A Framework for Understanding Organizational Ethics

A Framework for Understanding Organizational Ethics Organizational ethics is one of the most important, yet perhaps one of the most overlooked and misunderstood concepts in corporate America and schools of business. Organizational ethics initiatives have not been effectively implemented by many corporations, and there is still much debate concerning the usefulness of such initiatives in preventing ethical and legal misconduct. Simultaneously, business schools are attempting to teach courses and/or integrate organizational ethics into their …

…audit as a way to measure the effectiveness of the firm's ethics program. Regardless of where the impetus for an audit comes from, its success hinges on the full support of top management, particularly the CEO and the board of directors. Without this support, ethical leadership will not be a part of the corporate culture. Hopefully the framework presented here will, among other things, provide insights and guidelines for establishing and maintaining this ethical leadership.