resultsthroughintegrity

THE ROLE OF ETHICS AND INTEGRITY IN ORGANIZATIONS

When employees act unethically and/or without integrity, customers lose trust and confidence in organizational products and services.

When leaders act unethically and/or without integrity, employees lose trust and confidence in organizational processes, systems and products.

Both directly impact the bottom line and the return on investment. 

What is the correlation between return on investment and unethical behavior and/or a lack of integrity?

Organizations are built on the principle that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts.

Working together creates results and outcomes for the whole that outweigh the results and outcomes of everyone working for themselves.

The secret to success is not the principle but the way synergy is created. 

WHAT IS INTEGRITY IN PRACTICE?

 “Integrity is the cornerstone, if not the bedrock, upon which all financial markets are based.”

(Hank Paulson, Chairman and CEO, Goldman Sachs Group June 2002)

 Whilst we have described a number of values and vices, this list is not exhaustive and should not imply that integrity can be learned by heart like the “The Ten Commandments”.

We do not propose that it is right that people should merely read a code of ethics or a list of values and then sign a declaration to that effect.

 In the early 1970s, Harvard Professor Lawrence Kohlberg proposed a model of Moral Development which demonstrated that people shaped their sense of morality through the following stages9:

 1. “Obedience and Punishment” – We are children and we behave acceptably because we are told what to do by an authority figure such as a parent or teacher. This obedience is enforced by the threat or application of punishment.

 2. “Individualism, Instrumentalism and Exchange” – This is when we recognize that it is in our best interests to be moral.

 3. “Good boy/girl” – We do the right thing because it will gain the approval of others.

 4. “Law and order” – We abide by the law and have a sense of duty.

5. “Social contract” – We have a strong sense of social responsibility and the welfare of others.

 6. “Principled Conscience” – We accept universal principles of morality and the demands of individual conscience.

 

The Integrity Covenant

Are you working through things or are things working through you?

It is easy to perform when everything is going well. Rules tell us what is right and wrong.  

Rules require duty and obedience. These are duly rewarded when the whole is progressing as it should in an orderly fashion. Life is predictable. It is all good.

But everything doesn’t always go well. Rules no longer work.

Duty and obedience are rewarded with injustice. Chaos and confusion rule.  Life is no longer predictable. It is not so good.   

What to do?

Winston Churchill offered this advice

"Destiny is not a matter of chance, it is a matter of choice;
it is not a thing to be waited for, it is a thing to be achieved."

INTEGRITY OR DESPAIR

If you are in the bloom of life, take a good look around-other people are wilting.

As you now are, so they were. As they are now, so shall you be.

If you are wilting in life, you may have closed a door and not be aware that you have done so.

As you were, so you shall be again-only not in that way!

Human growth is a natural iterative process that does not end with old age or retirement.

Integrity as a Business Strategy

He was cordial, but distant as he welcomed me into his executive office.

“I can give you five minutes. What, in your opinion, is the relationship between integrity and performance?” he said with a smile.

“Most people only think of integrity as a personal characteristic,” I answered, “but integrity is a critical element of organizational systems, processes and structures. Integrity is defined as wholeness, consistency and objectivity. In simple terms, it is about doing the right thing, doing the next right thing, and doing things right. Performance is a logical consequence and sustainability is the outcome.”

 “Interesting,” he replied, “What is the role of integrity in business?”     

“Simply put,” I declared, “You either have integrity or you don’t. If you have it, you get it. If you don’t have it, it gets you.”

“What do you mean?” he inquired.

Is Integrity a Virtue?

By

Douglas Ross

“Is integrity a virtue?” asked Susan.

“I think so.” I replied as I took a bite of my sandwich.

“Is integrity a religious or secular virtue?” she continued.

“I don’t know.” I mused, “Why is that important? “

“It will help you discern the role of integrity in business” she answered.

First, I had to find out what a virtue was.

Integrity is an Indicator of Performance!

By Douglas Ross

The word integrity has its roots in French and Latin words meaning intact, integrate, integral and entirety. This infers that the concept of integrity is talking about the whole system in its entirety. This includes the dynamic and changing nature of organizational systems and how they perform over time.

Integrity is about organizational efficiency and effectiveness. It is about firing on all cylinders.

When everything is working as it should, the result is performance

When Right is Wrong

By

Douglas Ross 

You have heard the saying “wrong is right and right is wrong.”

We know that something wrong can be right. Right can emerge from wrong. Mistakes can be corrected!

But what happens when right is wrong? Can expediency, entitlement and exploitation ever be right?

Even though Abraham Lincoln said “No one has the right to choose to do what is wrong.” some still do...

When Wrong is Right

by Douglas Ross

Right is a timeless proven concept that has been true in the past while providing direction for today and tomorrow. It is an objective standard of human action for all in a subjective world.

 The word “right” refers to that which is universal, consistent and objective. All people, regardless of race or nationality understand the concept. Evan a child knows right.

What is Right?

By Douglas Ross

“What is right with the world is the world. In fact, nearly everything else is wrong with it.”
G. K. Chesterton.

People want to do the right thing. It is something we all regard as worthy and desirable. It is a belief, and a standard that is the heart of everything we do.

Organizations want to do the right thing. It is a fundamental principle that shows up in people, processes and products. 

Integrity is doing the right thing, doing the next right thing and doing things right.

But, what is right?