Ethics and Culture in organisations: 53% of C-suite executives think their boards are out of touch in understanding the ethical issues facing their business. Its reasonable to suggest that companies aim to develop an organisational culture that is self-policing and that positively encourages concerns about ethical behaviour to be raised at all levels and in all locations.A White paper written by colleague Dr Attracta Lagan for the ICAA.
The paper 'Why business ethics matter to your bottom line' looks at the need for businesses to build institutional integrity into an organisation to support employees in making ethical choices.
Business ethics presentation peter greenham iigi fwr group sustainable indep...Independentgroup
1.0 Cyber Attacks/Loss of Data
From a recent study Eighty percent of companies found that Loosing of data from USB sticks and mobile devices pose a significant risk to the organisations network.Cyber attacks to be an even bigger risk year, business owners will need to ensure they have the most up to date security systems and that all staff are adequately trained in proper data security.
A recent study identified that 400 companies lost over 12,000 customer records, with an average cost of $214 per record the amount of losses could exceed $2.5 Million.
A recent event where Russian hackers hold a medical centre after encrypting thousands of patient health records.
The document discusses the concept and history of corporate social responsibility (CSR). It explains that CSR involves companies integrating social and environmental concerns into their business operations and stakeholder interactions. The history of CSR is traced back to companies in the late 1800s that provided benefits to employees and local communities. More recently, CSR has grown to encompass considerations around ethics, governance, human rights, the environment, and more. The concept of the "triple bottom line" is introduced as a way for companies to balance economic, social, and environmental impacts through their CSR efforts. Key components of modern CSR are identified as governance, ethics, workplace practices, supply chain management, customer satisfaction, community involvement, and environmental stewardship.
Business ethics, corporate philosophy and regulatory challengesAlexander Decker
This document discusses business ethics and regulatory challenges in Nigeria's confectionary industry, specifically the bread market. It provides background on business ethics and corporate philosophy. It then evaluates the role of Nigeria's regulatory agency NAFDAC in overseeing the bread industry and argues they have failed to enforce compliance with standards, contributing to food poisoning cases. The document examines why ethics are being neglected by businesses focused on wealth maximization over moral duties. It uses theories like public interest theory to analyze industry regulation and failures of agencies to prevent market failures for the public interest.
This document discusses the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR). It begins by explaining how businesses are increasingly expected to address social issues involving stakeholders, society, the environment, and government. It then provides examples of CSR initiatives undertaken by various large Indian companies to benefit local communities. The document defines CSR as a self-regulating business model that considers the public interest and impacts on people, planet and profits. It acknowledges debates around CSR and whether it distracts from economic roles or is just public relations. Overall, the document outlines the concept and increasing importance of CSR.
Business of the business is to do businessAnurag Ranjan
i. The document discusses the objectives and responsibilities of businesses. It argues that the main objective of businesses is to earn profits within legal boundaries in order to survive and grow.
ii. While businesses do benefit society through job creation, tax revenues, and innovative products, the document states that their primary responsibility is to their shareholders and customers, not social causes. CSR activities are seen as secondary to profit-making.
iii. Examples of companies engaging in CSR for both ethical and self-interested reasons are provided, but the document concludes that businesses should focus on their core functions of product development and profitability over trying to act as charities.
Ethical issues followed by TATA Steel ltd. Rajat_upmanyu
The document summarizes key ethical lessons that can be learned from the business practices of Tata Steel and Wipro Ltd.
For Tata Steel, the lessons are around having a strong commitment to core values like integrity, responsibility and sustainability. This is shown through their CSR policy and efforts to reduce environmental impact and CO2 emissions. Steel is also highlighted as a very recyclable material.
For Wipro, the lessons include ensuring proper accounting, financial reporting and disclosures. Employees should avoid conflicts of interest and protect company assets. Applicable employees must adhere to the code of ethics, which includes maintaining confidentiality and seeking guidance on any issues. Compliance with the code is confirmed in writing.
The document discusses the history and principles of corporate philanthropy. It provides examples of corporate foundations from Fortune 100 companies and examines theoretical perspectives on the strategic and moral motivations for corporate philanthropy. Limitations are identified around issues of transparency, prioritization of activities, and level of management involvement in philanthropic initiatives.
The paper 'Why business ethics matter to your bottom line' looks at the need for businesses to build institutional integrity into an organisation to support employees in making ethical choices.
Business ethics presentation peter greenham iigi fwr group sustainable indep...Independentgroup
1.0 Cyber Attacks/Loss of Data
From a recent study Eighty percent of companies found that Loosing of data from USB sticks and mobile devices pose a significant risk to the organisations network.Cyber attacks to be an even bigger risk year, business owners will need to ensure they have the most up to date security systems and that all staff are adequately trained in proper data security.
A recent study identified that 400 companies lost over 12,000 customer records, with an average cost of $214 per record the amount of losses could exceed $2.5 Million.
A recent event where Russian hackers hold a medical centre after encrypting thousands of patient health records.
The document discusses the concept and history of corporate social responsibility (CSR). It explains that CSR involves companies integrating social and environmental concerns into their business operations and stakeholder interactions. The history of CSR is traced back to companies in the late 1800s that provided benefits to employees and local communities. More recently, CSR has grown to encompass considerations around ethics, governance, human rights, the environment, and more. The concept of the "triple bottom line" is introduced as a way for companies to balance economic, social, and environmental impacts through their CSR efforts. Key components of modern CSR are identified as governance, ethics, workplace practices, supply chain management, customer satisfaction, community involvement, and environmental stewardship.
Business ethics, corporate philosophy and regulatory challengesAlexander Decker
This document discusses business ethics and regulatory challenges in Nigeria's confectionary industry, specifically the bread market. It provides background on business ethics and corporate philosophy. It then evaluates the role of Nigeria's regulatory agency NAFDAC in overseeing the bread industry and argues they have failed to enforce compliance with standards, contributing to food poisoning cases. The document examines why ethics are being neglected by businesses focused on wealth maximization over moral duties. It uses theories like public interest theory to analyze industry regulation and failures of agencies to prevent market failures for the public interest.
This document discusses the concept of corporate social responsibility (CSR). It begins by explaining how businesses are increasingly expected to address social issues involving stakeholders, society, the environment, and government. It then provides examples of CSR initiatives undertaken by various large Indian companies to benefit local communities. The document defines CSR as a self-regulating business model that considers the public interest and impacts on people, planet and profits. It acknowledges debates around CSR and whether it distracts from economic roles or is just public relations. Overall, the document outlines the concept and increasing importance of CSR.
Business of the business is to do businessAnurag Ranjan
i. The document discusses the objectives and responsibilities of businesses. It argues that the main objective of businesses is to earn profits within legal boundaries in order to survive and grow.
ii. While businesses do benefit society through job creation, tax revenues, and innovative products, the document states that their primary responsibility is to their shareholders and customers, not social causes. CSR activities are seen as secondary to profit-making.
iii. Examples of companies engaging in CSR for both ethical and self-interested reasons are provided, but the document concludes that businesses should focus on their core functions of product development and profitability over trying to act as charities.
Ethical issues followed by TATA Steel ltd. Rajat_upmanyu
The document summarizes key ethical lessons that can be learned from the business practices of Tata Steel and Wipro Ltd.
For Tata Steel, the lessons are around having a strong commitment to core values like integrity, responsibility and sustainability. This is shown through their CSR policy and efforts to reduce environmental impact and CO2 emissions. Steel is also highlighted as a very recyclable material.
For Wipro, the lessons include ensuring proper accounting, financial reporting and disclosures. Employees should avoid conflicts of interest and protect company assets. Applicable employees must adhere to the code of ethics, which includes maintaining confidentiality and seeking guidance on any issues. Compliance with the code is confirmed in writing.
The document discusses the history and principles of corporate philanthropy. It provides examples of corporate foundations from Fortune 100 companies and examines theoretical perspectives on the strategic and moral motivations for corporate philanthropy. Limitations are identified around issues of transparency, prioritization of activities, and level of management involvement in philanthropic initiatives.
The document discusses the importance of ethics in human resource management and business. It notes several unethical practices like sexual harassment, expense fraud, and poor working conditions. While some companies prioritize short-term gains over ethics due to pressures like self-interest, maintaining an ethical culture is important for attracting high-quality employees, customers, and a good reputation. Ethics are crucial for business success and sustainable growth.
The document discusses social responsibility and corporate social responsibility. It states that CSR involves activities like community development, philanthropy, and social education that benefit both businesses and society. Businesses adopt CSR as part of their corporate values and citizenship. CSR activities help organizations hire and retain employees while also contributing to business performance.
