Questions we hear most
How is the Friction Index™ different from an engagement survey or culture assessment?
Engagement surveys measure what people report about how they feel. The Friction Index™ independently verifies how the organisation actually operates, drawing on multiple independent data sources gathered by trained diagnosticians. The methodology was built specifically for the governance conditions that affect enterprise value and that perception-based instruments consistently miss.
What does the diagnostic process involve?
The diagnostic cycle includes on-site and remote phases, drawing on multiple independent data sources across the organisation. The process fits around day-to-day operations. Capital owners receive regular governance reporting throughout the engagement.
Who receives the results?
The capital owner receives two reporting tracks. Track 1 is the company’s own board pack. Track 2 is Riverbank’s independent governance data. Management sees Track 1. The capital owner sees both. The distance between the two tracks is where the real governance picture becomes visible.
Will the diagnostic process disrupt management or day-to-day operations?
The process is designed to fit within normal operational rhythms. Diagnosticians work on-site and remotely, participating through structured conversations and observing normal business interactions. The on-site phases are time-limited.
Can this be deployed across multiple portfolio companies?
Yes. Programme engagements across multiple portfolio companies use the same standardised methodology, which allows direct cross-portfolio comparison on all six governance dimensions.
What happens at exit?
Governance evidence that has been tracked and verified over the hold period is compiled into a buyer-ready format. This gives the exit diligence process independently verified governance data from day one of ownership.
What happens when the diagnostic identifies serious governance problems?
Every finding triggers a specific, codified intervention with defined implementation steps. Decision authority is mapped and redistributed into a documented framework; independent reporting channels are installed where information is filtered; and institutional knowledge is transferred into system-backed structures. Each intervention has clear success measures, with conditions re-measured to track improvement.
How is this different from what our operating partners already do?
Operating partners typically work from management-provided data, attend board meetings, and advise on operational improvements. The Friction Index™ gathers data independently of management using trained diagnosticians and a clinical-grade methodology. Operating partners see what management shows them. Riverbank measures what is actually happening and reports it directly to the capital owner through an independent channel. These are complementary functions. The Friction Index™ gives operating partners better data to work from.
What qualifications do your diagnosticians have?
Diagnosticians are qualified organisational psychologists, clinical psychologists, or behavioural scientists. Each diagnostician is trained and certified in the proprietary diagnostic reasoning protocols, scoring calibration procedures, and evidence evaluation frameworks inside Riverbank OS™. The system architecture ensures scoring consistency across diagnosticians. Rachel Fung designed the methodology and oversees every assessment as System Architect.
Organisational governance diagnostics for Private Equity funds and Family Offices.
FRICTION INDEX™
© 2026 Riverbank Intelligence Pte. Ltd.