Financial executives may wonder about all the fuss surrounding "GRC," or governance, risk management, and compliance. Is it just a repackaging by consultants and software vendors that brings together risk and compliance management? Why does everyone have a different definition of GRC, and if it is actually important, how do we know our GRC processes are effective?

Fifteen industry groups representing most sectors of the domestic economy have filed a joint amici curiae brief challenging the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration's (FMCSA) Hours of Service Final Rules for commercial truck drivers. They allege that portions of the rule will slow productivity, hurt jobs and have a negative impact on agriculture, manufacturers, retail supply chains and distribution operations.

Robert Celeste, director of healthcare with GS1US, relates the group's efforts in establishing industry-wide standards for the life sciences sector.

Intertek, a provider of quality-control and safety products for multiple industries, has launched its Find My Factory app for both iPhone and Android mobile devices.

Walmart, Nike, Target, JC Penney, Levi's and fellow members of the Sustainable Apparel Coalition have unveiled the group's index for measuring the environmental impact of apparel products across the supply chain.

Wayne McDonnell, director of pharma and life sciences advisory with PricewaterhouseCoopers, talks about the core fundamentals of supply-chain capabilities today, as well as PwC's latest "Pharma 2020" report.

When innovation comes to mind, the first thing people might think of is creativity, spontaneity or a momentary stroke of genius. But can innovation occur out of a structured, repeatable process? The answer, in short, is yes.

No organization can avoid coming to grips with the rapidly evolving behavior of consumers and business customers. They check prices at a keystroke and are increasingly selective about which brands share their lives. They form impressions from every encounter and post withering online reviews. These changes present significant organizational challenges, as well as opportunities. The biggest is that all of us have become marketers: the critical moments of interaction, or touch points, between companies and customers are increasingly spread across different parts of the organization, so customer engagement is now everyone's responsibility.