Role stress and ethical dilemmas often arise from conflicts between job demands and responsibilities. Salespeople may face stress when customers expect incentives that go against company policy. An advertisement maker for Nuveen Investments faced a dilemma between being creative and potentially misleading viewers. Differential association theory suggests people learn ethics from those they interact with, so young managers may follow unethical superiors to show loyalty. Whistleblowers who expose wrongdoing often face negative consequences like job loss and threats.
This document discusses leadership challenges in a time of rapid global change. It profiles Gary Hamel, who argues that leaders must rethink assumptions about business structure and capitalism. It also profiles two London Business School alumni - David Pyott of Allergan and Tim Breedon of Barclays Bank - who have led companies through significant change and turbulence. Both emphasize the importance of listening skills, emotional intelligence, and creating resilient leadership teams to navigate disruptive times.
What is Corporate Social Responsibility? Why CSR? How can you effectively deliver CSR...? etc. Enjoy this CSR Presentation we did in 2012 at le Bistro Latin in Douala.
Human resource management involves six key areas of knowledge: business organization, employee planning, development, benefits, labor relations, and risk management. The role of HR is to manage the company's human capital by hiring, training, evaluating, and rewarding employees in order to improve performance and meet business goals. New technologies have transformed HR functions like recruitment, training, and record keeping by allowing these processes to be conducted more efficiently online. While technology has benefits, human resource managers are still needed as systems cannot replace the human element.
The document defines corporate social responsibility (CSR) as organizations considering the interests of society through their business operations and impact on customers, employees, communities, and the environment. It discusses CSR as a continuing commitment by businesses to behave ethically and improve quality of life while contributing to economic development. A responsibility pyramid shows businesses' obligations from economic responsibilities to ethical responsibilities. Key factors of CSR include climate change, transparency, labor rights, and education. Businesses benefit from CSR through reputation management, employee attraction, cost efficiency, and investor relations. The document also outlines some top Indian companies involved in CSR and examples of CSR initiatives in India.
Chief Mark Anthony Chidolue Dike is a seasoned tax administrator and Chartered Accountant. He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Economics from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. Dike has served in various capacities both within the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria. Chief Dike’s wealth of experience spans over three decades at the Federal Inland Revenue Service where he served at various capacities in Tax Audit and Special Investigations, Oil and Gas, and until recently, Director of the Tax Policy and Legislations Department. Before his election as the 11th President of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, he had served the Institute as Chairman of Students Affairs and Examinations Committee, Dean of International Taxation & Treaties Faculty, Oil, Gas and Solid Minerals Faculty, Annual Tax Conference Committee, Deputy Vice President, and as Vice President.
This document summarizes a chapter about corporations and corporate responsibility from three perspectives: narrow (profit-maximization), broader (stakeholder responsibilities), and debates around each view. It also discusses institutionalizing ethics within corporations through moral codes, ethics committees, and shaping corporate culture. The chapter examines corporations as moral agents and how responsibility is diffused within complex organizational structures.
The document discusses human rights and business. It summarizes John Ruggie's UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which establish that governments have a duty to protect human rights while businesses have a responsibility to respect them. The interviewees discuss how companies can identify and manage their human rights impacts through processes like human rights due diligence and impact assessments. They provide examples of companies realizing business benefits from respecting human rights and the risks of failing to address human rights issues.
Move from industrial to employment relations revisedmusyokasaff
Kindly find this paper useful in all fields, you can as well share the resource with friends in all learning institutions. This is entirely the my original work. The paper will also be useful in fields like medicine, law and social science.
1) The document discusses ethics in business decision-making and defines ethics as "the rules and standards applied by individuals when making decisions in their business environment." It argues that conducting business ethically is critical for long-term organizational sustainability.
2) It notes that while regulation is important, it is not sufficient on its own to ensure ethical behavior as businesses can find ways around it. Fostering an ethical culture and providing a decision-making process that considers stakeholders is important.
3) The document identifies three key performance indicators of sustainable and ethical businesses: return on capital employed, leadership trust, and corporate reputation. It argues that performing well on all three will lead to long-term success.
Corporate Social Responsiblity, Ethics & Sustainabilitypercydeigh
This document discusses corporate social responsibility (CSR) and related topics. It provides context on why CSR has become important, noting corporate scandals, consumer cynicism, and demands for transparency. CSR is defined as considering society and stakeholder interests beyond legal obligations. The document outlines CSR's economic, social, and environmental dimensions and drivers of CSR development. It compares Western and African perspectives on CSR and the roles of governments and standards in facilitating CSR practices.
The governance professional of the future
will have to deal with a different regulatory
framework, greater complexity and technology
shifts, each occurring at an increasingly
rapid rate. Over 83 per cent of governance
professionals expect their roles to change by
2025.
Three key themes emerged consistently from the
interviews, survey and roundtable.
The leading theme nominated by governance
professionals is the increased complexity of many
organisations, this relates to internal operations
as well as the influence of shareholders and other
external stakeholders
The future of the governance professional is
right here and now. The world of the governance
professional is changing faster than ever before.
Boards are increasingly under the microscope
from regulators, investors, proxy advisers, staff,
customers and activists. Social media also gives
every stakeholder a voice.
This scrutiny escalated following the Royal
Commission into Misconduct in the Banking,
Superannuation and Financial Services Industry
and the lessons learned have relevance to all
Australian organisations, not only banks and
insurers.
The pressures of operating in the face of growing
complexity and uncertainty are being felt across
Australia’s boardrooms, raising the importance
of governance professionals’ input and
strengthening their valued ‘trusted adviser’ status
within every organisation.
This report attempts to understand why
governance professionals’ roles are shifting,
what future skills they require, and the resources
and support they will need from their executive
leaders. As Australia’s largest dedicated
governance association, we too will use this
research to support our members with the
most relevant and up-to-date professional
development, courses, events, networks
and resources.
The future is hard to predict. I hope this report will
fuel further debate on what the future will look
like, how governance professionals can futureproof
themselves and ensure they continue
adding value to the board and their organisation.
Standard Chartered Bank faces various ethical measures and considerations as a leading emerging markets bank. The bank has implemented a Code of Conduct that establishes ethical standards for employees. It also engages in initiatives around responsible selling, environmental sustainability, financial crime prevention, increasing access to banking for the poor, and community investment programs. Standard Chartered tracks various metrics to monitor the effectiveness of its ethical programs and receives awards for its work in microfinance and sustainability.
This document discusses international standards and practices around corporate transparency. It covers topics like the OECD principles of corporate governance, integrated reporting frameworks, EU directives on transparency, the Dodd-Frank Act, and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. It also discusses transparency initiatives around anti-money laundering, corporate governance, government transparency, and codes of conduct.
This document discusses ethics and corporate social responsibility. It begins by defining business ethics and how they relate to a company's socio-economic context and stakeholders. It emphasizes that companies have economic responsibilities to earn returns for investors, but cannot do so at the expense of ethical and social responsibilities to employees, customers, communities, and other stakeholders. The document then examines how companies can identify and address ethical issues, assess global challenges, and design action plans to integrate ethics and social responsibility.
This document provides an overview of a seminar on corporate social responsibility (CSR). It begins with definitions of CSR, comparing European and Japanese approaches. It outlines the business benefits of CSR and results from global and UK CSR surveys. It then details CSR concepts, standards, guidelines and related laws/regulations. The five basic fields of CSR are given as governance, market, environment, workplace and community. Two case studies on CSR issues involving child labor are presented. The document concludes with important viewpoints for implementing CSR such as stakeholder engagement, strategic CSR communication and linking CSR activities to core business.
This document provides an overview of a seminar on corporate social responsibility (CSR). It begins with definitions of CSR, comparing European and Japanese approaches. It outlines the business benefits of CSR and results from global and UK CSR surveys. It then details CSR concepts, standards, guidelines and related laws/initiatives. The five basic fields of CSR are given as governance, market, environment, workplace and community. Two case studies on CSR issues are briefly described. The document concludes with important viewpoints on implementing CSR such as stakeholder engagement, strategic CSR communication and linking CSR activities to core business.
Risk & Reward and the Greed is Good Grid John P Dawson
Are corporate cheats using our Greed is Good Grid to decide how to blindside risk management systems? What's happening to ethical leadership and positive Risk Culture?
