Adventures in Compliance

In this new season of Adventures in Compliance, host Tom Fox takes a deep dive into the Sherlock Holmes novels. Over this season, Tom will take a deep dive into each novel over a four-part series. The four novels we will consider from the ethics and compliance perspective are A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and The Valley of Fear. For the month of August, we conclude this Season with a deep dive into the least well-known of the Sherlock Holmes novels, The Valley of Fear. 

Timothy and Fiona return to explore how Sherlock Holmes’ methods in ‘The Valley of Fear’ can be applied to modern corporate compliance. By examining five key lessons from Holmes’ approach, distinguishing symptoms from causes, expanding the scope of investigation, tracing the chain of causation, evaluating the role of fear and culture, and ensuring remediation aligns with root causes. Timothy and Fiona provide invaluable insights for anyone dealing with complex problems. This episode is essential for compliance professionals and anyone looking to delve deeper into systemic failures and long-lasting solutions.

Key highlights:

• Lesson 1: Distinguishing Symptom from Cause
• Lesson 2: Look Beyond the Obvious Suspects
• Lesson 3: Trace the Chain of Causation
• Lesson 4: Consider the Role of Fear and Culture
• Lesson 5: Ensure Remediation Aligns with the Root Cause

 Resources:

The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes FAQ by Dave Thompson

Connect with Tom Fox

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In this new season of Adventures in Compliance, host Tom Fox takes a deep dive into the Sherlock Holmes novels. Over this season, Tom will take a deep dive into each novel over a four-part series. The four novels we will consider from the ethics and compliance perspective are A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and The Valley of Fear. For August, we conclude this Season with a deep dive into the least well-known of the Sherlock Holmes novels, The Valley of Fear.

Timothy and Fiona return in Part 3 of our series on Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s novel ‘The Valley of Fear’ to draw parallels with contemporary corporate challenges. Their discussion highlights how the novel’s depiction of fear, secrecy, and intimidation in a terror-ruled society resembles modern-day corporate environments where employees hesitate to speak up about issues due to fear of retaliation. Some of the key points they debate include the importance of anonymity, protection from retaliation, continuous communication with whistleblowers, and building a speak-up culture. These elements are identified as vital for effective compliance programs and fostering an environment of trust and integrity.

Key highlights:

• Connecting Fiction to Modern Corporate Challenges
• The Role of Whistleblowers in Corporate Compliance
• The Importance of Anonymity
• Protection from Retaliation
• Building a Speak-Up Culture

Resources:

The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes FAQ by Dave Thompson

Connect with Tom Fox

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In this new season of Adventures in Compliance, host Tom Fox takes a deep dive into the Sherlock Holmes novels. Throughout this season, Tom will thoroughly explore each novel in a four-part series. The four novels we will consider from the ethics and compliance perspective are A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and The Valley of Fear. We begin with A Study in Scarlet for our new season’s first offering. In Part 3, Tom deeply dives into the investigative lessons learned from the story.

When Sir Arthur Conan Doyle introduced the world to Sherlock Holmes in A Study in Scarlet, he didn’t just give us the greatest fictional detective of all time—he gave compliance professionals a master class in investigative methods. Through his cool logic, careful observation, and constant search for the truth, Holmes modeled what every corporate investigator should aspire to emulate. From his crime scene analysis to using deceptive tactics to expose a suspect, Holmes’s first published case offers lessons relevant to modern compliance programs, especially when dealing with internal investigations, whistleblower reports, and root cause analysis. Here are five enduring investigative lessons, grounded in the facts of A Study in Scarlet, that today’s compliance professionals can apply in their work.

Highlights include:

• Let the Evidence Speak First—Not the Theory
• Small Clues Are Often the Most Telling
• Reconstruct the Incident with Logic and Imagination
• Use Deception Strategically to Draw Out the Truth
• Motive Often Lies in the Past—Not Just in the Present Crime

Resources:

The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes FAQ by Dave Thompson

Connect with Tom Fox

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Facebook

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Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this new season of Adventures in Compliance, host Tom Fox will dive deep into the Sherlock Holmes novels. Over this season, Tom will do so in a four-part series. The four novels we will consider from the ethics and compliance perspective are A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and The Valley of Fear.

