To ensure that notifications are addressed appropriately, organizations must have a structured process to handle and route them effectively. This ensures that critical issues are dealt with by the right organizational units in a timely and efficient manner.

Key Steps to Handle Notifications Effectively:

Prioritization: Notifications should be ranked based on their urgency, potential impact, and severity.

Substantiation and Validation: Notifications should be reviewed to confirm their authenticity and relevance.

Routing: Based on the topic, type, and severity, notifications should be sent to the appropriate department or personnel (e.g., HR, compliance, legal, or risk management).

Why Option B is Correct:

Option B outlines a systematic approach to ensure notifications are prioritized and routed to the appropriate units for action.

Option A (single point referral) oversimplifies the process and may delay action or lead to mismanagement.

Option C (disregarding notifications) is counterproductive and could result in ignoring critical issues.

Option D (general counsel review of all notifications) is impractical and unnecessary for routine issues.

Relevant Frameworks and Guidelines:

ISO 37002 (Whistleblowing Management System): Recommends clear processes for handling and routing notifications based on type and severity.

COSO ERM Framework: Highlights the importance of routing risk-related information to the appropriate organizational units for timely action.

In summary, notifications should be prioritized, substantiated, validated, and routed based on their nature and severity to ensure they are handled by the appropriate organizational units.