GRC Operating Model
Define decision rights, forums, accountability, information flows, and assurance across governance, risk, and compliance.
On this page · 4 sections
Applicability & intent
A GRC operating model connects strategy, risk appetite, policies, controls, evidence, issues, and assurance so that decisions are consistent and traceable.
- Document why grc operating model applies, what is in scope, and who is accountable.
- Translate obligations into owned, testable outcomes with proportionate evidence.
- Track exceptions, residual risk, changes, and corrective actions through governance review.
Governance lifecycle
- 01
Confirm scope, context, interested parties, legal or contractual basis, and authoritative sources.
- 02
Identify desired outcomes, owners, dependencies, existing controls, and evidence sources.
- 03
Assess design and operating effectiveness using representative, time-bound evidence.
- 04
Record gaps, risk, interim protections, target dates, and approval decisions.
- 05
Verify remediation, report residual risk, and schedule reassessment when context changes.
Evidence & assurance
| Evidence family | Assurance question |
|---|---|
| governance charter and RACI | Does governance establish accountable direction? |
| committee decisions and reporting | Does the process operate consistently? |
| assurance plan and issue register | Can the claimed outcome be independently verified? |
Evidence should be attributable, current, protected, reproducible, and linked to an accountable owner. A document alone does not demonstrate that a control operates effectively.
Readiness decisions
- Separate ownership, oversight, and independent assurance.
- Use one taxonomy for risks, controls, evidence, and issues.
- Escalate decisions based on agreed thresholds.