We begin with A Study in Scarlet for our first offering this new season. In Part 2, Tom will take a deep dive into Dr. Watson, how he and Holmes met, and Watson’s contributions to their partnership and consider Watson’s professional training as a doctor, his war services and injuries during the Second Anglo-Afghan War, and his return to England, all leading to his initial introduction to Holmes by their mutual acquaintance Stamford. Watson’s involvement in the case helps Holmes move beyond isolated brilliance to true investigative mastery. In compliance, pairing sharp analytic talent with professionals rooted in operational or practical experience often yields the strongest compliance strategies.

Highlights include:

• Diversified Skill Sets
• Trust Encourages Innovation
• Objective Feedback Sharpens Analysis
• Emotional Intelligence Deepens Understanding
• Structured Communication Improves Decision-Making

Resources:

The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes FAQ by Dave Thompson

Connect with Tom Fox

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Facebook

YouTube

Twitter

LinkedIn

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this new season of Adventures in Compliance, host Tom Fox will explore the Sherlock Holmes novels in depth. Over the course of this season, Tom will do so in a four-part series. The four novels we will consider from the ethics and compliance perspective are A Study in Scarlet, The Sign of Four, The Hound of the Baskervilles, and The Valley of Fear.

For our first offering this season, we begin with A Study in Scarlet. In part 1 of our four-part exploration of this novel, which introduced Sherlock Holmes and Dr. Watson to the world. We begin by summarizing the novel’s plot, which dsummarizeiscusses key events and Holmes’ brilliant deductive methods. We then take a deep dive into five critical compliance lessons from the story, including the dangers of institutional abuse of power, the imperative for structured justice, the necessity of root cause analysis, due diligence, and transparent communication within organizations. Join us for an engaging episode that underscores the relevance of Sherlock Holmes’ investigative strategies to modern compliance practices.

Highlights include:

• Welcome to a New Season of Adventures in Compliance
• The Summary of and a Deep Dive into ‘A Study in Scarlet’
• Ethical Lessons for Compliance Professionals

Resources:

The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes FAQ by Dave Thompson

Connect with Tom Fox

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Facebook

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Twitter

LinkedIn

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this new season of Adventures in Compliance, host Tom Fox takes a deep dive into Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes collection, The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes. It is the final set of twelve Sherlock Holmes short stories, first published in the Strand Magazine between October 1921 and April 1927. In this episode, we consider the story The Adventure of the Veiled Lodger.

Tom emphasizes the importance of fairness and transparency in compliance investigations, accountability without retaliation, encouraging whistleblowers, and addressing systemic failures. The episode also highlights how ethics and compliance must be ingrained in corporate culture, reflecting principles from the Department of Justice’s 2020 and 2024 updates to the Evaluation of Corporate Compliance Programs. Through Holmes’ empathetic approach, compliance professionals can learn the importance of contextual investigations and the pursuit of institutional justice. Fox invites Sherlock Holmes enthusiasts to engage in discussions about the stories and underscores the role of compliance in fostering a fair and ethical workplace.

Highlights Include

• The Story of the Veiled Lodger
• Lessons on Institutional Justice and Fairness
• Lessons for CCOs

Resources:

The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes FAQ by Dave Thompson

For more information on the Ethico Toolkit for Middle Managers, available at no charge, click here.

 Connect with Tom Fox

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Twitter

LinkedIn

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this new season of Adventures in Compliance, host Tom Fox delves into Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes collection, The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes. It is the final set of twelve Sherlock Holmes short stories, first published in the Strand Magazine between October 1921 and April 1927. This episode considers the story The Adventure of the Retired Colourman.

Tom uses this story to delve into critical business ethics topics, such as due diligence, ethical leadership, delegation, adaptability, and risk management. He highlights how Holmes’ methodical approach to uncovering deception can guide modern executives in navigating the complexities of corporate compliance. Listeners will gain insights into the importance of thorough investigation, transparency, effective delegation, and continuous adaptability in their leadership roles.

Highlights include:

• Summary of ‘The Adventure of the Retired Colourman’
• Business Ethics Lessons from Sherlock Holmes
• Understand risk and its mitigation

Resources:

The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes FAQ by Dave Thompson

For more information on the Ethico Toolkit for Middle Managers, available at no charge, click here.