The document discusses corporate social responsibility (CSR). It provides an introduction to CSR, explaining that CSR involves businesses self-regulating to ensure they comply with ethical standards and positively impact stakeholders. The document then discusses approaches to CSR, benefits of CSR, and criticisms of CSR. It analyzes issues around using CSR to address crises and problems of relying solely on government regulation of businesses.
The document discusses the importance of ethics in human resource management and business. It notes several unethical practices like sexual harassment, expense fraud, and poor working conditions. While some companies prioritize short-term gains over ethics due to pressures like self-interest, maintaining an ethical culture is important for attracting high-quality employees, customers, and a good reputation. Ethics are crucial for business success and sustainable growth.
The document discusses social responsibility and corporate social responsibility. It states that CSR involves activities like community development, philanthropy, and social education that benefit both businesses and society. Businesses adopt CSR as part of their corporate values and citizenship. CSR activities help organizations hire and retain employees while also contributing to business performance.
Role stress and ethical dilemmas often arise from conflicts between job demands and responsibilities. Salespeople may face stress when customers expect incentives that go against company policy. An advertisement maker for Nuveen Investments faced a dilemma between being creative and potentially misleading viewers. Differential association theory suggests people learn ethics from those they interact with, so young managers may follow unethical superiors to show loyalty. Whistleblowers who expose wrongdoing often face negative consequences like job loss and threats.
This document discusses leadership challenges in a time of rapid global change. It profiles Gary Hamel, who argues that leaders must rethink assumptions about business structure and capitalism. It also profiles two London Business School alumni - David Pyott of Allergan and Tim Breedon of Barclays Bank - who have led companies through significant change and turbulence. Both emphasize the importance of listening skills, emotional intelligence, and creating resilient leadership teams to navigate disruptive times.
What is Corporate Social Responsibility? Why CSR? How can you effectively deliver CSR...? etc. Enjoy this CSR Presentation we did in 2012 at le Bistro Latin in Douala.
Human resource management involves six key areas of knowledge: business organization, employee planning, development, benefits, labor relations, and risk management. The role of HR is to manage the company's human capital by hiring, training, evaluating, and rewarding employees in order to improve performance and meet business goals. New technologies have transformed HR functions like recruitment, training, and record keeping by allowing these processes to be conducted more efficiently online. While technology has benefits, human resource managers are still needed as systems cannot replace the human element.
The document defines corporate social responsibility (CSR) as organizations considering the interests of society through their business operations and impact on customers, employees, communities, and the environment. It discusses CSR as a continuing commitment by businesses to behave ethically and improve quality of life while contributing to economic development. A responsibility pyramid shows businesses' obligations from economic responsibilities to ethical responsibilities. Key factors of CSR include climate change, transparency, labor rights, and education. Businesses benefit from CSR through reputation management, employee attraction, cost efficiency, and investor relations. The document also outlines some top Indian companies involved in CSR and examples of CSR initiatives in India.
Chief Mark Anthony Chidolue Dike is a seasoned tax administrator and Chartered Accountant. He holds a Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) degree in Economics from Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife and is a member of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria and the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria. Dike has served in various capacities both within the Federal Inland Revenue Service and the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria. Chief Dike’s wealth of experience spans over three decades at the Federal Inland Revenue Service where he served at various capacities in Tax Audit and Special Investigations, Oil and Gas, and until recently, Director of the Tax Policy and Legislations Department. Before his election as the 11th President of the Chartered Institute of Taxation of Nigeria, he had served the Institute as Chairman of Students Affairs and Examinations Committee, Dean of International Taxation & Treaties Faculty, Oil, Gas and Solid Minerals Faculty, Annual Tax Conference Committee, Deputy Vice President, and as Vice President.
This document summarizes a chapter about corporations and corporate responsibility from three perspectives: narrow (profit-maximization), broader (stakeholder responsibilities), and debates around each view. It also discusses institutionalizing ethics within corporations through moral codes, ethics committees, and shaping corporate culture. The chapter examines corporations as moral agents and how responsibility is diffused within complex organizational structures.
The document discusses human rights and business. It summarizes John Ruggie's UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, which establish that governments have a duty to protect human rights while businesses have a responsibility to respect them. The interviewees discuss how companies can identify and manage their human rights impacts through processes like human rights due diligence and impact assessments. They provide examples of companies realizing business benefits from respecting human rights and the risks of failing to address human rights issues.
Move from industrial to employment relations revisedmusyokasaff
Kindly find this paper useful in all fields, you can as well share the resource with friends in all learning institutions. This is entirely the my original work. The paper will also be useful in fields like medicine, law and social science.
1) The document discusses ethics in business decision-making and defines ethics as "the rules and standards applied by individuals when making decisions in their business environment." It argues that conducting business ethically is critical for long-term organizational sustainability.
2) It notes that while regulation is important, it is not sufficient on its own to ensure ethical behavior as businesses can find ways around it. Fostering an ethical culture and providing a decision-making process that considers stakeholders is important.
3) The document identifies three key performance indicators of sustainable and ethical businesses: return on capital employed, leadership trust, and corporate reputation. It argues that performing well on all three will lead to long-term success.
Corporate Social Responsiblity, Ethics & Sustainabilitypercydeigh
This document discusses corporate social responsibility (CSR) and related topics. It provides context on why CSR has become important, noting corporate scandals, consumer cynicism, and demands for transparency. CSR is defined as considering society and stakeholder interests beyond legal obligations. The document outlines CSR's economic, social, and environmental dimensions and drivers of CSR development. It compares Western and African perspectives on CSR and the roles of governments and standards in facilitating CSR practices.
The governance professional of the future
will have to deal with a different regulatory
framework, greater complexity and technology
shifts, each occurring at an increasingly
rapid rate. Over 83 per cent of governance
professionals expect their roles to change by
2025.
Three key themes emerged consistently from the
interviews, survey and roundtable.
The leading theme nominated by governance
professionals is the increased complexity of many
organisations, this relates to internal operations
as well as the influence of shareholders and other
external stakeholders
The future of the governance professional is
right here and now. The world of the governance
professional is changing faster than ever before.
Boards are increasingly under the microscope
from regulators, investors, proxy advisers, staff,
customers and activists. Social media also gives
every stakeholder a voice.
This scrutiny escalated following the Royal
Commission into Misconduct in the Banking,
Superannuation and Financial Services Industry
and the lessons learned have relevance to all
Australian organisations, not only banks and
insurers.
The pressures of operating in the face of growing
complexity and uncertainty are being felt across
Australia’s boardrooms, raising the importance
of governance professionals’ input and
strengthening their valued ‘trusted adviser’ status
within every organisation.
This report attempts to understand why
governance professionals’ roles are shifting,
what future skills they require, and the resources
and support they will need from their executive
leaders. As Australia’s largest dedicated
governance association, we too will use this
research to support our members with the
most relevant and up-to-date professional
development, courses, events, networks
and resources.
The future is hard to predict. I hope this report will
fuel further debate on what the future will look
like, how governance professionals can futureproof
themselves and ensure they continue
adding value to the board and their organisation.
Standard Chartered Bank faces various ethical measures and considerations as a leading emerging markets bank. The bank has implemented a Code of Conduct that establishes ethical standards for employees. It also engages in initiatives around responsible selling, environmental sustainability, financial crime prevention, increasing access to banking for the poor, and community investment programs. Standard Chartered tracks various metrics to monitor the effectiveness of its ethical programs and receives awards for its work in microfinance and sustainability.
This document discusses international standards and practices around corporate transparency. It covers topics like the OECD principles of corporate governance, integrated reporting frameworks, EU directives on transparency, the Dodd-Frank Act, and the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative. It also discusses transparency initiatives around anti-money laundering, corporate governance, government transparency, and codes of conduct.
This document discusses ethics and corporate social responsibility. It begins by defining business ethics and how they relate to a company's socio-economic context and stakeholders. It emphasizes that companies have economic responsibilities to earn returns for investors, but cannot do so at the expense of ethical and social responsibilities to employees, customers, communities, and other stakeholders. The document then examines how companies can identify and address ethical issues, assess global challenges, and design action plans to integrate ethics and social responsibility.
This document provides an overview of a seminar on corporate social responsibility (CSR). It begins with definitions of CSR, comparing European and Japanese approaches. It outlines the business benefits of CSR and results from global and UK CSR surveys. It then details CSR concepts, standards, guidelines and related laws/regulations. The five basic fields of CSR are given as governance, market, environment, workplace and community. Two case studies on CSR issues involving child labor are presented. The document concludes with important viewpoints for implementing CSR such as stakeholder engagement, strategic CSR communication and linking CSR activities to core business.
