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Business Ethics BICSI Ethics
Business Ethics
BICSI Ethics
What is Ethics?
• System of Right & Wrong
• Acting ethically means always doing the right thing!
• Doing the right thing is not always easy. (taking your parents keys away from them)
• “Ethics is knowing the difference between what you have the right to do and what is right to do”….. Potter Stewart
Why is it important to have an Ethics Statement
• If we are not careful we will drawn away to the Dark Side and we will get used to the dark
• “Wrong does not cease to be wrong because the majority share in it.”…. Tolstoy
• Most expensive restaurants have low lighting
We are enticed by very good food.
Who Uses a Code of Ethics?
• Most companies have an Ethics Policy
– FBI motto is “Fidelity, Bravery and Integrity”
All of their Standards of Conduct work to support their code / motto.
• Most organizations have a standard of how they want to present themselves to their industry and their customers
A Moral Code is established
BICSI has a Code of Ethics which is an ideal way of representing ourselves and the organization; a way we want to represent ourselves within the ITS community ……..
Code of Ethics
“It is important that the BICSI members and its credential holders exhibit the highest principles of ethical and professional behavior in the provision of their products and services associated with the Information Technology System (ITS) Industry.”
Guidelines to Achieve the Code
• In order to meet or obtain the ideal representation, we must have specific standards that clearly define how we should act in order to rise to that objective.
• BICSI has established the Standards of Conduct……. 14 of them.
BICSI Standards of Conduct
1. Maintain a high standard of personal conduct.
• (Integrity & Professionalism)
• Put yourself in your customers shoes and treat them the way you would like to be treated.
BICSI Standard of Conduct
2. Protect and enhance the reputation of the BICSI organization, the Credentialing program and my credential through my actions.
• (Responsible)
– Our credentials came with experience and education, studying and a difficult exam to verify our ability. We all want to see them continue to be valued and respected in the industry.
BICSI Standard of Conduct
3. Maintain the confidentiality of privileged information entrusted or known to me by virtue of my profession or position, unless disclosure is required by law.
• (Trustworthy)
BICSI Standard of Conduct
4. Be accurate and truthful in my dealings with clients and be careful not to misrepresent the quality, availability or ability of the services I provide.
• (Truthful)
BICSI Standard of Conduct
5. Never, under any circumstance, make a recommendation that misrepresents or misstates any other individual’s qualifications, abilities or accomplishments.
• (Honesty)
BICSI Standard of Conduct
6. Provide unbiased, accurate and objective assessments for all safety and operational deficiencies that may be discovered during the performance of my services.
• (Safety Conscious & Quality Focused)
BICSI Standard of Conduct
7. Refrain from representing competitors to clients, or the public, by the use of false and misleading statements or malicious actions, but rather work and compete with them in a reasonable and professional manner for the benefit and advancement of our profession.
• (Fair & Honest in Competition)
BICSI Standard of Conduct
8. Refrain from using false and misleading statements or malicious actions that might injure another person's reputation or bring harm to their person or property.
• (Truthful)
BICSI Standard of Conduct
9. Respect a client’s decision in the selection of competitive services, and continue to offer and provide that client with quality services for as long as is necessary or requested.
• (Respectful)
BICSI Standard of Conduct
10. Serve all members of the public impartially, providing no substandard service based on that individual’s age, race, national origin, color, sex, sexual orientation, disability or religious belief.
• (Unbiased, Quality Workmanship)
BICSI Standard of Conduct
11. Adhere to all relevant codes, laws, industry standards and BICSI methodologies where appropriate.
• (Educated & Quality Service)
BICSI Standard of Conduct
12. Take personal responsibility to ensure that all requirements necessary for the renewal of any BICSI credential that I hold is met on or before the expiration date.
• (Responsible & Accountable)
BICSI Standard of Conduct
13. Be accurate, honest and truthful in the presentation of all educational material or in the preparation of material orders and product availability.
• (Honest, Truthful)
BICSI Standard of Conduct
14. I will not misrepresent my BICSI credential.
• (Integrity)
Following are types of Ethics Violations we have seen @ BICSI
• These could have been avoided if the Standards of Conduct had been followed:
1. Improper use of the RCDD stamp
2. Cheating on credential exams
3. Unethical business practices between competitors
4. Use of false credential certificates to win bids
How do I know?
• How do I know if what I am doing is ethical or not?
Do a “Gut Check”
• If it feels wrong, then it probably is.
• “I know only that what is moral is what you feel good about afterwards and what is immoral is what you feel bad about afterwards.” ……. Hemingway
Ask yourself …..Is it worth it?
• It is better to earn business through honesty and with hard work rather than with questionable means.
• Legal is not = to Ethical
• “There is no such thing as a minor lapse in integrity”…… Tom Peters
In Closing
• My Committee is here for you
• If you know of an instance of Ethics violation – you can go to the Web site to file a complaint
• However, I am speaking at Regional meetings to PREVENT ethics problems so we can AVOID having complaints.
