Ethical Code and Ethics Program
Essentially, an ethical code is a set of values and rules of conduct designed to underpin the organization’s vision. The values in the code stems from the needs, wants, and aspirations of the organization. The values expressed in the code correspond to the organization’s appropriate norms. Thus, the ethical code is the corner stone of the organization’s strategic vision in its relationship with different stakeholders. The code is a formal document that contains a set of values and rules of conduct that employees are required to adhere to in their actions. The effectiveness of an organization’s implementation of its code of ethics is expressed in organizational behavior across all activities.
It is the role of the code to guide employees’ choice of the appropriate act. Using the code provides a framework for dealing with dilemmas and reduces conflicts between employees, departments in the organization, and between the organization and various stakeholders. Using the code increases transparency and thereby builds trust between employees, between employees and management, and between the organization and its various stakeholders.
In this way, the code functions as a management tool for minimizing business risks, increasing employee motivation, reducing employee turnover, and promoting organizational learning.
Principles of an Ethics Program
The assimilation of ethical rules, which were designed, implemented, and updated by an organization in accordance with its character and fields of operation, achieves two purposes. It advances the interests of the organization while demonstrating social responsibility in the reciprocal relationships that the organization maintains with its stakeholders. Such assimilation:
- Deepens the awareness of right and wrong conduct (ethics) among organizational members.
- Enables the development and accommodation of processes and procedures, including mechanisms of control and enforcement;
- Is a prerequisite to building the role of Ethics Officer in the organization;
- Enables the subsequent use of teaching and development mechanisms combined with measurement methods.
VM Services in Developing Ethical Code and Effective Ethics Program
Building measurement tools for effective implementation
Creating the role of Ethics Officer
Developing and implementing an effective ethics and compliance program
Developing an ethical code
Constructing value-based leadership
Developing values and vision
Synchronizing between an organizational strategy and its ethics
