Maven's Conflict Management System

They may, however, be “dialed up” (made MORE stringent) to meet the needs of the individual participant or firm. Maven’s Conflict Management System includes a suite of customizable screening tools available to both Mavens and Clients. These tools create additional filters that prevent interactions that may create a conflict for a Maven or Client.

Customizable controls include:

• Blanket “opt-out” for Members from particular types of interactions. For example a Member might be comfortable participating in Electronic Surveys, but not Telephone Consultations. A Member may adjust these settings at any time as their situation changes or needs evolve.

• Global screens against particular Member or Client types. For example, a Client may indicate that they only wish to interact with “Independents” (people who do not currently work for a company, such as independent consultants or retirees).

• Targeted screens against particular companies, individuals, etc. For example, a Client may indicate that they are not permitted to speak with anyone who currently works for “XYZ Corporation.” Likewise, a Maven might not wish to interact with Clients from particular companies or even a specific Client.

• Time-based screens. For example, the Client above might be permitted to speak with former employees of XYZ Corporation, but only after they have no longer been employed by XYZ for specific period of time.

• Project-specific screens. Maven’s system allows for automated screening of inappropriate or conflicted Mavens from particular interactions based upon their responses to custom “qualifying” questions.

• Both “Firm-wide” and individual controls. For example, a Client Firm may implement different levels of control for different types of users- perhaps more stringent controls for junior employees, and greater access/leeway to more seasoned professionals.

Moreover, Maven’s “opt-in” qualification system protects each party’s privacy throughout the search and consultant qualification process, gradually peeling back the privacy veil so that each party has ample opportunity to fully vet the Maven’s appropriateness for a particular inquiry before engaging in an interaction. Nobody is obligated to participate in any way, and either party may back out at any time upon recognizing a potential conflict.

4. VERIFICATION AND CONFIRMATION

Maven’s system performs continuous verification of all user inputs at every point of interaction, and requires ongoing confirmation of every participant’s commitment to Maven’s standard of ethical behavior and terms of use.

Specific forms of Verification and Confirmation include:

• Required Client input on the nature and topic of a particular interaction BEFORE searching Maven’s network. This allows automated conflict screens to be applied to searches and avoids exposure to inappropriate profiles

• Required third-party identity verification for US-based Members prior to being permitted to accept an invitation to consult (international verification coming soon)

• Required Member acknowledgement of freedom from external conflicts related to the Client’s topic of interest (“I am permitted to discuss this topic.”)

• Required Member re-signing of Maven’s Member Agreement before EVERY Consultation

• Continuous, pervasive reminders of the participant’s obligations imposed on the participant (whether Maven or Client) by their Agreement(s) with Maven in every piece of correspondence sent by Maven’s system

In addition, prior to every Telephone Consultation, Maven reminds all participants of their obligation to decline to discuss any topic that would pose a potential conflict and/or to terminate the Consultation immediately.

5. DOCUMENTATION

All activity on Maven’s system is permanently documented and reviewable by our Clients and our Mavens.

This includes:

• EVERY inquiry, Member response, and scheduling interaction

• EVERY piece of correspondence (email) sent from our system to Mavens and Clients

• EVERY Telephone Consultation, including the exact date, time, duration, and participants involved, as well as any feedback received from any participant

• Optional automatic Call Recording (subject to Client request and agreement by the Maven participant), Transcription, and Third-Party Conversation Monitoring

Our system also affords Client Firms’ compliance officers or other designees the ability to monitor all authorized users’ activity on Maven, and to establish permission blocks and clearance gates.

CONTINUOUS ENHANCEMENT

Finally, we are continuously enhancing our world-class Conflict Management System.  We actively monitor the regulatory and legal environment, and our Development Team, Executives, Advisors, and legal counsel collaborate to develop and implement new policies, procedures, and tools for the benefit of our Mavens and Clients.  Each software release contains new features to improve the flexibility, reliability and integrity of our system.  Maven is committed to an objective, systems-based approach to Conflict Management that protects all users our Global Knowledge Marketplace.