resultsthroughintegrity

WORKPLACE MISCONDUCT

Albert Camus said that integrity has no need of rules.

KPMG in their 2008-09 integrity survey conclude that there is a real need for integrity in the workplace.

The survey reports that 3700 out of 5000 employees say they have seen or know of wrong doing or misconduct in the workplace.

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 IS LIKE PREGNANCY –EITHER ONE IS OR ONE IS NOT

Some people say that integrity is like pregnancy –either you are or you are not. Either you have integrity or you don’t.   

This simplistic analogy provides an important insight into the nature of integrity. 

Pregnancy can be good or bad depending on whether you are or you are not and if it is wanted or not. Does it work the same way for integrity? Can integrity be a good or bad depending on whether you have it or not and if it is wanted or not?

Pregnancy is a natural, universal, reproductive process that is essential to survival of the species. Is integrity also a natural, universal regenerative process that is essential to sustaining the species?     

Is integrity really like pregnancy? You be the judge.

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 Product Integrity a Function of Organizational Integrity?

Nike is currently advertising for an Apparel Product Integrity Auditor.

What exactly is product integrity? 

The Nike job description focuses the definition on the two goals of maximizing customer satisfaction and of minimizing quality failure costs. 

Is this simply a quality concept in disguise?

Let’s take a look at product integrity and what it means for Nike and for you.

Integrity and KindExcellence

By

Reut Schwartz-Hebron

 
KindExcellence is a new management model that provides an alternative—a resilient, competitive management style that brings in a combination of skills (leading to individual and team excellence) and kindness.

 
KindExcellence promises sky high productivity, innovation, commitment and other critical human assets that are so often out of reach for most managers.

 
But there is no KindExcellence without integrity.

Integrity at Work-Do the Right thing and Do things Right

By
Douglas Ross

“Individually and collectively, we will optimize our efforts to safely complete quality work that meets customer expectations on time, every time at a world class cost.”

The goal statement is an example of integrity at work.

The goal integrates the mindsets and behaviors required for success with specific performance measures of people, safety, quality, delivery and cost that directly impact profitability. It assumes that the requisite organizational structures, systems and processes are healthy and robust. 

Yet, integrity at work is not yet a vital ingredient in our personal and professional lives.

The challenge is to create a simple and easy way to integrate people, systems, processes and structures to be successful at work and at home.

What is Business Ethics?

By Louise Manning, PhD

The word “ethics” comes from the Greek word “ethos” meaning conduct, customs or character. Ethics addresses the implementation of concepts such as responsibility, right and wrong and the application of moral ideals to practical human activities.

Ethical analysis will address the constraints of moral standards and legal requirements and the consequences of actions.

The output of such analysis is the determining of principles and protocols, the development of individual and group responsibilities and the verification of the outcome of the implementation of such a framework.