This document provides an overview of a seminar on corporate social responsibility (CSR). It begins with definitions of CSR, comparing European and Japanese approaches. It outlines the business benefits of CSR and results from global and UK CSR surveys. It then details CSR concepts, standards, guidelines and related laws/initiatives. The five basic fields of CSR are given as governance, market, environment, workplace and community. Two case studies on CSR issues are briefly described. The document concludes with important viewpoints on implementing CSR such as stakeholder engagement, strategic CSR communication and linking CSR activities to core business.
Risk & Reward and the Greed is Good Grid John P Dawson
Are corporate cheats using our Greed is Good Grid to decide how to blindside risk management systems? What's happening to ethical leadership and positive Risk Culture?
The document discusses corporate social responsibility (CSR). It provides an introduction to CSR, explaining that CSR involves businesses self-regulating to ensure they comply with ethical standards and positively impact stakeholders. The document then discusses approaches to CSR, benefits of CSR, and criticisms of CSR. It analyzes issues around using CSR to address crises and problems of relying solely on government regulation of businesses.
This is for the Creditable Fashion Presentation the working shoes .docxkbrenda
This is for the Creditable Fashion Presentation the working shoes that we are presenting for a new product
BUDGETING, VARIANCE ANALYSIS, AND PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS
Required:
Make comments and suggestions on the following topics in your presentation.
· Enterprise and corporate performance management.
· Behavioral change management.
· The balanced score card.
· How to foster goal congruence for the organization and employees.
SLP Assignment Expectations
Submit a PowerPoint presentation or a Word Document. A PowerPoint presentation should have no more than six slides and a Word document cannot exceed two pages. Use words, tables, and graphs to make a succinct presentation. Document all sources and provide links at the end. It is acceptable to add another slide or page to list the sources.
Business Ethics and
Social Responsibility
http://www.wileybusinessupdates.com
Chapter
2
1
Explain the concern for ethical and societal issues.
Describe the contemporary ethical environment.
Discuss how organizations shape ethical conduct.
1
Learning Objectives
Describe how businesses can act responsibly to satisfy society.
Explain the ethical responsibilities of businesses to the general public.
Describe the responsibilities to investors and the financial community.
2
3
4
5
6
2
Business Ethics
The standards of conduct and moral values governing actions and decisions in the work environment.
Social responsibility
Balance between what’s right and what’s profitable
Often no clear-cut choices
Often shaped by the organization’s ethical climate
Concern for Ethical and
Societal Issues
3
Ethical Challenges
Situation in which a business decision may be influenced for personal gain.
Telling the truth and adhering to deeply felt ethical principles in business decisions.
Businesspeople expect employees to be loyal and truthful, but ethical conflicts may arise.
4
The Contemporary Ethical Environment
High-profile investigations and arrests in headlines.
Vast majority of businesses are ethical.
New corporate officers charged with deterring wrongdoing and ensuring ethical standards.
See how Walmart highlights corporate responsibility on its website.
5
Individuals can make the difference in ethical expectations and behavior.
Putting own interest ahead of the organization
Lying to employee
Misrepresenting hours
Safety violations
Internet abuse
Technology is expanding unethical behavior.
Individuals Make a Difference
6
Development of Personal Ethics
7
How Organizations Shape Ethical Conduct
Code of Conduct: Formal statement that defines how the organization expects and requires employees to resolve ethical questions
8
Ethical Leadership
Executives must demonstrate ethical behavior in their actions.
use clear, explicit language rather than euphemisms for corrupt behavior
encourage behavior that generates and fosters ethical values
practi.
The document discusses the relationship between business and society, and the importance of business ethics. It makes three key points:
1) Business and society are interdependent - business needs societal approval to survive long-term, and society relies on business for economic prosperity.
2) Unethical business practices may provide short-term gains but ultimately harm both business and society. Ethical businesses that serve all stakeholders have enjoyed long-term success.
3) In today's global environment, businesses can only grow by adopting ethical, socially responsible policies that benefit investors, customers, employees and communities. Maintaining transparency and treating all stakeholders fairly is essential for good corporate governance.
This document discusses the importance of ethics in business. It notes that business ethics helps establish acceptable standards beyond legal compliance and helps corporations gain trust. Ethics provide moral guidance for daily decisions and actions. Unethical behavior can occur for reasons like a lack of codes of ethics, fear of reprisal, peer pressure, and slipping into worse conduct over time. The document also discusses ethics in relation to different business functions like accounting, human resources, sales and marketing, and production. It outlines the relationship between business ethics and development, noting that ethical companies have better reputations and profits. Responsibilities to stakeholders like employees, customers, and society are also reviewed. The document concludes with sections on ethics relating to environmental protection and consumer protection.
The document discusses the nature of business environment. It defines business and outlines its purpose beyond just earning profits, such as supplying goods/services and creating jobs. It describes the internal and external factors that influence business decisions, including strengths/weaknesses and opportunities/threats. It also explains Porter's five forces model and SWOT analysis as tools for understanding competitive dynamics and strategic decision making.
The document discusses the nature of business environment. It describes that business aims to supply goods and services to consumers for profit, while also creating jobs, economic growth, and quality of life. The business environment includes production, trade, banking, and related activities. It is influenced by factors inside the organization and in the external environment. A SWOT analysis identifies internal strengths and weaknesses and external opportunities and threats. The macro environment comprises political, economic, technological, sociocultural, and global forces outside a firm's control. The micro environment includes interactions with customers, suppliers, competitors and other stakeholders. Firms must analyze trends and changes in the internal and external environments to develop effective strategies.
The document provides an overview of business and its environment. It discusses [1] the nature of business, goals of business, and trends in modern business. It then covers [2] the importance of corporate governance, social responsibility, and business ethics. Finally, it analyzes [3] the different factors in a business environment and how businesses must analyze and respond to changes in their external environment.
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Business Ethics and Corporate Governance - White Paper
1. Why business ethics matter...
to your bottom line
charteredaccountants.com.au
2. Disclaimer
This publication has been prepared for the Institute
of Chartered Accountants Australia (‘the Institute’)
by Managing Values principal, Dr Attracta Lagan.
While every effort has been made to ensure it
reflects current legislation, neither the Institute nor
any representatives from Managing Values shall
be liable on any ground whatsoever to any party
in respect of decisions or actions they may take as
a result of using this publication, nor in respect of
any errors in, or omissions from it. The information
contained in this publication is general commentary
only and should not be used, relied upon, or treated
as a substitute for specific professional advice.
Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia
The Institute is the professional body for Chartered Accountants in Australia and
members operating throughout the world.
Representing more than 72,000 current and future professionals and business
leaders, the Institute has a pivotal role in upholding financial integrity in society.
Members strive to uphold the profession’s commitment to ethics and quality in
everything they do, alongside an unwavering dedication to act in the public interest.
Chartered Accountants hold diverse positions across the business community, as
well as in professional services, government, not-for-profit, education and academia.
The leadership and business acumen of members underpin the Institute’s deep
knowledge base in a broad range of policy areas impacting the Australian economy
and domestic and international capital markets.
The Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia was established by Royal
Charter in 1928 and today has more than 60,000 members and 12,000 talented
graduates working and undertaking the Chartered Accountants Program.
The Institute is a founding member of the Global Accounting Alliance (GAA),
which is an international coalition of accounting bodies and an 800,000-strong
network of professionals and leaders worldwide.
charteredaccountants.com.au
Copyright
A person that acquires this publication from the
Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia may
reproduce or amend this document for their own
use or use within their business. Apart from such
use, copyright is strictly reserved and no part of this
publication may be reproduced or copied in any form
or by any means without the written permission of
the Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia.
Why business ethics matter to your bottom line
Published: May 2013
Published by: Institute of Chartered Accountants
Australia, 33 Erskine Street Sydney NSW 2000
ISBN: 978-1-921245-79-4
ABN 50 084 642 571 The Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia. Incorporated in Australia. Members’ liability limited. 0413-20
3. Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia 3
4 5 7
Introduction The changing business
environment
Global perspectives on
integrity management
8 9 10
The limitations of
compliance
The high cost of
failure to manage
ethics at work
The impact of ongoing
change on institutional
integrity
11 12 13
The business benefits
of organisational
integrity
Leaders in
institutional
integrity
Business ethics as
the basis of business
strength
14
What needs to be done?
Contents
Statement of purpose
This paper seeks to inform those charged with
fiduciary management of enterprises why ethics
can no longer be treated as a discretionary
cost to the business. Management of the ethical
dimension is instead a significant contributor to
financial success. This is highlighted in the paper
through the use of examples of how leading
corporations are integrating ethical management
into business practices, change programs, and
fraud, risk and compliance systems.
