From Projects to Governance: The SURVIVOR™ Mnemonic for GRC Leaders
I’ve always loved acronyms and mnemonics for simplifying complex ideas into memorable phrases. While project management has countless study mnemonics, one I came across, SURVIVOR, doesn’t appear to have an official source. Still, its components (Scope, Urgency, Risks, Value, Integration, Validation, Accountability, Leadership) resonate strongly with project management principles.
At GRC Catalyst, we’ve taken this SURVIVOR framework and created a proprietary tool for Governance, Risk, and Compliance (GRC) professionals.
Here’s how it translates:
The SURVIVOR Framework
|
Letter |
Project Management Context |
GRC Translation |
|
S = Scope |
Define project boundaries |
Scope of Governance: Clarify the remit of oversight and define Board responsibility for risks, regulations, and ethical decision-making |
|
U = Urgency |
Prioritise time-sensitive activities |
Urgency of Risk Response: Escalate critical risks which exceed clear thresholds for immediate action |
|
R = Risks |
Identify project threats and opportunities |
Risk Management: Systematically identify, assess and mitigate enterprise risks, embedding them into board agendas and assurance frameworks |
|
V = Value |
Deliver project benefit |
Value Creation through Compliance: Position GRC as a driver of trust, reputation, and sustainable performance rather than a cost |
|
I = Integration |
Align project with wider systems |
Integrated GRC: Ensure risk, compliance, and audit functions are connected and working across the organisation so oversight is holistic |
|
V = Validation |
Check progress and quality |
Validation of Assurance: Use different methods e.g. audits, independent reviews, and evidence-based reporting to confirm controls are effective |
|
A = Accountability |
Assign responsibility |
Accountability in Governance: Define clear ownership of risks and compliance obligations and communicate these, ensuring transparency |
|
L = Leadership |
Guide project teams |
Leadership in Ethics and Culture: Role-model values-driven governance, setting the tone from the top, and embedding inclusiveness, integrity, and resilience |
Why This Matters for GRC
- Resilience: GRC environments deal with regulatory flux, reputational risks, and ethical dilemmas in much the same way as projects face volatility. SURVIVAL reframed for GRC helps leaders stay proactive.
- Board-level improvement: Directors and audit committees can use SURVIVAL as a mnemonic to structure discussions, keeping governance accessible and focused on outcomes.
- Cultural alignment: The acronym emphasises values, adaptability, and continuous improvement, which are central to ethical governance in the business environments.
How can you use SURVIVAL
- Board agendas: Why not use SURVIVAL as a checklist for committee meetings? Are we proactively focused on the elements of SURVIVAL framework or are we operating reactively without structure?
- Risk registers: Perhaps map SURVIVAL elements to assurance activities, ensuring risks are not only identified but embedded into culture.
- Training: Introduce SURVIVAL in trustee or executive inductions as a simple, memorable framework for navigating the complex compliance environment.
Closing Thoughts
Using a project management coping tool, SURVIVAL to build resilience into a governance resilience framework makes sense. It can help GRC leaders to stay calm, prioritise risks, validate assurance, and embed values-driven leadership.
Organisations that apply the SURVIVAL framework will not just survive but will thrive!
