Chapter 18:RESEARCHING BUSINESS ETHICS RESOURCES

CHAPTER 18

Researching Business Ethics Resources

A good starting point for researching resources about business ethics is the Internet. There are literally hundreds of Web sites providing a range of information from philosophical arguments about ethics to how to construct a corporate conduct code. Of course, more traditional sources can also provide a wealth of information. The local library is obvious, but also local trade missions, embassies and consulates of countries in your target region are usually cooperative, if not flattered, by your interest. Also, many governments sponsor cultural institutes in foreign countries to promote both the business and culture of their home country. Among the largest: THE GOETHE-INSTITUTE Funded by the German government, it promotes German business and culture abroad. The Institute maintains about 150 locations in more than 70 countries.

Among these are large Institutes with up to 70 employees in New York, London, Paris,

Tokyo, Moscow, Cairo, Jakarta and Rome. The Institute has a total of about 3,600 German and foreign employees worldwide. THE ALLIANCE FRANCAISE The largest network of French language and cultural centers in the world. There are 1,300 Alliance chapters established in 112 countries—including 150 chapters in the US—serving more than 400,000 students. THE JAPAN FOUNDATION maintains two Japan Cultural Institutes, five Japan Cultural

Centers and 11 Offices in 17 countries. The Japan Foundation was established in 1972 under the auspices of Japan’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the purpose of promoting mutual understanding and friendship on the international scene. Its activities are financed by operation profits on government endowments, aid from the Japanese government and funding and donations from the private sector. US INFORMATION AGENCY An agency of the US federal government it operates cultural centers, including libraries and multi-media resources, in over 90 countries. Its aim is to promote US business and US culture (what the French term an oxymoron) throughout the world.

Internet Resources

This is by no means meant to be an exhaustive list of international-related business ethics links. Most of the Web sites have their own set of additional Web links, and many were used as resources for this book.

AUSTRALIAN BUSINESS ETHICS NETWORK http://www.bf.rmit.edu.au/Aben/

Includes educational programs, a calendar of conferences and events, an extensive list of suggested Web sites and The Ethics Forum that contains discussion papers on a variety of management and ethical topics.

BUSINESS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY http://www.bsr.org/

Business for Social Responsibility (BSR) is an organization that helps companies achieve

“long-term commercial success by implementing policies and practices that honor high ethical standards.” With more than 1,500 members, BSR sponsors conferences and

programs on ethics and codes of conduct, in addition to more global corporate social responsibility issues. THE CAUX ROUND TABLE http://www.cauxroundtable.org/

Includes the first international code of business ethics. The Round Table serves as a stimulus for implementation of its Principles for Business, conducts Global, Regional and National

Dialogues and publishes Position Papers on key global issues.

COUNCIL FOR ETHICS IN ECONOMICS http://www.businessethics.org

The Council for Ethics in Economics includes some good publications as well as

“Conversations on Ethics,” which are presentations and discussions of business ethics issues.

There are also interactive case studies.

ETHICS OFFICER ASSOCIATION http://www.eoa.org

The EOA is a non-profit organization which promotes ethical business practices and serves as a forum for the exchange of information and strategies among individuals responsible for ethics, compliance and business conduct programs. ETHICS RESOURCE CENTER http://www.ethics.org

The Ethics Resource Center is a nonprofit, educational organization that provides consulting services and training to help companies establish and implement effective business ethics policies.

INSTITUTE FOR BUSINESS AND PROFESSIONAL ETHICS http://www.depaul.edu/ethics

The Institute is maintained by DePaul University in the United States and includes the

“Online Journal of Ethics” as well as other newsletters and a global calendar of ethicsrelated events. INSTITUTE FOR GLOBAL ETHICS http://www.globalethics.org

The US-based Institute for Global Ethics provides a number of services designed to elevate public awareness and discussion of ethics in a global context. The Institute maintains offices in London and Toronto.

INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS ETHICS INSTITUTE http://www.business-ethics.org

The Washington D.C.-based International Business Ethics Institute’s goal is to help companies establish and implement standards that further “economic progress through global citizenship and ethical conduct.” The Institute has offices in Brazil and the United

Kingdom. The Web site is in three languages: English, French and Portuguese. TRANSPARENCY INTERNATIONAL http://www.transparency.org

An excellent multi-language site (information is given in more than a dozen languages) that provides all you need to know about fighting corruption in business and government.