4. This paper suggests that Australian business leaders and
regulators need to shift their current focus on employee
ethics training as the solution to unethical practices, to a new
orientation that focuses on building the sort of institutional
integrity that supports employees in making ethical choices.
It argues that such a shift demands a rethink of business
leaders’ current mindset about what is appropriate, as well
as a critical review of modern day best practices in business
ethics management. Effective management of business
ethics requires an organisational strategy that is in tune with
wider societal values and the public’s new expectations
of business.
Inside the finance sector
In 2010, John Hartman became the youngest person jailed
in Australia for insider trading. The former equities dealer
claimed to have earned $350,000 in salary and bonuses in
2008, when he was then only 23 years old. In sentencing
Hartman, NSW chief judge Peter McClellan said the
financial services industry had ‘corrupted his values’. In a
damning characterisation of the culture prevailing in the
heady pre-GFC days, the judge wrote: ‘The temptations are
so great, and the potential rewards so significant, that the
fall into criminality of individuals is a significant risk’. He
noted that paying a recent graduate generous remuneration
so out of kilter with his modest responsibilities ‘underlines
the extent to which the values which underpin our society
can be compromised. The values of productive endeavour
and integrity in dealings and business can easily be lost’.
Introduction
Why business ethics matter to your bottom line
argues that ethical conduct has moved front and
centre as corporations are increasingly exposed to the
glare of public scrutiny. In particular, there has been a
fundamental shift over the past few years that requires
a complete rethinking of the functions of compliance,
governance and social accountability, putting ethics
into the daily vocabulary of mainstream management.
It is not the strongest
of the species that
survive, nor the most
intelligent, but the
one most responsive
to change.
Charles Darwin
Why Business Ethics Matter to Your Bottom Line4
5. Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia 5
The physicist and systems theorist Fritjof Capra suggests
that over the past few decades, a new economy has
emerged that is shaped definitively by information and
communication technologies. These forces have delivered
a business world and society that is characterised by
massively complex systems which permeate every
aspect of our lives. They have spun massive technological
and social changes that are creating an organisational
environment almost unrecognisable from the perspective
of traditional management theory and practice. The key
drivers are:
Size matters
Globalisation has made all societies interdependent and
accountable for the social, environmental and political
challenges that threaten to undermine our shared future.
With 80,000 transnational enterprises and ten times as many
subsidiaries and countless millions of small and medium
sized businesses, business is the major institution in the
world today. Greater corporate responsibility for self-regulation
is being demanded as the necessary accompaniment to
the process of globalisation. With increased power comes
greater accountability.
Ethical challenges for business include international labour
standards, human rights, and climate change, as well as
marketplace integrity. Transparency International’s 2012
Corruption Perceptions Index shows that corruption continues
to ravage societies around the world. Two-thirds of the
176 countries ranked score below 50, on a scale from
0 (perceived to be highly corrupt) to 100 (perceived to be
very clean). Pressure groups argue that it is big business
that continues to facilitate much of this corruption.
The internet as the new public square
where business is held to account
There is a new global antenna tuned to the perceived
negative impacts of business on nation states. Digitalisation
has empowered consumers, employees and grassroots
activists to take immediate direct action where they find
business ethical standards to be unacceptable. Qantas,
for example, found itself the victim of a Twitter campaign
when it asked its followers: ‘What is your dream luxury
inflight experience?’ The response was some 16,000 tweets
anywhere between sarcastic and critical, reflecting the PR
disaster that had followed Qantas’ earlier grounding of its
fleet, stranding tens of thousands of customers worldwide,
during an acrimonious industrial dispute. Woolworths’ social
media platform also became the target of public anger
following Alan Jones’ derogatory remarks about the Prime
Minister Julia Gillard’s father ‘dying of shame’, at a Young
Liberals event attended in a private capacity by a Woolworths’
corporate affairs manager employee. The executive resigned
to avoid any reputational backlash against his employer.
International pressure groups such as Oxfam have changed
their traditional focus from reforming government policies
to harnessing the power of consumers to target global
companies; the influential NGO is demanding companies
use their economic power to raise the ethical standards in
the countries where they operate.
Nike became the poster child for exploitative sweat shop
labour in developing countries. Its initial reaction was to refuse
to accept responsibility for its third-party suppliers, but it has
now reversed this position to become a champion in setting
standards for suppliers. It is now an advocate for raising labour
standards in developing countries, and has opened its supply
chain management methodologies to all competitors so they,
too, can be part of the solution. An ever-increasing regiment
of iconic brands have become the standard bearers for a new
way for business to operate. These include Coca-Cola, Mattel,
Home Depot, Marks & Spencers and Wal-Mart. Responding
to such global challenges requires more than a short-term
perspective; it can mean that organisational leaders have to
trade off competing priorities, such as returns to shareholders,
with responsibilities to the environment or community
stakeholders.
GFC legacy
The worst economic crisis since the Great Depression was
largely caused by poor business decisions made by boards
of directors and executives in both the financial and industrial
sectors. Institutional compensation practices, in particular, were
seen to give rise to a new type of amoral business management
practice that no longer curtailed the potential negative impacts
of business. In the wake of what has also been seen as a crisis
in ‘institutional integrity’, where both business and its regulators
failed to protect society, businesses are facing greater scrutiny
from global monitoring organisations.
The changing business environment
6. Why Business Ethics Matter to Your Bottom Line6
Organisational cultural risk
The fallout from the GFC has led many boards to concentrate
more on compliance than performance. This is the easy way
out; it is not making the leap in organisational culture required
to avoid ethical risks in the first place. According to the
Ernst &Young (E&Y) 11th Global Fraud Survey 2010, more than
three-quarters of board members are worried about personal
liability. The UK Bribery Act, passed in 2010, created a new
offence that can be committed by commercial organisations
which fail to prevent persons associated with them from
committing bribery on their behalf. It is a full defence for an
organisation to prove that despite a particular case, it had
adequate procedures in place to prevent persons associated
with it from bribing. It follows that commercial organisations
need to adopt a risk-based approach to managing such risks.
What’s significant about the Bribery Act is that it not only
creates an offence relating to bribery of a foreign public
official, it also creates a new form of corporate liability for
failing to prevent bribery on behalf of a company.
The UK Serious Fraud Office, which investigates such cases,
has a policy of co-operation with commercial organisations
that self-refer incidents of bribery. The company’s willingness
to co-operate and to make a full disclosure will be taken into
account in any decision whether it is appropriate to commence
criminal proceedings. This, and the fact that the Bribery Act
lays down a set of six principles which, if followed, will assist
in creating a culture that minimises the risks of individuals
breaking the law, is a departure from the traditional ‘black
letter’ approach to ethical conduct. In light of the fact that
many global Australian corporations are now potentially subject
to the UK Bribery Act provisions, it’s interesting to speculate
whether BHP Billiton was influenced by this new regime in
its decision to inform the authorities that they may have been
involved in bribing foreign officials at some of its exploration
sites. This followed soon after Rio Tinto executive Stern Hu
was found guilty of accepting bribes in China.
On a positive note, Transparency International (TI), which
publishes a global index on corruption, ranks Australia
consistently in the best 10 countries to do business in.
However, TI warns that four countries among Australia’s top
trading partners – India, Thailand, Indonesia and Vietnam –
have some of the most corrupt public sectors in the world.
As Australian businesses continue to expand their operations
into other countries with lower levels of transparency and
governance, boards and C-suite executives will have to
remain vigilant that ethical standards are maintained.
Notwithstanding that boards are increasingly concerned about
risks associated with unethical conduct, this does not seem
to be filtering down into effective risk management strategies.
Business ethics surveys published by the major accountancy
firms, including E&Y’s 11th Global Fraud Survey, consistently
demonstrate that employees in all sectors are increasingly
working in environments conducive to misconduct, and that
effective interventions that largely revolve around strengthening
organisational integrity systems to reduce ethics risks are
not very common. A chilling example of the impact of
organisational culture on employee behaviour was exposed
in the New York Times by one of Goldman Sachs long-serving
employees. Greg Smith, the former executive director and
head of the firm’s US equity derivatives business in Europe,
the Middle East and Africa, in an op-ed in the March 14, 2012
edition of the newspaper, described Goldman Sachs’ culture
as ‘toxic and destructive’. Smith said his reason for resigning
from Goldman Sachs was that the firm’s culture had changed
so much over his time that it had become a place where profits
trumps all other considerations; what was good for the firm
and made the most money was the dominant value.
