integrity & professional ethics in a climate of change debra j. williams higher ground...

Integrity & Professional Integrity & Professional Ethics in a Climate of Ethics in a Climate of

ChangeChangeDebra J. WilliamsDebra J. Williams

Higher Ground InternationalHigher Ground International

29th Annual Training ConferenceEquality and Diversity: A Foundation, A Right, An Opportunity

Major Workshop TopicsMajor Workshop Topics

Basics of Business EthicsBasics of Business Ethics

How to Recognize and End Unethical How to Recognize and End Unethical BehaviorBehavior

The Importance of Managing Ethics in The Importance of Managing Ethics in the Workplacethe Workplace

Two Broad Areas of Two Broad Areas of Business Ethics Business Ethics

Managerial MischiefManagerial Mischief

Includes illegal, unethical, or questionable Includes illegal, unethical, or questionable practices of individual managers or practices of individual managers or

organizationsorganizations

Two Broad Areas of Two Broad Areas of Business Ethics Business Ethics

Moral MazesMoral Mazes

Includes potential conflicts of interest, Includes potential conflicts of interest, wrongful use of resources, wrongful use of resources,

mismanagement of contracts and mismanagement of contracts and agreements, etc.agreements, etc.

You Know You Have An You Know You Have An Ethical Dilemma?Ethical Dilemma?

When there is presence of:When there is presence of:

Significant value conflicts among Significant value conflicts among differing interestsdiffering interests

Real alternatives that are equally Real alternatives that are equally justifiablejustifiable

Significant consequences on Significant consequences on "stakeholders" in the situation"stakeholders" in the situation

Is it legal?Is it legal?

Is it balanced?Is it balanced?

Is it right?Is it right?

Three Questions to Ask Three Questions to Ask Yourself Yourself

3 Methods to Resolve Ethical 3 Methods to Resolve Ethical DilemmasDilemmas

An ethical checklist, ten-step method and An ethical checklist, ten-step method and a list of key questionsa list of key questions

Ten-step method of decision makingTen-step method of decision making

Questions to address ethical dilemmasQuestions to address ethical dilemmas

How Honest are You?How Honest are You?

Guidelines for Managing Guidelines for Managing Ethics in the WorkplaceEthics in the Workplace

Managing ethics is a processManaging ethics is a process The bottom line of an ethics program The bottom line of an ethics program

is accomplishing preferred behaviors is accomplishing preferred behaviors in the workplacein the workplace

The best way to handle ethical The best way to handle ethical dilemmas is to avoid their occurrence dilemmas is to avoid their occurrence in the first placein the first place

Make ethics decisions in groups, and Make ethics decisions in groups, and make decisions public, as appropriatemake decisions public, as appropriate

Guidelines for Managing Guidelines for Managing Ethics in the WorkplaceEthics in the Workplace

Integrate ethics management with Integrate ethics management with other management practicesother management practices

Use cross-functional teams when Use cross-functional teams when developing and implementing the developing and implementing the ethics management programethics management program

Value forgivenessValue forgiveness Note that trying to operate ethically Note that trying to operate ethically

and making a few mistakes is better and making a few mistakes is better than not trying at allthan not trying at all

Benefits of Managing Ethics Benefits of Managing Ethics as a Program as a Program

Establish organizational roles to manage ethics Establish organizational roles to manage ethics Schedule ongoing assessment of ethics Schedule ongoing assessment of ethics

requirements requirements Establish required operating values and Establish required operating values and

behaviors behaviors Align organizational behaviors with operating Align organizational behaviors with operating

values values Develop awareness and sensitivity to ethical Develop awareness and sensitivity to ethical

issues issues

Benefits of Managing Ethics Benefits of Managing Ethics as a Program as a Program

Integrate ethical guidelines to decision making Integrate ethical guidelines to decision making Structure mechanisms to resolving ethical Structure mechanisms to resolving ethical

dilemmas dilemmas Facilitate ongoing evaluation and updates to the Facilitate ongoing evaluation and updates to the

program program Help convince employees that attention to Help convince employees that attention to

ethics is not just a knee-jerk reaction done to ethics is not just a knee-jerk reaction done to get out of trouble or improve public imageget out of trouble or improve public image

Tools for Managing Ethics Tools for Managing Ethics in the Workplacein the Workplace

Code of EthicsCode of Ethics

Policies and ProceduresPolicies and Procedures

TrainingTraining

For More Information For More Information ContactContact

Debra J. WilliamsDebra J. Williams

Higher Ground InternationalHigher Ground International

info@highergroundintl.cominfo@highergroundintl.com