Transparency International is a not-for-profit, non-governmental organization, whose mission includes: curing corruption through international and national coalitions encouraging governments to establish and implement effective laws, policies and anticorruption programs; and encouraging all parties to international business transactions to operate at the highest levels of integrity. The site contains excellent links as well.

INTERNATIONAL CHAMBER OF COMMERCE http://www.iccwbo.org

Information about world business and investment in the free market system. This Parisbased organization also provides a set of international ethics codes. CSR EUROPEAN DATABANK http://www.csreurope.org/CSR_europe/Databank/databankindex.htm

“The Reference Point on Corporate Social Responsibility in Europe” provides an abundant

amount of information on various companies and their current practices and plans relating to Corporate Social Responsibility. JOSEPHSON INSTITUTE http://www.josephsoninstitute.org

The US-based Josephson Institute is a non-profit membership organization focused on improving the ethical quality of society. Probably best known for their Character Counts! program for school age children. This Web site has extensive links to other ethics Web sites. BUSINESS ETHICS IN JEWISH LAW http://www.jlaw.com/Articles/

Provides several articles dealing with the subject of business ethics from the perspective of

Jewish Law. Includes the articles “Jewish Business Ethics—An Introductory Perspective,”

“Value Conflicts In Jewish Business Ethics: Social Versus Fiduciary Responsibility” and

“The Good Samaritan: Monetary Aspects.” ISLAMIC PATHS http://www.islamic-paths.org

A very comprehensive site featuring information about Islamic business ethics and principles.

ISLAMIC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRY http://www.islamic-commerce.org/

This site is dedicated to encourage Muslims to network and assist advancement of Muslims in corporate and professional careers. It also educates those unfamiliar with Islamic business practices. Good links to other Islamic business Web sites.

CANADIAN BUSINESS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY http://www.cbsr.bc.ca/ index.html

Includes facts about corporate social responsibility, ten steps to CSR, “Good Company,” the organization’s online newsletter and CBSR Guidelines. There is also a “self-audit” section which businesses may use to evaluate their CSR programs.

COMPUTER PROFESSIONALS FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY http://www.cpsr.org/ program/ethics/ethics.html

The CPSR Ethics Working Group “strives to stimulate and heighten awareness of the social and ethical implications of all aspects of computers and information technology, including design, manufacture, disposal, and applications derived for any purpose.” Includes helpful articles and useful links to other Net resources.

EUROPEAN BUSINESS ETHICS NETWORK http://www.eben.org/

Its role is to stimulate and facilitate meetings of minds, discussion and debate on common ethical problems and dilemmas. Network members include businesspeople, public sector managers and academics. SOCIAL FUNDS www.socialfunds.com

Run by SRI World Group, this site specializes in information about socially responsible mutual funds. It offers performance statistics plus fund descriptions.

INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF BUSINESS, ECONOMICS AND ETHICS Société internationale d’éthique, d’économie et de gestion http://www.nd.edu/~isbee/

The aim of the Society is to facilitate the dissemination of information and to foster interaction among businesses, academics, professional societies and others interested in the ethical dimensions of business and economics on the international level.

THE CENTER FOR CREATIVE LEADERSHIP http://www.ccl.org

The center is an international, non-profit educational institution that, through research, develops models of global and international managerial practice.

Books

COUNTRY BUSINESS GUIDE SERIES

World Trade Press, Novato, California 1994-2002. 12 country-specific comprehensive texts on doing business in major emerging markets.

Curry, Jeffrey Edmund, A SHORT COURSE IN INTERNATIONAL NEGOTIATING

World Trade Press, Petaluma, CA 2008.

Flynn, Nancy. THE E-POLICY HANDBOOK: DESIGNING AND IMPLEMENTING EFFECTIVE E-MAIL, INTERNET, AND SOFTWARE POLICIES

AMACOM, New York 2001.

Hofstede, Gert, CULTURES CONSEQUENCES: INTERNATIONAL DIFFERENCES IN WORK-RELATED VALUES

Sage Publications 1984.

Lewis, Richard D., WHEN CULTURES COLLIDE: MANAGING SUCCESSFULLY ACROSS CULTURES

Nicholas Brealey Publishing, London, England 1996.

Mitchell, Charles, A SHORT COURSE IN INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS CULTURE

World Trade Press, Novato, California 2000.

Morgan, Eileen, NAVIGATING CROSS-CULTURAL ETHICS: WHAT GLOBAL MANAGERS DO RIGHT TO KEEP FROM GOING WRONG

Butterworth-Heinemann (Trd), Newton MA, 1998.

PASSPORT TO THE WORLD SERIES 25 country-specific books on the business culture of countries.

World Trade Press, Novato, California 1996-2003. Schell, Michael S. and Solomon, Charlene Marmer, CAPITALIZING ON THE GLOBAL WORKFORCE:

A STRATEGIC GUIDE FOR EXPATRIATE MANAGEMENT Irwin Professional Pub, New York, New York 1996.

Zadeck, Simon, THE CIVIL CORPORATION: THE NEW ECONOMY OF CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP

Earthscan Publications Ltd., London 2001.

Studies and Reports

Alexander, Lucy. THE GLOBAL INVESTOR AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE: WHAT DO INSTITUTIONAL INVESTORS WANT?

The Conference Board, New York 2001.

Berenbeim, Ronald. COMPANY PROGRAMS FOR RESISTING CORRUPT PRACTICES: A GLOBAL STUDY

The Conference Board, New York 2000

Berenbeim, Ronald. GLOBAL CORPORATE ETHICS PRACTICES: A DEVELOPING CONSENSUS

The Conference Board, New York 1999. Hodess, Robin, Banfield, Jessie, Wolfe, Toby. GLOBAL CORRUPTION REPORT 2001

Transparency International, Berlin 2001.

Zadeck, Simon. DOING GOOD AND DOING WELL: MAKING THE BUSINESS CASE FOR CORPORATE CITIZENSHIP

The Conference Board, New York 2000.

Corporate Governance

AUSTRALIA

Australian Investment Managers’ Association (AIMA), “Corporate Governance: A Guide for

Investment Managers and Corporations” (Blue Book), Second Edition, AIMA: Sydney, July 1997. Working Group representing Australian Institute of Company Directors, Australian

Society of Public Accountants, Business Council of Australia, Law Council of Australia, The

Institute of Chartered Accountants in Australia and Securities Institute of Australia,

“Corporate Practices and Conduct” (Bosch Report), Third Edition, Information Australia:

Melbourne, 1995.

BELGIUM

Brussels Stock Exchange (BSE), “Report of the Belgium Commission on Corporate Governance” (Cardon Report), BSE: Brussels, 1998.

BRAZIL

Brazilian Institute of Corporate Governance, “Code of Best Practice,” Brazilian Institute of

Corporate Governance, São Paulo, June 1999.

CANADA

Pension Investment Association of Canada (PIAC), “Corporate Governance Standards,” Fourth

Publication, PIAC: Toronto, June 1998. Toronto Stock Exchange Committee on Corporate Governance in Canada, “Where were the

Directors?” (Dey Report), Toronto Stock Exchange: Toronto, December 1994.

FRANCE

Hellebuyck Commission on Corporate Governance, “Recommendations on Corporate

Governance” (AFG), Association Francaise de la Gestion Franciare: Paris, June 1998. Marini, Philippe, “Marini Report,” Conseil National du Partonat Français (CNPF) and

Association Francaise des Enterprises Privés (AFEP): Paris, 1996. Vienot, M. Marc, et al, “The Boards of Listed Companies in France,” Conseil National du

Partonat Français (CNPF) and Association Francaise des Enterprises Privés (AFEP): Paris, 1995.

GERMANY

Deutsche Bundestag, “Gestez zur Kontrolle und Tranzparenz im Unternehmensbereich” (Law on Control and Transparency in the Corporate Sector) (KonTraG), Deutsche Bundestag:

Bonn, March 1998.

HONG KONG

Hong Kong Society of Accountants (HKSA), “A Guide for the Formation of an Audit

Committee,” HKSA: Hong Kong, December 1997. Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (SEHK), “Guide for Directors of Listed Companies,” SEHK:

Hong Kong: September 1997. SEHK, “The Listings Rules, Listing Agreements (Appendices 7a, b and i to the Listings Rules),”

SEHK: Hong Kong, 1999.

INDIA

Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), “Desirable Corporate Governance: A Code,” CII: New

Delhi, April 1998.

IRELAND

Irish Association of Investment Managers (IAIM), “Corporate Governance, Share Option and other Incentive Scheme Guidelines,” IAIM: Dublin, March 1999.

ITALY

Draghi, Mario, “Le Proposte della Commissione Draghi,” (The Proposals of the Draghi

Commission), II Sole 24 Ore On Line: Rome, July 1998.

JAPAN

Pension Fund Corporate Governance Research Committee, “Action Guidelines for Exercising

Voting Rights,” Kosei Nenkin Kikin Rengokai: Tokyo, June 1998. Corporate Governance Committee, “Corporate Governance Principles,” Corporate Governance

Forum of Japan: Tokyo, May 1998.

KYRGYSTAN

Kenenbaev, Temirbek, et al, “Civil Code for the Public Company,” formerly “Handbook on

Best Practice,” Civil Code of Kyrgyzstan: Bishbek, 1996-97.

MALAYSIA

High Level Finance Committee on Corporate Governance, Chapter 5, “The Malaysian Code on

Corporate Governance,” High Level Finance Committee Report on Corporate Governance:

Kuala Lumpur, February 1999.

THE NETHERLANDS

Vereniging van Effectenbezitters (VEB), “Ten Recommendations on Corporate Governance in the Netherlands,” VEB: The Hague, 1997. Peters Committee, “Corporate Governance in The Netherlands-Forty Recommendations,”

Secretariat Committee on Corporate Governance: Amsterdam, June 1997.

ORGANIZATION FOR ECONOMIC CO-OPERATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD), “Principles of Corporate

Governance,” OECD: May 1999.

RUSSIAN FEDERATION Yeltsin, Boris, President of the Russian Federation, “Decree on Measures to Ensure the Rights of Shareholders” (formerly “Declaration of Shareholder Rights”), Parker School of Foreign and Comparative Law, Legal Matters, Columbia University, Release No. 28, Transnational

Juris: New York, 1996.

SINGAPORE

Stock Exchange of Singapore, “Listing Manual (as amended) and Best Practices Guide,” Stock

Exchange of Singapore: Singapore, 1999.

SOUTH AFRICA

King, Mervyn E., et al, “The King Report on Corporate Governance,” Institute of Directors of

Southern Africa: Johannesburg, November 1994.

SPAIN

Olivencia Ruiz, Dr. Manuel, et al, “Tendencias en los Mercados de Valores,” Special

Commission to Consider a Code of Ethics for Companies’ Boards of Directors: Madrid,

February 1998.

SWEDEN

Swedish Academy of Directors, “Good Boardroom Practice,” Swedish Academy of Directors:

Stockholm, March 1994.

THAILAND

Stock Exchange of Thailand (SET), “The SET Code of Best Practice for Directors of Listed

Companies,” SET: Bangkok, 1998.

UNITED KINGDOM

London Stock Exchange (LSE), “Hampel: The Combined Code,” London Stock Exchange:

London, June 1998. Committee on Corporate Governance (Hampel Report), “Final Report,” London Stock

Exchange: London, January 1998. Study Group on Directors’ Remuneration (Greenbury Report), “Final Report,” London Stock

Exchange: London, July 1995. Cadbury, Adrian, et al, “The Financial Aspects of Corporate Governance,” London Stock

Exchange: London, December 1992.

UNITED STATES

California Public Employees’ Retirement System, “Corporate Governance Market Principles,”

CalPERS: Sacramento, April 1998. New York Stock Exchange and National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), “Report of the NACD Blue Ribbon Commission on Improving the Effectiveness of Corporate Audit

Committees,” New York Stock Exchange: New York, December 1998. National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), “Report of the NACD Blue Ribbon

Commission on CEO Succession,” NACD: Washington, D.C., July 1998. Council of Institutional Investors (CII), “Core Policies,” CII: Washington, D.C., March 1998. Business Roundtable, “Statement on Corporate Governance,” The Business Roundtable:

Washington, D.C., September 1997. General Motors Board of Directors, “GM Board of Directors Corporate Governance Guidelines on Significant Governance Issues,” Second Edition, General Motors: Detroit, June 1997,

Revised March 1999. National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD), “Report of the NACD Blue Ribbon

Commission on Director Professionalism,” NACD: Washington, D.C., November 1996. Teachers Insurance and Annuity Association—College Retirement Equities Fund (TIAA-CREF),

“TIAA-CREF Policy Statement on Corporate Governance,” New York, October 1997.