The linking of ethical behaviour to reputation makes the
effective management of reputational risk and ethical business
conduct an integral part of what drives company success.
Economic performance alone no longer guarantees success
and defaulting to what’s legal doesn’t cut it anymore, as global
brand giants such as Google, Apple, Amazon and Starbucks
are finding in the UK where they have been held to widespread
public account for their adherence to tax minimising regimes
that offshore their profits. UK consumers have been busy not
only venting their anger in internet forums but also taking direct
action by boycotting Starbuck stores. Such was the pressure
of public opinion that Starbuck’s management had to quickly
move from its position of defending its legal position, to bowing
to public pressure and social media campaigns; it has now
offered to pay an additional £20 million in tax. In what was seen
as an additional attempt to ward off further consumer backlash
– or as they say in corporate social responsibility speak, ‘to
retain its social licence to operate’ – its UK managing director,
Kris Engskov, went even further by announcing that the
company would pay ‘a significant amount of tax during 2013
and 2014 regardless of whether the company is profitable’.
According to the field research, the top ethical issues
confronting business institutions today revolve around:
• Insider trading (see box for example)
• Illegal political contributions
• Environmental violations
• Health or safety violations
• Improper contracts
• Contract violations
• Improper use of competitor’s information
• Anti-competitive practices
• Sexual harassment
• Substance abuse
• Stealing.
7. Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia 7
Applied business ethics in Australia is at a different stage
of maturity than in other parts of the world. In Europe and
the US, business ethics is recognised as a management
discipline informed by a comprehensive body of field
research that is used to inform business management
practice. The Washington-based Ethics Resources Centre,
for example, conducts annual surveys mapping the
changing ethical landscape of American businesses and
benchmarking their performances against their peers. The
UK Business Ethics Institute conducts similar research and
works closely with business leaders to benchmark ethical
standards in Britain, and the European Business Ethics
Network brings academics and practitioners together to
share best practices in Europe. Leading global consulting
firms produce regular ‘ethical pulse checks’. Examples
include KPMG’s Global Anti-bribery & Corruption surveys,
E&Y’s Global Fraud surveys, PWC’s Business Ethics &
Directors surveys, and Deloitte’s Ethics & Workplace surveys.
In contrast, in Australia, business ethics is still seen as a
discretionary endeavour and the scant research conducted
revolves around individual perceptions and attitudes, divorced
from any analysis of the organisational context that shapes
these. It focuses on the players and misses the bigger picture
about how the game is being played. The limited research that
exists, however, does indicate that Australian managers and
employees face exactly the same organisational pressures as
their counterparts in other countries and that these pressures
give rise to the same ethical issues and challenges.
Unethical and corrupt business conduct has encouraged
legislators around the globe to mandate organisational whistle-
blowing mechanisms as a minimum organisational safety net
against systemic unethical practices. Implicit in this mandate is
the recognition that ethical conduct and organisational culture is
not beyond management control; it is instead the outcome of the
ways leaders set their organisational context so that employees
are encouraged or inhibited to observe ethical and legal standards
and are rewarded or penalised for their ethical conduct.
The cultural nature of business ethics is made more explicit in
the US, where the Federal Sentencing Guidelines (1991) provide
a framework for imposing criminal penalties on organisations
that commit offences according to whether they have an
effective compliance and ethics program in place. Regularly
updated to reflect changing social expectations, the guidelines
have led to the creation or enhancement of business ethics
programs by thousands of companies across the US, and
created the position of ‘ethics and compliance officer’ within
all publicly listed companies. In a similar development, the
UK Bribery Act (2001) recognises the power of organisational
leaders to shape organisational culture. The most far-reaching
Act in the developed world, this legislation holds company
directors accountable for any unethical or corrupt behaviour,
with tough penalties for breaches of the Act, including up to
12 years in prison and/or large fines. Here in Australia, the
ethical dimension is managed in a more informal and reactive
manner. While on paper it might seem that
we are in step with other countries in encouraging corporate
compliance, regulation is thin on the ground. Amendments
to the Criminal Code effective since 1999 state that a
corporation can be criminally responsible if it is established
that ‘a corporate culture existed within the body corporate
that directed, encouraged, tolerated or led to non-compliance
with the relevant provision’ or by showing that ‘the body
corporate failed to create and maintain a corporate culture
that required compliance with the relevant provision’. However,
it took until 2011 for the first person to be charged under
these provisions, despite what appeared to be overwhelming
evidence of bribery and corruption in the case of the Australian
Wheat Board and other companies such as Note Printing
Australia and Securency several high profile cases.
The OECD said it was ‘seriously concerned’ with Australia’s
lack of enforcement of its foreign bribery laws, highlighting
that Australian businesses were highly exposed to foreign
corruption. According to Johnson Winter & Slattery partner
Robert Wyld, the AFP has received 28 allegations of foreign
bribery involving Australian companies and individuals since
2006. Of these cases, 12 have been evaluated, rejected for
investigation and terminated, while nine cases were accepted
for investigation but have been finalised without resulting in
charges because of insufficient evidence.
The cultural perspective of ethics as a discretionary activity
or, worse, the preserve of individual morality, sets the bar of
acceptable business standards lower than in other advanced
economies while ensuring that Australian regulation remains
wedded to a compliance approach. Safeguarding institutional
integrity remains a subset of risk management rather than a
cornerstone of organisational cultural development demanding
the constant attention of all C-suite executives.
International standards and benchmarks
on business ethics management
• ISO 1400; SA 8100 & AA1000
• UN Guiding Principles on Business and
Human Rights (2012)
• U.N. Convention against Corruption (UNCAC)
• OECD Guidelines on Multinational enterprises
• ILO Core Conventions
• International Covenant on Economic, Social and
Cultural Rights (ICESCR)
• Equator Principles
• Global Reporting Initiative (GRI)
• World Business Council Sustainable Development
• Ethical Trading Initiative
• EU Strategy on corporate social responsibility
• Transparency International Global Index on Corruption.
Global perspectives on
integrity management
8. Why Business Ethics Matter to Your Bottom Line8
Business ethics is now generally regarded as a form of
applied ethics or professional ethics, which examines
ahead of time the ethical principles and issues that may
arise in a business environment. It applies to all aspects
of business conduct from how it develops, produces and
delivers its products and services, to its interactions with
its customers, suppliers, employees and wider society.
Business ethics is widely recognised in most developed
countries (as well as in emerging economies including
China and India) as a social science where the study of
changing social expectations of business as one vitally
important element of a well-functioning society is critical
to sustaining progressive economies.
To this end, business ethics advocates seek to challenge the
cultural legitimacy of assumptions such as agency theory,
which promoted the idea that business managers were
only driven by self-interest. The theory is they need to be
incentivised to align their interests with shareholders. The
accompanying premise is that business’s primary role is to
deliver maximum shareholder benefits. Many argue that
agency theory became a self-fulfilling prophecy that led to
the emergence of managerial elite that legitimised obscene
incentive packages and helped to spawn a generation of amoral
managers. According to two studies in the US of graduates of
business schools, ‘amoral management’ has been identified
as both intentional and unintentional. Intentional amoral
management practices occur where managers operate from
a mindset that separates business and ethics in two separate
realms. Unintentional amoral management, the studies
suggest, emerges where managers fail to canvass the ethical
impacts of their decisions and actions. This was most evident
in the financial markets at the time of the GFC and was
graphically illustrated by the Goldman Sachs case of some
investment banks creating toxic debt products in order to
bet against the market recovering.
There is an emerging body of field research into how workplace
contexts shape managerial and employee behaviour, that
suggests that employee ethics are malleable and dynamic,
with individuals taking their behavioural cues from the social
messaging of their organisations in order to succeed. Social
psychology highlights that many people are likely to commit
seriously unethical acts in situations that share powerful and
distinctive features, including the power dynamics embedded
in workplace hierarchies. These typically result in the
depersonalisation that typifies large workplaces and enables
individuals to abdicate personal accountability. It means that
managers and employees can find themselves behaving
inconsistently across different situations. This ‘argentic
shift’, first identified by Stanley Milgram’s Yale research on
obedience to authority and later supported by Stanford’s
prison experiment, suggests that there can be an erosion of
agency within organisations to the point where individuals
simply follow directives. In both these famous research studies,
participants were found to behave in ways consistent with
the context they found themselves in, even if it was strongly
inconsistent with their personal ethical standards. It is generally
agreed that situational and social forces are more important
than individual differences in explaining unethical behaviour.
