Ethics are nothing new. All actions are subject to ethical imperatives and may be interpreted in an ethical light. Ethics have also always had a certain weight in the world of business and management. All managers and workers weigh up their actions in the light of personal principles, values and religious beliefs. But ethics are not confined to the subjective sphere: individual behaviour is organized and consolidated into the aims of a business or organization. Therefore every business and every organization has a reference value system and may have its own statute of ethics.
On the basis of this fact, in recent years, these principles have often been brought to light by drawing up "Charters of Values", in some cases following misguided advice. Very often, in fact, these are abstract documents disconnected from the real organization or business culture. It is not enough to list principles which may be easily ascribed to platitudes, common sense or the spirit of the age, such as transparency, delegation and respect for customers and the environment.
These are general principles which everyone can easily accept, but useless since they do not come anywhere near or have no substantial effect on business strategies. They are so right, shared and foregone that they do not form part of "daily operations". Why then talk about ethics? Because ethical conduct and action are necessities today, and as far as it is possible to foresee, they will be even more so in the future. We are faced with a new situation, which forces businessmen, managers and market participants - as well as all workers to the extent that we are all managers of ourselves - to take previously ignored variables and factors into consideration.
These variables and factors can only be handled on the basis of conscientious ethical behaviour. Just consider the growing complexity, interconnection and globalization of economic, cultural, geopolitical and technological systems. We cannot go on causing damage to the environment, without worrying about pollution and the consumption of resources that will not last for ever. In the light of this, policies founded on a win-lose reasoning are inefficient. In such a closely interrelated and interdependent context, it is clearly essential to accept self-limitation, check the sustainability of each choice, and remember that - as the Greek philosophers taught - every hybris has a corresponding nemesis.
And the nemesis we should expect is "not-linear": a small aggression against the environment has disproportionate consequences, which are difficult to predict and potentially catastrophic. For this reason, ethics have also come back into the limelight as a key business lever.
The Social Balance Sheet and Code of Ethics are fundamental components of the corporate Ethical Charter. This is at present a symbolic document which is destined to grow in dignity and daily application in the new relationship which is becoming established between businessmen and stakeholders. The first component looks into the way corporate policy is implemented, whereas the second focuses on personal conduct and behaviour in the working environment. As a rule, companies set up Ethics Committees to monitor the application of their codes, whereas Ethics Officers are specifically in charge of their operational implementation.
Junior candidate without significant experience
Junior candidates for the new figure of Ethics Officer TM are young future managers mainly with a humanistic background (even though this is not a necessary requirement). They are quick to pick up on and understand entrepreneurial thinking, are flexible, relate with ease to individuals and are good mediators. They have an ethical outlook supported and driven by conspicuous social participation and interest for the public good.
Managerial figure with experience
This profile typically corresponds to a self-made senior professional who has grown in the position through experience. The senior ethical officer of a company is ideally a man or woman aged about 50 with a professional background in the legal, human resources, finance and control, security, external relations, internal communication and advertising areas. He will have gained working experience through positions of responsibility for at least 15 years, report to top management and have acquired a good practical knowledge of all corporate organizational activities. He will have leadership skills which he applies with discretion, preferably be a reference point and mediator in situations of conflict, and be sensitive to social expectations, solidarity and the environment.
At the end of the Business Ethics Management course, the candidates with Junior and Senior profiles as described above will:
see their moral integrity consolidated with philosophical and methodological bases, and general management instruments
be able to interpret and organize information from a strategic perspective, at the same time proving to have sound common sense
be able to manage information, including private information, with discretion and confidentiality
be able to take and support quick incisive decisions, even unpopular ones when necessary
be able to think and act reflectively and objectively, therefore ensuring credibility
know how to move in a complex situation
know how to interpret the consequences of managerial actions from a medium and long term point of view
know how to develop a policy of wisdom, supported by personal and professional maturity
have the necessary instruments to understand the organizational and technological processes involved in the business area of the company they belong to
be aware of laws and regulations relating to the business area of the company they belong to
show great communicative ability: speak in public, and prepare concise convincing presentations
know how to speak successfully to stakeholders, top management, other managers and employees of all levels
AssoEtica's course is designed to give Ethics OfficersTM the awareness and skills they need to perform the crucial role they are called upon to play, with responsibility and effectiveness. Their job entails:
orienting and developing corporate ethical commitment and conduct
guiding, supervising and advising actions aimed at ensuring the right interpretation, development and implementation of ethical policies and strategies and compliance therewith
responsibility for defining and implementing all ethical conduct standards with employees, customers, suppliers, shareholders and stakeholders
responsibility for the intercompany reporting programme which allows employees, customers, suppliers and stakeholders to report breaches of corporate ethical standards, laws or corporate policies without fear of retaliation
developing and structuring the contents of annual ethics training programmes and continuous information regarding the commitment and actual conduct of the firm in ethical terms
integrating newly taken-over companies into the ethical programme of the parent company
investigating reports relating to breaches of the corporate ethical code of conduct
making recommendations to right incorrect or damaging conduct, including disciplinary measures
measuring and assessing corporate performance in terms of compliance
writing exhaustive periodic reports on the activity carried out and company results for top management, the Ethics Committee, the BoD, and the stakeholders and market in general.
New subject-matter can only be transmitted through new means. It is not a traditional course, but a well-constructed approach to a new set of skills, which takes advantage of various training instruments, methods and techniques.
Before each module, approach and preparation material for the subject-matter to be covered in class will be made available to participants on the web site.
The teaching staff will also provide original material reserved for the participants in the class or via web.
Before each guest seminar, the tutor will coordinate preparatory work in the classroom to define the subjects and key questions to put to the speakers, according to the topic of the day. After the seminars, critical analysis of the approach and replies received will take place with the possibility of further online research.
Groups of 4 or 5 participants will be formed for some teamwork exercises. Each group will choose an “Ethical Maturity” topic to develop over the entire course, using - among other things - remote training instruments. A short dissertation will be presented in the final module. The participants will take on the role of Ethics OfficersTM, present their individual or team dissertations to the Scientific Ethics Committee, and receive their certificate as a mark of having completed their work.
Main Subject-Matter Covered by the Course
The creation of riches as an ethical imperative
Ethics as knowledge
Ethics as an intangible asset
The return on Business Ethics investments
Ethical finance and responsible investment
From individual to process responsibility
The company as a moral community
The organization as an artistic collective
The gift as a basis for social relations
Work as an approximation to happiness
Marketing ethics as a response to aggressive marketing
The ethical check-up of an organization
The role and involvement of stakeholders
Management of the Res Publica and the sense of state
Charter of values, code of conduct and ethical codes, social balance sheet and sustainability balance sheet
