Managing And Controlling Ethics Progra
Management and Controlling Ethics Programs
The Ethics Audit
Krystle Owens
Liberty University
Managing and Controlling Ethics Programs
The Ethics Audit
An ethics audit is defined as a systematic evaluation of an organization’s ethics program and performance to determine whether it is effective (Ferrell, Fraedrich, & Ferrell, 2013, p.243). Used as an output control for monitoring the ethical behavior of a corporation, the ethics audit is a very attractive method of evaluation for corporations in today’s socially responsible society. When looking at the management and controlling of an ethics program within an organization, the Ethics Audit provides the company with a realistic overview of the current state of its ethics program. An ethics audit can bring to light any ethical issues that a company may be dealing with and it may also shed light on a remarkable process developed by the company. This paper will review the ethics audit process to include the steps taken, benefits, risks, as well as possible outcomes.
The process of ethical auditing does not necessarily have to take place after an ethics program has been implemented, it may also be done beforehand in order for the corporation to have a better grasp on the direction in which their ethics program needs to be taken. Stakeholders take a particular interest in the ethical audit as the transparency and resulting accountability it brings is favorable in the eyes of the stakeholders. This transparency allows the stakeholders to hold corporate officers directly responsible if any ethical issues are found to have risen during the audit. It also allows for praise on the stakeholder’s part if the corporate officers are found to have instilled an upstanding ethical nature within the organization. As ethical auditing is a fairly newer process in the business world, many do not know what types of risks and benefits this class of audit may bring about.
Benefits and Risks of Ethic Auditing
While
The Ethics Audit
Krystle Owens
Liberty University
Managing and Controlling Ethics Programs
The Ethics Audit
An ethics audit is defined as a systematic evaluation of an organization’s ethics program and performance to determine whether it is effective (Ferrell, Fraedrich, & Ferrell, 2013, p.243). Used as an output control for monitoring the ethical behavior of a corporation, the ethics audit is a very attractive method of evaluation for corporations in today’s socially responsible society. When looking at the management and controlling of an ethics program within an organization, the Ethics Audit provides the company with a realistic overview of the current state of its ethics program. An ethics audit can bring to light any ethical issues that a company may be dealing with and it may also shed light on a remarkable process developed by the company. This paper will review the ethics audit process to include the steps taken, benefits, risks, as well as possible outcomes.
The process of ethical auditing does not necessarily have to take place after an ethics program has been implemented, it may also be done beforehand in order for the corporation to have a better grasp on the direction in which their ethics program needs to be taken. Stakeholders take a particular interest in the ethical audit as the transparency and resulting accountability it brings is favorable in the eyes of the stakeholders. This transparency allows the stakeholders to hold corporate officers directly responsible if any ethical issues are found to have risen during the audit. It also allows for praise on the stakeholder’s part if the corporate officers are found to have instilled an upstanding ethical nature within the organization. As ethical auditing is a fairly newer process in the business world, many do not know what types of risks and benefits this class of audit may bring about.
Benefits and Risks of Ethic Auditing
While
References: Allen, M. B. (1995). The ethics audit. Nonprofit World, 13(6), 51. Retrieved from http://p2048-www.liberty.edu.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/docview/221335917?accountid=12085 Boyle, D.M., Hermanson, D.R., Wilkins, A. (2011). Ethics Audits: Implications for Internal Auditors. Internal Auditing, 26(6), 3. Ferrell, O. C., Fraedrich, J., & Ferrell, L. (2013). Business ethics: Ethical decision making and cases (9th ed.). Mason, OH: South-Western/Cengage Learning. Gray, S. T. (1998). Audit your ethics. Association Management, 48(9), 188. Retrieved from http://p2048-www.liberty.edu.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/docview/229329757?accountid=12085 Hofmann, P. B. (1995). Performing an ethics audit. Healthcare Executive, 10(6), 47. Retrieved from http://p2048-www.liberty.edu.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/docview/200314221?accountid=12085 Krell, E. (2010). How to Conduct an Ethics Audit. HRMagazine, 55(4), 48-51. Retrieved from http://www.liberty.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.proquest.com/docview/205070994?accountid=12085 Lowery, B. N. (1997). Practice development opportunity: Corporate ethics audits. CPA Management Consultant, 12(1), 1-4. Retrieved from http://p2048-www.liberty.edu.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/login?url=http://search.proquest.com.ezproxy.liberty.edu:2048/docview/194693683?accountid=12085