Global research suggests that boards are slow to recognise
and be accountable for the integrity of the organisations
they steer. According to E&Y’s 2011 global survey, as many
as 52% of C-suite executives think their boards are out of
touch in understanding the ethical issues facing the business,
and especially so in rapid-growth markets.
In Australia, narrow assumptions around what constitutes
the appropriate ‘tone at the top’ has similarly left a legacy of
initiatives that focus on promoting individual morality, the latest
being the 2012 Australian Bankers Oath. There is no substitute
for boards insisting on appropriate systems to monitor,
promote, reward and support collective ethical standards.
There is already much criticism around the lack of diversity
at Australian board level – not just in gender terms but also in
terms of world views. The composition of Australian boards,
while slowly changing, is well-seasoned in what’s legal but
sometimes less confident in the new values and expectations
of stakeholder capitalism. These revolve around corporate
social responsibility, sustainability and what the public regard
as fair and ethical business practices. The boards of iconic
Australian institutions such as the Reserve Bank, Qantas,
Telstra, Pacific Dunlop, Amcor, AWB, Rio Tinto, James Hardie
and the major Australian retail banks have all experienced
the blowtorch of stakeholder criticism in recent years.
These boards were held to account not for poor employee
ethical standards but for the unethical and sometimes illegal
institutional business practices that were by-products of their
organisational cultures. For Qantas, Amcor and Visy, these
revolved around price-fixing in the marketplace; for James
Hardie around failures of corporate governance; for Telstra
alleged abuse of market power and for the banks around
questionable lending practices.
The limitations of compliance
of C-suite executives
think their boards
are out of touch in
understanding the
ethical issues facing
the business.
52%
9. Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia 9
The huge costs recently incurred by Starbucks are only
the tip of the iceberg of the combined costs of unethical
behaviour. Other examples include:
• In November 2012, UBS was fined £29.7 million for failures
in its systems and controls that allowed former employee
Kweku Adoboli to conduct Britain’s biggest bank fraud
• In December 2012, HSBC agreed to pay a record
$1.92 billion to settle charges that the banking giant
violated US sanctions by transferring billions of dollars
for prohibited nations, it enabled Mexican drug cartels
to launder tainted money through the American financial
system, and it worked closely with Saudi Arabian banks
linked to terrorist organisations
• In 2012, Barclays was fined £290 million for manipulating
key interest rates
• In April 2012, the New York Times reported that a 2005
internal investigation at Wal-Mart found evidence that
executives in the company’s Mexican subsidiary paid more
than $24 million in bribes to officials in ‘virtually every corner
of the country’ to clear the way for the rapid expansion
of the retail empire. The allegations are unusual in that
knowledge of wrongdoing is said to have subsequently
reached the top of the organisation. The newspaper reports
that the company is now under investigation for possible
violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
• In 2010, Rio Tinto made headlines when four employees
from the mining giant were charged with bribery and
stealing trade secrets in China
• In 2010, Daimler, the German car maker, agreed to pay a
$185 million fine for bribing foreign government officials,
including Russian and Chinese officials
• In 2009, L’Oréal, the French cosmetics giant, was found
guilty of racial discrimination for barring black, Arab and
Asian women from selling its shampoo
• In 2009, engineering giant KBR settled a Nigerian corruption
case for $579 million
• In 2008, the Swiss agriculture and chemicals company
Syngenta was fined for pesticide-related infringements,
and one of its former employees was awarded nearly
$2 million after she was wrongly fired for reporting
discrimination in the workplace
• In 2008, Siemens settled a global corruption case for
$1.6 billion.
Following its prosecutions in the UK for paying bribes,
defence systems company BAE commissioned a far reaching
report into best practise in ensuring institutional integrity.
The research looked at ethics management systems and
process of 12 global companies from the US, the UK and
Europe. It concluded by saying:
‘A company should aim to develop an organisational
culture that is self-policing and that positively
encourages concerns about ethical behaviour to
be raised at all levels and in all locations.’
For directors it recommended boards must not only ensure
that ethical conduct and the impact of ethical risk are explicitly
taken into account, but that this is also reflected in decision-
making throughout the company at all levels and adhered to
in the face of financial and operational pressures.
Standard ethics and compliance
programs include:
• Charging the leadership team with accountability
for establishing ethical cultures
• Publishing a code plus other directional documents
• Deploying global training and communications to
all employees
• Managing the global Ethics and Compliance Line
• Administering annual certification process, reporting
on issues raised & on violations.
The high cost of failure to manage
ethics at work
10. According to the 2011 biennial National Business Ethics
Survey from the Washington-based Ethics Resource
Center (ERC), the percentage of employees who perceived
pressure to compromise standards in order to do their
jobs has increased while retaliation against employee
whistle blowers has also risen sharply. Employees’
cynicism regarding the tone being set from the top
has similarly increased.
ERC surveys consistently show that there’s a very strong
correlation between a strong ethical culture and lower
observed misconduct. In 2011, misconduct was observed
in only 29% of companies with a strong ethical culture but
seen in 90% of those with a weak ethical culture. Pressure
to compromise ethical standards was felt in 33% of companies
having a weak ethical culture versus only 7% where the
ethical culture was strong. Employees in companies with
weak cultures failed to report observed misconduct 48% of
the time, but only 6% of employees in companies with strong
cultures didn’t report misconduct they observed. Retaliation
after reporting misconduct was also more prevalent in
weaker cultures.
A 2012 survey by the UK Ethics Centre of 500 financial
services professional across the US and the UK resulted
in some likewise alarming statistics:
30% of respondents said that their organisation’s
compensation plan created pressure to
compromise ethical standards or break the law
24% of respondents said that financial services
professionals may need to engage in unethical
or illegal conduct to be successful
39% of respondents said that their competitors
are likely to have engaged in illegal or unethical
activity to be successful
26% of respondents indicated that they had
observed or had firsthand knowledge of wrong
doing in the workplace
20% of respondents said they were unsure or
had serious doubts about how their employers
would handle a report of wrongdoing
22% of female respondents said they would be
retaliated against if they reported wrongdoing
in the workplace
In Australia, according to a 2010 KPMG report 51% of
respondents said they experienced unethical behaviour at
work, while a similar survey of professionals in 2009 found that
one in four respondents believed their organisations could do
more to promote ethical standards. The same number reported
that profits or funding concerns had a higher priority than
ethical standards.
The impact of ongoing change
on institutional integrity
Why BUSINESS Ethics Matter to Your Bottom Line10
11. Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia 11
While the picture so far might appear mostly doom
and gloom, there are many upsides and ‘green shoots’
of ethical performance.
The Hay Group’s annual survey of The World’s Most Admired
Companies (WoMACs) highlights just how much the
management of culture matters. The results show that the
world’s best performing companies by shareholder value
are also the ones that value the importance of culture and
place priorities on promoting positive people management
practices and systems. WoMACs were found to have
outperformed average shareholder growth, which has
averaged approximately 12% per annum for more than
100 years, and by about 3–5% per annum. That represents
a premium over standard shareholder value performance
of about a quarter to two-fifths above normal returns.
The US-based think-tank, Ethisphere, also charted the stock
performance of publicly traded award winners from 2007,
and noted that the most ethical companies consistently and
significantly outperformed the S&P500 by more than double.
Another US-based research and advisory firm, Corporate
Executive Board, also confirmed that companies with high
integrity capital enjoy financial benefits. Their research shows
that integrity leaders incur only one-eighth the costs of
misconduct than competitors, and have 12% lower labour
costs because their employees invest more discretionary
effort. CEB attributes these two organisational integrity
dynamics as key factors in delivering shareholder returns
5.8% higher than the average company.
Another important green shoot is the clear link between
institutional integrity and employee engagement. Gallup’s
research on employee engagement shows that organisations
with highly engaged teams outperform their competitors by
26% in gross margin and 85% in sales growth. In Australia,
UTS Emeritus Professor Dexter Dunphy has shown that
organisations with staff that are highly engaged tend to
be places where there is genuine alignment between
institutional values and corporate social responsibility
objectives, thus bucking the western trend towards lower
levels of employee engagement.
At a global level, research points to a seismic values shift,
with a new generation demanding ethical ambition among
its employers. Net Impact’s research What Workers Want in
2012 found 61 to 70% of people across all generations believe
they have a responsibility to make society better rather than
leave it to the future. Employees who were able to make
a positive impact through their workplace reported being
more engaged and twice as satisfied with work as those
denied this opportunity.
