In an article about communicating ethics, the author posits that "subtle changes" in how communications about ethics are
framed "can produce
big differences in the
ethical conduct of organizational members." See
The Best Ways to Discuss Ethics. The author starts with the observation that there are a "wide variety of approaches" that companies can take to discuss ethics, ranging from Codes of Conduct to more interactive employee ethics blogs (such as
Best Buy's Ethics Blog). Three findings are summarized: "1.
Setting the right example," "2. Framing ethics to highlight prevention," and "3.
Stress the importance of means."
As to #2, t
he author suggests that companies frame ethics as "prevention of being unethical" rather than "
promotion of being ethical," because promotional "triggers" are "more likely to
lead to cheating. . . ."
Personally, I find this suggestion to be somewhat counterintuitive, because (in my experience) it is easier to get employees focused on a positive (being ethical) than on a negative (avoid being unethical). You may disagree. For the full post by Francesca Gino, associate professor of business administration in the Negotiations, Organizations & Markets Unit at the
Harvard Business School, go to:
The Best Ways to Discuss Ethics
This summary was prepared by
Perry Cone and is posted at
www.leadinginhouse.com/
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