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NAPM InfoEdge
May 1997, Vol. 2 No. 9

The Importance of Ethics Training and Development


Table of Contents
  • Defining an Ethics Policy Members Only Content
    Organizations have good reason to care about the ethics decisions of their employees. The most immediate reason is the quality of employees' business decisions — Is the organization getting the best decisions possible, or are other factors weakening those decisions? Or is there a perception that decisions aren't based on solid business practices?

  • Developing an Ethics Training Program Members Only Content
    Who is the anticipated target audience for ethics training? In parallel with one uniform organization policy (no double standard), the training ideally should be administered to everyone in the organization. If this is the case, then it is much more powerful if senior management enrolls in the training first.

  • Ethics Exercises Members Only Content
    An important part of ethics education and training is the exercises. There are several ways exercises can be delivered, including "games," action planning, role playing, or the methodologies illustrated in the following sample exercises.

AUTHOR(S)

Mary Lu Harding, C.P.M., CPIM, CIRM
Mary Lu Harding is a principal of Harding & Associates in Bristol, Vermont. Formerly, she worked for Digital Equipment Corporation as a purchasing manager with technology expertise. Ms. Harding is the co-author of Purchasing (Barron's Press), contributed to the C.P.M. Study Guide, Sixth edition, and has authored two previous issues of NAPM InfoEdge, as well as articles for NAPM Insights and Purchasing Today™. In addition, she developed the NAPM instructional video on systems contracting. Ms. Harding has presented seminars at several Annual International Purchasing Conferences, has written and reviewed questions for the C.P.M. certification exam, and has developed seminars for NAPM. Ms. Harding is a member of the NAPM Educational Advisory Committee, and has held other leadership positions within NAPM.


REFERENCES
  • Cooper, Robert W., Ph.D., Frank, Garry L., Ph.D., and Kemp, Robert A., Ph.D., C.P.M. Ethical Issues, Helps, and Challenges for the Professional in Purchasing and Materials Management, National Association of Purchasing Management, 1997
  • Purchasing Today™, March 1997, "What's Your Ethical Acumen?"
  • Purchasing Today™, March 1997, "Written in Stone"
  • NAPM 81st Annual International Conference Proceedings, "Regional Variations in Ethical Standards and Conduct Among Purchasing Managers," National Association of Purchasing Management, 1996
  • NAPM 80th Annual International Conference Proceedings, "Purchasing's Role in the Development of Corporate Ethics Statements," National Association of Purchasing Management, 1995
  • NAPM 79th Annual International Conference Proceedings, "Ethics Violations: Truth and Consequences," National Association of Purchasing Management, 1994

FOR FURTHER READING
  • Autry, James A. Life & Work: A Manager's Search for Meaning, Morrow, 1994
  • Autry, James A. Love & Profit: The Art of Caring Leadership, Avon, 1992
  • Peale, Norman Vincent and Blanchard, Kenneth. Power of Ethical Management, Fawcett Crest/Ballentine Books, 1989
  • Brooks, Theo. Accountability: It All Depends on What You Mean, Akkad Press, 1995
  • Covey, Steven. Principle-Centered Leadership, Summit, 1991
  • Covey, Steven. 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Fireside, 1990
  • Depree, Max. Leadership is an Art, Dell, 1990
  • Hall, William D. and Andersen, Arthur. Making the Right Decision: Ethics for Managers, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1993
  • Heider, John. Tao of Leadership: Lao Tzu's Tao Te Ching Adapted for a New Age, Humanics Ltd., 1985
  • Lichtman, Jim. Lone Ranger's Code of the West: Action-packed Adventure in Values & Ethics, Scribbler's Ink, 1996
  • Mooney, Richard L., C.P.M. Ethics Forum: Cases and Comments, National Association of Education Buyers, Inc., 1996
  • Prichett, Price, Ph.D. Ethics of Excellence, Pritchett & Associates, 1991
  • Treviño, Linda K. and Nelson, Katherine A. Managing Business Ethics - Straight Talk About How To Do It Right, John Wiley & Sons, Inc., 1995

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