Connect with Tom Fox

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Twitter

LinkedIn

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this new season of Adventures in Compliance, host Tom Fox takes a deep dive into Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes collection, The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes. It is the final set of twelve Sherlock Holmes short stories, first published in the Strand Magazine between October 1921 and April 1927. In this episode, we consider a story more from the Natural World, The Adventure of the Lion’s Mane.

In this episode, Tom dives into ‘The Adventure of the Lion’s Mane,’ a lesser-known Holmes tale set in Holmes’ retirement on Sussex Beach. The story includes a mysterious and agonizing death of a science master, initially suspected to be a murder but revealed to be caused by a lion’s mane jellyfish. This episode draws crucial compliance lessons from the narrative, such as the importance of root cause analysis, adaptability in new roles, vigilance on external risks, methodical investigations, and effective communication.

We show how Sherlockian deduction parallels the skills needed for compliance professionals to address unseen threats, adapt to dynamic environments, and ensure meticulous documentation. Tom encourages compliance officers to emulate Holmes’ analytical rigor to build robust programs tackling unexpected challenges.

Highlights include:

• Unraveling the Mystery
• Compliance Lessons from The Adventure of the Lion’s Mane
• Holmes’ Investigative Techniques
• Understanding External Risks
• Effective Investigation Strategies
• The Importance of Communication

Resources:

The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes FAQ by Dave Thompson

For more information on the Ethico Toolkit for Middle Managers, available at no charge, click here.

Connect with Tom Fox

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Twitter

LinkedIn

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this new season of Adventures in Compliance, host Tom Fox delves into Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes collection, The Case-Book of Sherlock Holmes. It is the final set of twelve Sherlock Holmes short stories, first published in the Strand Magazine between October 1921 and April 1927. In this episode, we consider another lesser-known of all the Holmes stories, The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier.

As part of ‘The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes,’ this episode examines business ethics and the ethical leadership of a corporate compliance function. The story offers a unique, Holmes-centric narrative that provides compelling lessons for compliance professionals and business leaders. This story, told from Holmes’ perspective, delves into themes of trust, transparency, and the consequences of concealing the truth—principles central to ethical business practices.

The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier reminds us that secrecy, fear, and miscommunication often compound ethical dilemmas. For compliance professionals, the story serves as a case study of the importance of transparency, compassion, and thorough investigation. By applying these lessons, businesses can build a culture of trust and accountability that stands the test of scrutiny—whether from Holmes or the Department of Justice.

Highlights include:

• Introduction to The Adventure of the Blanched Soldier
• Transparency in Compliance
• Institutional Justice and Institutional Fairness
• A Second Set of Eyes
• Rebuilding Trust

Resources:

The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes FAQ by Dave Thompson

For more information on the Ethico Toolkit for Middle Managers, available at no charge, click here.

Connect with Tom Fox

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Twitter

LinkedIn

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this new season of Adventures in Compliance, host Tom Fox takes a deep dive into Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes collection, The Case Book of Sherlock Holmes. It is the final set of twelve Sherlock Holmes short stories, first published in the Strand Magazine between October 1921 and April 1927. In this episode, we consider one of the lesser-known of all the Holmes stories, The Adventure of the Three Gables.

In this episode, we investigate the Sherlock Holmes short story ‘The Three Gables’ to uncover crucial compliance lessons. As part of ‘The Casebook of Sherlock Holmes,’ this episode examines ethical leadership, transparency, third-party risk management, whistleblower protections, reputation management, and root cause analysis through the lens of this lesser-known tale. The story of crime and manipulation serves as a reminder of the importance of integrity and accountability in business ethics. Check out the parallels between Sherlock Holmes’ investigative techniques and modern compliance practices and learn how these timeless lessons can strengthen organizational culture and mitigate risks.

Highlights include:

• Introduction to The Three Gables
• Unpacking Compliance Lessons
• Ethical Leadership and Transparency
• Third-Party Risk Management
• Whistleblower Protections and Reputation Management
• Root Cause Analysis and Final Thoughts

Resources

The New Annotated Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes FAQ by Dave Thompson

For more information on the Ethico Toolkit for Middle Managers, available at no charge, click here.

Connect with Tom Fox

Instagram

Facebook

YouTube

Twitter

LinkedIn

Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices