BS4209 Managing Ethics in an organisation

Question 1

Ethics embedded in the workplace

Answer 1

These will evolve and conflict is not always bad - organisations change in response to their people

Question 2

Culture defined as “representations of the organisation’s shared assumptions, values and beliefs” comprises of three key elements:

Answer 2

A set of core ethical values infused with the organisation’s policies and practices
The continuous presence of ethical leadership, setting the ‘tone at the top’
A formal ethics programme including a code of ethics, training, an ethics hotline etc

Question 3

Ethical values factors

Answer 3

Function
Culture
Time
Religion
Circumstance

Question 4

Values should be embedded and evident in the organisation’s policies, processes and practices:

Answer 4

Publicly available
Internal and externally material
-Annual reports
-Sustainability report
-Press releases
-Training material
-Commercial material
-Code of ethics

Question 5

Formal ethics programs

Answer 5

-Codes of ethics
-Risk analysis and management
-Ethics managers, officers and committees
-Ethics consultants
-Ethics education and training
-Stakeholder consultation, dialogue and partnership programs
-Reporting/advice channels
-Auditing, accounting and reporting

Question 6

Code of ethics

Answer 6

-Corporate codes of conduct are a practical corporate social responsibility instrument commonly used to govern employee behaviour and establish a social responsible organisational culture.
-A general link exists between the quality of codes of conduct and their impact on CSR performance. Higher quality codes were maintained by companies appearing on top CSR lists for corporate conduct, ethical performance, public perception and sustainability.

Question 7

Dimensions of culture

Answer 7

Feasibility
-Systems and processes in place to facilitate reporting
-Time, budget, equipment, information and authority
Support-ability and transparency
-Stimulation of employees to report
Discussability
-The extent to which wrongdoings can be internally discussed
-Quality of communication

Question 8

Whistleblowing

Answer 8

External
-Regulators
-Governments
-Police
-Governing bodies/institutes
-Media
-Social Media

Personal cost
-Loss of employment and even profession
-Financial pressure
-Legal and personal pressure
-Isolation
-Ostracization
-Loyalty vs moral responsibility
(The insider movie)