The use of passwords is an effective control in an online system to prevent unauthorized access to computer files. Lists of authorized users are maintained in the computer. The entry of passwords or ID numbers; a prearranged act of personal questions; and use of badges, magnetic cards, or optically scanned cards may be combined to avoid unauthorized access.

Organizational decline has been found to have the following characteristics: greater 7 centralization lack of long-term planning, reduced innovation, scapegoating, resistance to change, high turnover of competent leaders, low morale, nonprioritized downsizing, and conflict. Reversing these characteristics is the key to reversing organizational decline, for example, by encouraging innovation in all aspects of the organization's activities and by redeploying personnel.