Compliance 1 life in a Compliance 2 world
Edwin A. Abbott published a book in 1883 called, “Flatland" where he explores a two- dimensional world with A. Square as the narrator.
Imagine a vast sheet of paper on which straight Lines, Triangles, Squares, Pentagons, Hexagons, and other figures, instead of remaining fixed in their places, move freely about, on or in the surface, but without the power of rising above or sinking below it, very much like shadows - only hard and with luminous edges - and you will then have a pretty correct notion of my country and countrymen. Alas, a few years ago, I should have said "my universe": but now my mind has been opened to higher views of things.
In such a country, you will perceive at once that it is impossible that there should be anything of what you call a "solid" kind; but I dare say you will suppose that we could at least distinguish by sight the Triangles, Squares, and other figures, moving about as I have described them.
On the contrary, we could see nothing of the kind, not at least so as to distinguish one figure from another. Nothing was visible, nor could be visible, to us, except Straight Lines; and the necessity of this I will speedily demonstrate.
A. Square's world gets flipped upside down (well, sideways?) by encounters with higher dimensions. First, a being from a one-dimensional world (Lineland) confuses A. Square.
Then, a Sphere from a three-dimensional world (Spaceland) changes his perspective forever. A. Square tries to explain this new reality to his Flatland friends, but they can't grasp the concept.
This satirical twist turns Flatland into a story about the difficulty of accepting new ideas and the dangers of a rigid, unchanging society.
Complianceland: Compliance 1 Life in a Compliance 2 World
Those who work in Compliance and who have come to understand other dimensions may find it's very much like living in Flatland.
They will find their counterparts, as they themselves once were, without the necessary perspective, context, and holistic thinking.
And why should they?
After years under the tutelage of prescriptive regulations they will not know what it’s like for compliance to be anything other than rules driven by audits and inspections, and reinforced by reactive behaviours and reductive practices.
They will remind you that life in Complianceland is a state of in or out. And if anyone cares to ask – we are always in.
The idea of continuous improvement would seem very strange when you are already in compliance. What’s there to improve?
The notion of elevating compliance to higher standards would sound fantastical. What do you mean by higher?
Meeting obligations and keeping promises would be considered as nonsense, something made up from Thoughtland. Can you describe this in terms we understand using rules and audits?
These were the same questions that our friend the Square from Flatland was asked after visiting Spaceland:
After I had concluded my defence, the President, perhaps perceiving that some of the junior Circles had been moved by my evident earnestness, asked me two questions:
1. Whether I could indicate the direction which I meant when I used the words "Upward, not Northward"?
2. Whether I could by any diagrams or descriptions (other than the enumeration of imaginary sides and angles) indicate the Figure I was pleased to call a Cube?
Complianceworld
Being a compliance leader requires convincing others to travel to other dimensions as A. Square attempted in Flatland.
However, unlike A. Square who was left to hope for brighter moments having nothing more to say, my hope is for better outcomes for compliance and I still have very much that needs to be said.
There are more dimensions to compliance than many can see.
That's why I have spent the last several years creating diagrams and illustrations to help describe Complianceworld – a world where compliance has sufficient dimensions to protect and ensure Total Value.
It takes time to understand something new and then to change. It will always seem easier to just go along with what many others are doing and stay in Compianceland.
However, with all that's at stake, can we afford to continue to live in Complianceland – a place where compliance has insufficient dimensions to protect all that is valued?
