A few weeks ago, a complaint was made public by a former employee of a multinational technology company that accused the U.S. business of paying millions of dollars in bribes in Africa and the Middle East in exchange for software contracts. The claims are allegedly under investigation by the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).

This high-profile scandal highlights the increasing risk of doing business in countries where paying bribes is part of the culture. Compliance programs can make a difference when it comes to preventing and detecting acts of corruption, but these programs mean nothing if they are not put to use and monitored for effectiveness. In other words, managing the risks inherent in each business affiliate across the world must be a proactive and constant activity if a company is serious about avoiding these types of investigations and corruption scandals.