Having a policy is not the same as having control.

In this episode of The GovCon Show, we break down one of the easiest lies companies tell themselves: “We have a policy, so we’re covered.”

Policies may look right. They may read well. They may be approved, formatted, version-controlled, and sitting proudly in SharePoint. But if they do not guide behavior, shape decisions, force consistency, and control execution under pressure, they do not protect the company.

This episode examines the dangerous gap between policy language and operational reality — especially as contractors face more pressure around fixed-price and performance-based contracting. If the government’s acquisition posture is shifting, contractors cannot afford policies that still operate as if nothing has changed.

Policies should help teams evaluate fixed-price suitability, scope, assumptions, customer dependencies, ODCs, travel, materials, subcontractor alignment, change control, and approval authority before risk is accepted.

If your policies exist but your system still improvises under pressure, you do not have control.

You have paperwork with good posture.

Run the Policy Control Diagnostic at GovConAdvisoryGroup.com to find out whether your policies actually control your system — or just look good while the business makes decisions around them.