Globalization, technology and expanding economic development have propelled business to a leading role in shaping the course of human events. With that influence comes a greater sense of responsibility for work that balances achievement with environmental sustainability, provides more good than harm, spreads wealth, and focuses on long-term outcomes over short-term gains.
Increasingly, people are attracted to companies they perceive as sincerely striving to operate at a high level of integrity and with concern for the impact of their work. The notion of responsible business practices – ethics, corporate citizenship and community involvement has emerged as a legitimate factor in helping people make decisions about the products they buy and the companies they elect to do business with. Ethics and compliance management drives these efforts.
Best Practices
Aggressively managing legal and ethical affairs is how companies create a values-based culture that guides their employees in building trust with clients and customers, establishing a reputation for quality and integrity, and working toward the betterment of society. Ethics management is led from the top down. It encompasses every stakeholder within the company's purview.
- Create a values-based culture that encourages employee commitment to highest ethical standards.
- Establish ethics guidelines that can best transcend international boundaries.
- Adapt ethics policies and aspirations to address technology and e-business.
- Embrace authentic corporate citizenship responsibilities.
- Involve human resources in the quest for excellence in ethics and compliance management.
- Commit to continual improvement of the organization's ethics quotient.
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