How to build a program Business Ethics

The recent corporate accounting scandals have highlighted the importance of business ethics and legal compliance. Yet a recent National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD) survey of 280 CEOs and directors found that "only one of three directors felt that they were very effective in ensuring legal compliance".

Ethics in Business

Most companies realize that they need to develop and implement a business ethics and compliance program.

An effective program able to:

Ø Establish a code of conduct that reduces the risk of criminal behavior

Detect or illegal, adoptive prompt investigation, minimize the consequences

philosophy, ethics / legal entity or company during an investigation Demonstrate

o Reduce fines if the company is guilty of unlawful

Ø Improving the reputation and stature

Looking at Options

But how do you build an effective program? Companies find themselves with three options to build the program:

or develop in-house from scratch

Or hire a consultant

o Use a pre-written manual

And most of these companies learn some lessons, sometimes the hard way.

Making a strong corporate policy

Develop a program from scratch can be very time consuming and costly. In addition, the company may not have the knowledge or understanding of the complexity of the issue. But hiring an outside consultant is not always a convenient choice is. What is left?

The development of a Business Ethics Program

Using a pre-written template or manual, many companies have found it easier to develop its program of business ethics. To do this, look for what needs a strong program.

One very effective tool for creating, organizing and implementing a sound business ethics and compliance program must submit:

Examples of policies and procedures or

or Step-by-step for the development of a program

o A profile of business ethics training program with educational materials and guidance detailed session leader

O Business ethics compliance officer position description

Or models of employee involvement

Example or Code of Conduct

Implementing a Business Ethics Program

If the Board is committed to strong business ethics and compliance program, the next step is to put the manual in the hands of corporate executives responsible for implementation. Used properly under advice of legal counsel, this efficient tool will provide a solid program that can understand the advice, support and monitor its effectiveness.

With step-by-step guidelines and accompanying examples of policies, procedures, training program and an employee survey, an effective tool provides an excellent road map for implementing an ethics and Compliance Initiative.

The maintenance of a culture of ethics

Companies should ensure that their ethics compliance manual provides fully editable MS Word files with sample policies, surveys, forms and training session outlines. Furthermore, companies should ensure their ethics compliance system manual is fully in line with the National Association of Business Executives (NACD) as a tool to maintain a culture of integrity .......