Designing a Product-Based Compliance Approach

According to an article by Tom Fox on the Compliance Podcast Network, compliance must evolve beyond rules and mandates to function as a product employees actively choose to engage with. By applying product design principles, a product-based compliance approach can address employee needs, foster a culture of ethics, and support organizational goals.

This shift begins with understanding why employees engage with compliance. Drawing on Clayton Christensen’s Jobs to be Done theory, Fox says that employees “hire” compliance to reduce risks, enhance efficiency, and align with personal and organizational values. However, traditional approaches—training modules and policy updates—often fail to resonate, reducing compliance to a checkbox task.

Reframing compliance as a product involves tailoring it to diverse employee needs. The article suggests segmenting employees into groups—such as new hires, managers, or specialists—and designing role-specific modules that address unique challenges. For example, managers might need advanced training on fostering ethical cultures, while international sales teams could benefit from targeted anti-bribery guidance.

Effective compliance products also balance regulatory demands with user-friendly design. Modular training, interactive formats, and real-time analytics can reduce burdens while boosting engagement. Use feedback tools like surveys, focus groups, and behavioral data to refine initiatives and identify pain points. Metrics like Net Promoter Scores (NPS) or adoption rates can assess program success.

Challenges, including resistance and concerns about fairness, can be mitigated through transparent communication and leadership buy-in. Quantifying compliance’s value—linking ethics to financial and reputational gains—helps shift leadership priorities from short-term goals to long-term integrity.

By treating compliance as a product employees value, organizations can embed it into daily workflows, transforming it into a cornerstone of trust, integrity, and success. This innovative product-based compliance approach positions compliance not as an obligation but as a partnership that drives organizational and cultural excellence.