In developing ethics and compliance strategies and training programs for its clients, Working Values Ltd. has often found that the organizations that stood the best chance of effecting real change in moving toward an ethical culture were those with a higher level of self-knowledge of their own cultural strengths and vulnerabilities. However, it is often an open question as to what type of intervention is the most effective in generating the desired change. Ethics training that is primarily directed to telling employees what is expected of them is usually far less successful than training that addresses specific employees behaviors that influence the culture; the challenge lies in pinpointing these behaviors and taking appropriate measures to address them.

The "Ethics Related Actions" (ERAs) set forth in the NBES serve as a valuable tool in providing the broad parameters of a comprehensive ethics program. Many of the ERAs lend themselves to specific types of training and communication interventions, which can improve and increase the desired behavior. To gain a better understanding of how these behaviors influence corporate culture, Working Values asked the Ethics Resource Center to drill down further into the NBES data to explore whether any of the ERAs have greater impact than others in fostering an ethical culture.

In the study, the Ethics Resource Center has identified three types of ERAs that have an especially great impact on outcomes expected of an ethics program. ERAs such as setting a good example, keeping promises and commitments, and supporting others in adhering to ethics standards can have a powerful influence on building an ethical culture. However, they can also be difficult to achieve if the organization's efforts are anything less than 100%. Therefore, to the extent companies can use this research to help focus attention of leadership on the critical need to improve these ERAs in their own organization, the better chance the organization has to reach its program goals.

Working Values is proud to have been a sponsor of this additional research undertaken by the Ethics Resource Center into the NBES. We all share the same goal of having every company put forward the most effective ethics program possible.

Download the white paper, "Critical Elements of an Organizational Ethical Culture."

DAVID GEBLER, J.D. is President of Working Values, Ltd., a business ethics training and consulting firm specializing in developing behavior-based change to support compliance objectives. Check out David's article, "A Culture of Compliance" in the premiere issue of CRO Magazine.

More articles by David Gebler

WORKING VALUES LTD. is a business ethics and training company. Through a variety of products and services, including Web-based compliance and ethics programs, on-site training, video and award-winning ethics games for employees, Working Values aims to align employee behavior with company values. For more information as to how Working Values can narrow your company's Behavior-Standards Gap, visit www.workingvalues.com or contact cgebler@workingvalues.com. For news on ethics in the workplace, visit SmartPros Ethics & Compliance.