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Due Diligence Standards

The Association develops and supports improvements in due diligence through standards and best practices.

The Due Diligence Standards are tools to continually improve the quality, consistency, effectiveness and efficiency of due diligence services and programs.

Producing higher economic growth than patents and licenses, standards benefit organizations significantly at both the short and long term strategic level, with advantages in competitive position, agility, innovation, and profitability. Standards are a critical part of any successful business.

Standards are around us everywhere: the number system, weights and measurements, the monetary system, cellular phones, nuts & bolts, telephones, language, and world trade.

Due Diligence Standards are precise, optimum and practical policies and procedures emphasizing core principles rather than checklists and facts.

As a private, nonprofit, independent and impartial organization, The Association of Due Diligence Professionals develops, maintains and updates the Due Diligence Standards.

Due Diligence Press publishes the Due Diligence Standards for the Association, and donates a percentage of its profits to the Association.

Published Standards

The first published standard is Standard Due Diligence Processes

Although the term “due diligence” is most often associated with mergers and acquisitions, in a broader context, every important decision (e.g., hiring employees, selecting suppliers, selecting software, etc.) should be supported by substantial, valid due diligence processes and data. The type and nature of each due diligence process is influenced by the varying needs and particular objectives of the organization.

Unfortunately, traditional due diligence processes have historically been limited in their application, and have been exceedingly inconsistent, immensely inefficient and decidedly focused on only extremely limited aspects of the due diligence process (e.g., legal issues, statutory requirements, regulatory requirements, etc.). This has led to most often producing erroneous or incomplete data, leading to inaccurate assumptions, upon which management decisions were based with disastrous consequences. Recognizing this industry-wide problem, Charles F. Bacon initiated the process to create due diligence standards for more consistent and efficient due diligence.

Designed to provide a solid foundation upon which to base any and all due diligence processes, these standards are intended to serve a broad range of interests, including executives, managers, boards of directors, shareholders, attorneys, accountants, business brokers, commercial bankers, investment bankers, mergers and acquisitions firms, private investors, venture capitalists, and any other parties interested in the new due diligence process.

This standard was developed with the goal of improving due diligence through providing a structured, systematic due diligence program of planning, identifying, prioritizing, collecting and analyzing appropriate, relevant, necessary data; providing a consistent, more efficient, and methodical approach supporting fundamental decision management.

The adoption of a formal due diligence program should be a strategic initiative by the decision-makers of every organization with an aim of adding structure to the decision management process. Once established, the due diligence program should become an integral, ever-present facet of the organization's strategy, assisting management through every decision; and will create significant improvement in the organization’s capabilities, risk reduction, agility, morale and profitability.

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Benefits of Due Diligence Standards

The Due Diligence Standards benefit all who rely on due diligence services, such as Board Directors, senior management, attorneys, accountants, government regulators, etc.

The Standards also benefit all Association members, particularly those members who are actively performing due diligence engagements.

If you incorporate due diligence standards into your decision-making and due diligence, your organization, both large and small enterprises, will benefit through improved performance, more reliable results, and increased profitability.

Standards Under Development

  • Administration
  • Communications
  • Facilities
  • Finance
  • Human Capital
  • Information Technology
  • Intellectual Property
  • Legal
  • Management
  • Marketing
  • Operations
  • Planning
  • Production
  • Products/Services
  • Quality
  • Research & Development
  • Sales
  • Services
  • Technology

The Due Diligence Learning Handbook

The Learning Handbook is a valuable reference tool for due diligence professionals, students of the due diligence discipline, and anyone seeking to make more informed decisions through the application of a scientific, rational, and diligent decision process.

Membership in the Association is not required to purchase the Learning Handbook.

The Due Diligence Learning Handbook is the primary learning tool for professionals who are studying for the Certified Due Diligence Professional Certification Examination.

The Due Diligence Learning Handbook includes a copy of the publication, "Standard Due Diligence Processes", the first Due Diligence Standard and a solid foundation upon which to base any and all due diligence processes.

The Due Diligence Learning Handbook teaches:
  • History of due diligence and evolution of the due diligence industry
  • Theoretical foundations of due diligence engineering
  • Techniques, components and processes of professional due diligence practices
  • Practical tools and applications of due diligence
  • Due diligence report writing
  • Due diligence project management
  • Sources of due diligence information
  • Types of due diligence
  • Legal aspects of performing due diligence
  • Effective due diligence discovery techniques
  • Effective due diligence interviewing techniques
  • Communicating the results of due diligence to the wide variety of audiences
  • Regulatory environment for due diligence
  • Due diligence ethics
  • Due diligence professionalism

The Due Diligence Learning Handbook:

  • Explains the Certification Examination process
  • Provides help to prepare for the written and oral examination
  • Includes samples of typical exam questions and correct answers, in the the style and format of actual exam 
  • Shows the rationale behind the questions and correct answers
  • Includes test specifications for Professional Certification Examination in the Discipline of Due Diligence
  • Includes helpful test-taking suggestions
  • Includes study methods that help you chart your course of learning and prioritize the due diligence content, and help you chart your level of readiness to take the exam
  • Helps you reduce anxiety
  • Includes self-study exercises
Current Due Diligence Learning Handbook
Due Diligence Learning Handbook Price: $500.00
You may order the Due Diligence Learning Handbook here via credit card or paypal:


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