In another study titled The Workforce Crisis, workplace change
expert Tamara Erickson examined ten work expectations of
baby boomers, Gen X and Gen Y, and found while there were
no significant differences in their underlying values, there
were differences in their expectations. Younger generations
demonstrated a greater expectation for ‘more transparent
attitudes on requiring a strong ethical leadership brand in
the companies for which they work’.
Australian research links
people management to profits
Ground-breaking research examining 78 Australian
organisations has provided hard evidence of the correlation
between best-practice leadership and bottom-line results.
The study, conducted by the University of NSW, Australian
National University and Copenhagen Business School
released in 2011, found that companies which focus on
intangible assets such as innovation, leadership, fairness,
employee and customer experience – as well as financial
indicators – were nearly three times more profitable than
their peers. Leaders in the best performing companies,
according to the Leadership, Culture and Management
Practices of High-Performing Workplaces in Australia
report, spend far more time and effort managing staff,
are more inclined to give employees ample recognition,
and can articulate a clear vision and goals.
The business benefits of
organisational integrity
of people across all
generations believe they
have a responsibility
to make society
better rather than
leave it to the future.
61-70%
12. Why Business Ethics Matter to Your Bottom Line12
There are a growing number of leaders who are prepared
to stand up and be counted for their ethical acumen.
They have moved beyond the values rhetoric to embedding
their values into day-to-day organisational practices.
General Electric chief executive, Jeff Immelt, has been named
one of the ‘World’s Best CEOs’ three times & GE named
‘America’s Most Admired Company’ by Fortune magazine.
GE has also received the gong one of ‘The World’s Most
Respected Companies’ from the Financial Times.
Immelt’s message to business leaders talks to the zeitgeist
of the times:
‘This is a time when the world isn’t going to be the
same. Now is a time when people want a reason to
believe in their leaders; they want to be involved
in creating a new story that is geared to produce
a better and more equitable future. This is a time
when leaders are being asked to sign up to a higher
accountability to the people they seek to lead; to
rebuild trust and engagement with the challenges
on hand. No one promises the landscape will be
easy, but neither will would-be leaders be allowed
to escape public scrutiny.’
Businesses of the future recognise that there is a fundamental
readjustment going on from a rules-based society to a
principles-based society. These leaders understand the role
they can play in enhancing not only business success, but
overall societal well-being. They know that ethical leadership
involves managers leading by example. They put strong
boundaries on competitive behaviour even as they recognise
that they are operating in adversarial markets. They insist on
more attention to good governance rather than hiding behind
outdated notions of total control. They are the employers of
choice because they are responding to a new generation of
employees looking for organisations with a comparable set
of values, and a responsible attitude towards their community.
Their business models appreciate the importance of business
with purpose, organisational integrity as the basis of employee
engagement and satisfaction, and ethical standards as the
basis for sustainability. Traditional transactional command-and-
control leaders have given way to these transformational ones
who work on culture, bring their people with them, instil pride
in the mission of the enterprise, and deliver benefits to
the societies from which they profit.
Sir Stuart Rose, the former Marks & Spencer chairman, is
one such transformational leader. His Plan A eco-initiative in
2007 set out 100 ethical and sustainability targets. Another
is Paul Polman, the chief executive of consumer goods
giant Unilever. He throws down the gauntlet to recalcitrant
leaders when he says he doesn’t believe fiduciary duty is to
put shareholders first. Instead, his focus is on the company
improving the lives of the world’s citizens and coming up
with genuine sustainable solutions – ultimately, this will
result in better shareholder returns.
Polman points to the growing number of high-performance
companies that are continually working on their corporate
cultures to fuse high performance with high integrity. Examples
include Proctor & Gamble, Coca Cola, Novo Nordisk, Danone,
Nike, Heineken, DSM, Novartis, Interface Inc and Patagonia.
Together these companies are helping to create a critical mass
for change by pushing sustainability through their global supply
chains and transforming how business gets done. Perhaps
the poster child for this new era in business is best captured
in Google’s culture statement: ‘You can make money without
doing evil’.
Top organisational measures to promote
an ethical culture
Consistent findings from annual ethics and fraud
surveys by the global accountancy firms agree following
5 key steps:
Step 1 Implementation of proper guidelines and policies
Step 2 Regular employee education
Step 3 Regular identification and prioritisation of risks
Step 4 Ongoing evaluation of mitigating controls
Step 5 Continuous monitoring.
Leaders in institutional integrity
13. Institute of Chartered Accountants Australia 13
Enlightened organisational leaders are beginning to
realise that there are a lot of preventative measures
that can and should be used to lower the incidence
of marketplace failure. Tone at the top is about boards
and business leaders accepting their role in building
institutional integrity capital to ensure that every
manager is capable of managing the ethical dimension
inherent in every business decision. But just as important
is ‘the mood in the middle’. Leadership from the top is
vital to successfully changing a toxic culture, and so is
the critical role of middle managers in not only accepting
the need for change but also being the champions
of that change. We say that ‘people listen with their
eyes’; in other words they look at what behaviours are
recognised and rewarded and take their lead from those.
According to Corporate Executive Board (CEB) research,
organisations with ‘integrity capital’ have lower levels of
misconduct along with higher levels of reporting when
employees do witness wrongdoing. They argue that integrity
capital is embedded in the culture, not instituted through
controls, and it helps shape employee behaviour, which
could include defrauding the company or offering bribes
to get business. Their research identifies five key factors
in building organisational integrity:
1. Management takes action when it becomes aware of
misconduct
2. Employees are comfortable speaking up about misconduct
and don’t fear retaliation
3. Senior leaders and managers treat employees with respect.
4. Managers hold employees accountable
5. High levels of trust exist among colleagues.
However, putting a robust organisational integrity system in
place takes time and requires commitment to ethical leadership
that is often missing. The best protection any corporation
can put in place is not a regime of compliance but a culture
of integrity.
Theboard’sroleinbuildingorganisationalintegrity*
• Participating in setting and safeguarding the values
and standards for the business
• Think strategically about corporate responsibility
in the context of market pressures
• Being constructive about regulation, delivering
self-regulation and supporting government intervention
to correct market failure
• Aligning performance management, rewarding
responsible success over the long-term
• Advocating for a culture of integrity, setting the right
tone at the top and cultivating the right values in the
corporate culture
• Ensuring internal controls exist beyond paper and
are embedded in daily practices.
* Key recommendations for board directors from a report commissioned by a
group of leading UK institutions: Business in the Community, About FTSE Group,
Insight Investment Dec 2005.
Business ethics as the basis
of business strength
14. Why Business Ethics Matter to Your Bottom Line14
What gets measured gets done and organisational culture
is no different. At its simplest, organisational culture
refers to the shared practices, behaviour standards and
underlying assumptions that guide how people choose
to act at work. It is the regular measurement and
management of culture that differentiates high-performing
organisations from their peers. Leaders need to lift
their standards beyond the letter of the law, embracing
a spirit that encompasses a duty of care to protect the
common good.
• CEOs must put in place an ethical management framework
that encourages and rewards the right behaviour, while
exposing and sanctioning inappropriate behaviour
• Boards of directors need to motivate CEOs to manage
their organisation’s culture by ensuring that remuneration
packages reward culture builders and not just bottom
line inflators. Incentives should promote long-term
accountabilities that align executives’ self-interests with
collective interests. Regular ethical cultural reviews should
be undertaken as part of effective risk management
• Industry bodies, too, must play their part. They should
conduct relevant field research to identify systemic sources
of unethical behaviour in each sector and then build sound
metrics and initiatives designed to raise industry standards
• Institutional investors can contribute to raising standards
by moving beyond the prevailing preoccupation with short-
term results. They can recognise that sustainable business
practices often necessitate a long-term perspective to
building revenues
• External regulatory reform can encourage self-regulation.
A legislative framework such as the US Federal Sentencing
Guidelines for Organisations (FSGO) in 1991 and the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act in 2002 successfully enlisted business
organisations in a self-policing effort to deter unethical
behaviour and move leaders from passive bystanders to
active advocates for an ethical workplace culture.
It’s time we moved away from focusing on the players to
focusing on business itself. Clearly, there are things that
executives and employees must not do in pursuit of profits
– this has been profoundly evident over recent years. As
thousands of corporations and millions of workers in the
US can attest, Educating organisational members from the
top down floats all ethical boats upwards. Only by creating
cultures where people understand the impact of their decisions
on all stakeholders and where people have a system of ethical
decision making that has integrity can we build organisational
integrity and ensure that the marketplace continues to exist
for the good of all participants and delivers positive benefits
to the wider societies where it operates.
What needs to be done?