            decides  to become a public            ers and increasing competition  again and start with a new governance
            company                                -  Increase  in number of em-  culture.
            -  Possible increase in number of       ployees
            employees                              -  Average complexity of business    CONCLUSION
            -  Increasing complexity of busi-      environment
            ness environment                                                 At the end of this article, despite the
                                                                             existence of rules and laws for some
                                                                             governance practices, corporate
                                                                             governance is a practice that may vary
                                                                             to the nature of each company.  No one
                                                                             corporate governance system that fits all
                                                                             companies.
         The extent of applying governance   Growth stage:
         practices in guidance and control varies   Governance practices at this stage must   However, the first stage of establishing a
         for each stage of a company life cycle.  The   be supportive for any growth in order to   firm has a significant impact on shape and
                                                                             culture of governance.   At beginning of a
         following explains importance of practices   generate greater revenue by broadening the   company, practices will not be a burden, as
         for each stage:                   customer base.  The required governance   it does not mean that there are committees
 Corporate governance is an integrated   other stakeholders, in order to achieve   apply appropriate rules and practices of   Foundation or establishment stage:  practices must take into account a proper   such as the Nominations Committee, Audit
                                                                             and Risk Committee, or even an internal
 culture and work approach which is not   company objectives and preserve rights of   governance.  Hence, it can develop future   company guidance to achieve its strategy   audit in place.
 simply an adherence to a set of rules and   all stakeholders.”  plans, with medium and long term rules, so   The first stage (foundation or establishment   and maintain a supportive supervisory
 can not to be interpreted narrowly and   Governance evolves as company grows  as to be completed.   Therefore, governance   stage) is one of the most stages affecting the   level.  Guidance practices must be present   What that stage requires is a proper
 literally.  becomes an integral part of organization   corporate governance culture.  Applying   strongly at this stage, taking into account a   guidance to ensure company continuity
                                                                             and build a governance culture in order to
 Companies and organizations are always   culture and not just independent rules and   governance principles during this stage
 Corporate governance is a culture that   looking for the best and working hard to   greater presence of control practices than   achieve an effective and mature governance
 must stem from the company itself and   practices.  means that governance becomes an integral   that of the previous stage.  system in the future, and it develops along
 commensurate with it. For each stage of   enhance their competitiveness and aspire   Stages of company growth and role of   part of company business and becomes a   Stability and maturity stage:   with it.
 company life cycle, a governance system   to continuity in a complex and rapidly   governance  firm belief in employees’ mind, not a mere   Effective risk department, strong control
 changing business environment.  This
 must exist to help the company in meeting   of laws and legislations to be followed.    This stage is characterized by enhanced   environment, readiness to deal with
 its objectives and to develop and grow,   environment is often characterized by   All companies, whether small, medium or   Governance practices at this stage require   performance and improved operational   future adventure and process integration
 hence, effective governance ensures the   emergence of new risks and legislations   large go through the same development   clear company strategy and good choice of   efficiency.  During this stage, governance   are all required to achieve goals and
 enacted recently that must be committed
 achievement of the results.  stages, usually referred to as “life cycle”,   resources to achieve this strategy as well   structure is clearly shaped and its   governance principles, which are related to
 to.  The corporate governance system   as this cycle varies from one company to   responsibility, accountability, transparency
 The definition of corporate governance is   must be developed to be in line with   another with minor differences, and with   as considering risk identification, which   practices are promoted.  Consequently,   and justice.
 not restricted to mature companies only;   company needs.  As governance begins at   different stage periods.  company may face during its journey, and   those practices should support company
 it is defined as “a group of foundations   organization establishment and develops   response plans. Guidance practices must be   credibility and reputation; hence, it is,   Islam Al-Rayes, GRCA, QIA, GRCP
 and principles governing the relationship   gradually with its development - at   The following figure illustrates the stages of   strongly present at this stage, while control   indeed, a supporter of company presence.     Internal  Audit,  Risk,  and  Compliance  Senior
 between the owners of companies and all   different stages - in a way that allows it to   company life cycle:  practices may not have been formed, yet.  Control practices must be mature and   Consultant - Egypt 

 30     INTERNAL AUDITOR - MIDDLE EAST                                                                                                                                MARCH 2018  MARCH 2018  INTERNAL AUDITOR - MIDDLE EAST     31
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