1st Edition

The Anatomy of Fraud and Corruption Organizational Causes and Remedies

    This ground-breaking book explores what happens when the fine line between competitive excellence and fraudulent and corrupt practice is crossed. Whilst most fraud literature focuses on the individual perpetrator, The Anatomy of Fraud and Corruption looks at how organizations as a whole and the people within it behave when fraud and corruption occur. By presenting a theoretical basis and a practical methodology for fraud risk awareness training, the book helps risk management professionals, and all those in critical corporate roles to redesign and train their organizations to strengthen their culture and become more resistant and resilient to the ever present threat of fraud and corruption. The Anatomy of Fraud and Corruption demonstrates that what we see as objective facts are not always what they seem. The qualified and uniquely experienced authors present a refreshing interpretation of Cressey's triangle of need, opportunity and rationalization. They employ a drama metaphor to reflect the interaction between fraudsters, victims and bystanders on the organizational stage. Corporate design, management and culture dictate what behaviour is normal or abnormal, whether it be manager and employee behaviour or their ability to become suspicious and question apparently improper actions. Using actual cases and investigations, the organizational conditions that give rise to fraud and corruption are explored. The authors then provide important insights as to how employees may be trained and motivated to reduce the likelihood and impact of fraudulent incidents. Whilst fundamentally a practical guide, this book is also essential reading for academics wanting to stay abreast of the latest developments in the study of ethics, organizational and work psychology and sociology, and criminology.

    Contents: Preface; The issue; Part I The Anatomy: Introduction to Part I - the anatomy; Six cases of fraud and corruption; Is fraud and corruption natural?; The social construction of fraud and corruption; The social deconstruction of fraud and corruption; Working with a corporate psychopath; Trust in organizations; The closing of mindsets; The social reconstruction of fraud and corruption. Part II Exploring the Remedies: Introduction to part II - exploring the remedies; The case for experiential learning; Using the drama metaphor as a training tool; Establishing the norm; Who gets what training?; Cultural factors in training; The design process; Workshop techniques; Multimedia interactive techniques; The theatre experience; Organizational resilience to fraud; Bibliography; Index.

    Biography

    Tomas Brytting is an Associate Professor in Business Administration at The Stockholm School of Economics and Director of Research at The Institute for Organizational and Worklife Ethics at Ersta Sköndal University College, Stockholm. He has written, taught and consulted on business ethics for 20 years, and chaired or served on the boards of a number of public bodies. He is a frequent media commentator.

    '...a profound and practical book...Highly recommended for the chief of security seeking to make a company-wide difference with a counter-fraud culture.' - Mark Rowe, Professional Security 'In choosing to explore the Anatomy of Fraud and Corruption, this book gets 'into the veins and tests the blood', ensuring that 'the heart' of the organization is working properly. It provides an excellent insight on how to perform 'remedial surgery' on relevant processes where required, and is a useful reference tool for any investigator, irrespective of experience.' -Simon Scales, Director Global Investigations, TNT Express 'A highly instructive and readable mix of psychological, sociological and first-hand practical insight into how fraudsters disrupt and damage organisations, the authors proceed to offer a clear route to effective prevention, which makes highly innovative use of dramatic narrative. If the aim is truly to raise awareness of the fraud and corruption threat amongst staff, this is definitely the book to read.' -Timon Molloy, Editor of Fraud Intelligence 'The most captivating and original textbook I have read about fraud and corruption. Drawing upon a range of non-traditional disciplines such as literature, conflict resolution and psychology, the book is not only enlightening but also entertaining. I look forward to putting the ideas into practice.'- Pall A. Davidsson, Director and founder of Ethikos, the Icelandic Centre for CSR