strategy
Developing value codes for business
Synonyms:
Restoring business ethicsBuilding ethical business infrastructure
Evaluating corporate responsibility
Fostering commercial code of conduct
Description:
Developing business ethics and accountability in areas such as (a) responsibility for preserving the natural environment; (b) embodying values of community, cooperation, participation and empowerment; (c) ethically appropriate conduct in foreign cultures; and (d) moral dimensions of business relations and leadership.
Implementation:
Ethics incentives are being undertaken by such business organizations as Keidanren in Japan and Confindustria in Italy, and the Conference Board in the USA.
In 1996, the Body Shop International plc published a four-part Values Report that represents an attempt to move beyond environmental reporting to a level that addresses broader social and ethical issues.
In the last decade, more and more businesses have adopted human rights guidelines and practices. The Royal Dutch/Shell Group of Companies, for example, claims to have become a corporate leader in promoting human rights standards.
Claim:
The corporate world must take a stronger stand on human rights issues and be prepared to pull out of countries led by abusive regimes. Businesses should exert pressure on governments and local partners to respect international human rights norms.
Narrower:
Promoting environmental shareholder activismFostering altruism in the workplaceEncouraging ethical codes of tradingDeveloping attitudes of service in workApplying christian principles in businessAdopting environmental codes of conduct for businessDeveloping codes of conduct for international businessRegulating economic output in response to market values Facilitates:
Investing ethicallyDeveloping social auditsRestoring ethical relationsIncreasing eco-efficiency in businessSupporting expanded commercial cooperationProviding private-sector support for local community Facilitated by:
Promoting work ethicResearching value systemsEmbodying community valuesRe-engineering corporationsEstablishing environmental ethics Problems:
Collapse in providing ethical value screensUnethical commercial practices
Unethical practices by employees
Unethical practices of employers
Unethical professional practices
Unethical trade union practices
Unwritten rules
Organizations:
International Chamber of Commerce International Organization for Motor Trades and Repairs Academy of International Business International Christian Chamber of Commerce European /Churches-Businesses/ Symposium International Association of Law, Ethics and Science Standing Committee on Responsibility and Ethics in Science International Development Ethics Association World Economic Forum Exchange on Ageing, Law and Ethics European Business Ethics Network Transparency International World Business Academy International Society of Business, Economics and Ethics The Conference Board Europe Global Environmental Management Initiative References:
Manley II, Walter W: Handbook of Good Business PracticeAdams, Richard; Carruthers, J and Hamil, S: Changing Corporate Culture: a guide to the social and environmental policy and practice in Britain's top companiesHutchinson, Colin: Vitality and Renewal: a manager's guide for the 21st CenturyThe Industrial Society: Managing EthicsGriseri, Paul and Grouchutt, John: In Search of Business EthicsNew Economics Foundation: Open Trading: options for effective monitoring of corporate codes of conduct Subjects:
Commerce → Business enterprisesCommerce → Commerce
Development → Development
Industry → Construction
Industry → Utilities
Information → Data, codes
Innovative change → Change
Research, Standards → Evaluation
Value Redistribution → Value redistribution
Type Classification:
F: Exceptional strategies Related UN Sustainable Development Goals:
