Professional Ethics are very important because they provide us with guidelines on how to conduct our professional interactions and we should stay within during our professional careers. Studies show that the more importance an organization places on ethics, the more successful that organization is. Vietnam Business Forum interviewed Mr David Anderson, Managing Director of Deloite Vietnam, regarding the importance of Professional Ethics in business. Anh Phuong reports.
Could you please relate your position on Professional Ethics and particularly how you incorporate them into your business operations?
Professional Ethics are an important part of the culture of our firm. As a professional services firm there has to be a climate of honesty and integrity, professional behavior, objectivity and confidentiality. These are the cornerstones of our Ethical Principles and our people need these principles to be ingrained in the way they conduct themselves on a daily basis. We have programs and processes to remind them regularly how important it is for each of them to remember what is expected of them as a member of our firm.
Is it true that enhancing Professional Ethics is a way of building on corporate branding?
Yes. If you are known in the market place as a firm where who ‘do the right thing’ that is an important aspect of our branding. In a developing economy where there are many temptations to create a lack of transparency, it is important that a professional services firm is beyond reproach. Clients respect and demand honesty and integrity.
It is said that a lack of Professional Ethics could create opportunities for business to participate in more speculative activities and subsequently, lack sustainability. What is your opinion ob this scenario?
Without a Code of Professional Ethics in an organization there is no moral compass to guide the behavior of its employees. There is no standard of behavior that is required, which means that employees are free to do what they like. For example; enter into speculative behavior, not treat each other with dignity and respect and not be transparent. Organizations such as this will soon find that they face reputation issues that will ultimately negatively impact their business. It is so important that the market place knows where an organization stands on important issues. Best practices now have companies broadcasting the fact that they are an ethical place to work and that honesty and integrity are important building blocks within the organization. There have been studies done that show that the more importance an organization places on ethics, the more successful that organization is. It seems that the climate that these principles create is conducive to successful results. Makes sense to me.
How have Professional Ethics been implemented in your business regarding human resource management, corporate branding, partners, competitors etc.?
Ethical behavior is required by every member of our staff no matter where they work: all professional staff, administrative personnel and marketing and human resource employees. Nobody is absolved from behaving in an ethical way. We are proud of our “tone at the top” that sets the standard of expected behavior. In situations where such behavior is not forthcoming we have a very rigorous disciplinary policy that deals with these situations.
We constantly remind our people as to what is expected of them by videos, e-learning, posters and focus and discussion groups. We believe that we need to keep doing this as it sets the tone for appropriate behavior.
Vietnamese
