Corporate Integrity : A Toolkit for Managing Beyond Compliance

"The failure of ethics in business is front page news. In response, regulatory agencies are drafting more integrity rules and most corporate managers I know are scrambling to comply. Managers are looking to strict compliance with rules and regulations, internal and external audits and insurance to reduce the impacts of integrity risks to their corporate bottom line. Through work in the trenches with companies, it is my experience that compliance is not enough to navigate integrity dilemmas. The big rewards are in moving beyond compliance." From the Preface In the present environment of corporate governance and rule making, this book makes a business case encouraging leaders to manage beyond compliance. By making corporate responsibility and integrity a strategic priority (instead of something they are forced to do or comply with), companies can realize tangible financial returns. This book provides practical advice, tools, and best practices on how to approach corporate integrity strategically, and how to manage it on a day to day basis. There is a growing realization that compliance with the rules is only a minimum standard of performance, and an increasing demand from stakeholders at every level shareholders, employees, customers along the entire supply chain, consumers, advocacy groups, and the local community at large for more transparency and accountability from corporations. But most businesses have little experience and few tools to deal with the urgent demand to increase corporate responsibility. Corporate Integrity provides practical tools and proven processes to manage complex integrity dilemmas and support implementation: Explains how to create a culture of integrity in your organization and how to motivate the appropriate corporate behaviors. Coverage includes: How to assess and measure integrity; how to align corporate integrity commitments and actions; how to design and implement dependable and strategic corporate accountability systems and processes; how to develop corporate integrity standards and report on them, and much more. Includes a wealth of practical business tools and best practices that readers can apply to improve the level of corporate integrity in their own company. Features three detailed case studies and numerous other examples that illustrate corporate integrity dilemmas and solutions in action. Shows how managing corporate responsibility strategically and proactively can go beyond a mere public relations exercise to foster a corporate "win" in the court of popular opinion and in the marketplace. Bridges the gaps between corporations, governments, employees, interest groups, and consumers. Offers tools and solutions that apply to both for profit corporations and non profit organizations.