Integrity In Organizations

This book represents an introduction to and overview of the diverse facets of the ethical challenges confronting companies today. It introduces executives, students and interested observers to the complex trends and developments in business ethics. Coverage presents industry-specific topics in ethics. The book also provides a general, interdisciplinary survey of the ethical dimensions of management and business.

This book highlights the interconnectedness of integrity with philosophical history, leadership, managerial decision-making, and organizational effectiveness in a wide variety of contexts (e.g., time theft in organizations and family business). Well-known researchers in business ethics from all around the world reframe the literature on integrity in business and management and develop updated and more comprehensive models of integrity. Integrity in Business and Management connects integrity to both ancient thought and the modern philosophy of pragmatism, but also explains how contemporary societal trends may shape the way we think about integrity. The final chapter warns against oversocialized conceptualizations of integrity and argues for a clear differentiation between personal integrity and moral integrity. Aimed at researchers and academics in the fields of business ethics and organizational leadership, Integrity in Business and Management explicates and critiques prior models of managerial integrity in a wide variety of disciplines, covering economics, moral philosophy, business ethics, organizational behavior, sociology, history, and psychology and offers a helpful set of readings in advanced undergraduate and postgraduate courses of business ethics, corporate governance, corporate social responsibility, and leadership to stimulate discussions about personal integrity, moral integrity, and organizational leadership.

Business integrity is rarely a matter of straight-forward rules. As the nature and geography of business transactions become more complex, managers are required to make judgements and to tackle new ethical dilemmas that are often local and situational. Integrity in Business explores the complex nature of integrity and business and illustrates how organizations have avoided major setbacks to their reputations and value by encouraging integrity. It also examines those organizations that have failed or experienced serious reputational damage due to lack of preparation, lack of transparency and lack of leadership. Frank Holder analyzes how transparency and integrity depend on a state of balance in competition and knowing who you are doing business with. He explains the significance of leadership awareness which, whilst now global, is alert to the need to establish integrity in local markets. Using his research from a review of significant fraud cases, legislative mandates and governmental and nongovernmental initiatives over the past 15 years, the author provides a rigorous and sophisticated guide to understanding and adopting an holistic business integrity strategy- one which has a realistic chance of protecting your organization from the kind of catastrophic loss or reputational damage that can easily be the result of an error of judgement in a world that is increasingly connected and driven by instant and social media.

Silicon Valley expert Robert Chesnut shows that companies that do not think seriously about a crucial element of corporate culture—integrity—are destined to fail. “Show of hands—who in this group has integrity?” It’s with this direct and often uncomfortable question that Robert Chesnut, General Counsel of Airbnb, begins every presentation to new employees. Defining integrity is difficult. Once understood as “telling the truth and keeping your word,” it was about following not just the letter but the spirit of the law. But in a moment when workplaces are becoming more diverse, global, and connected, silence about integrity creates ambiguities about right and wrong that make everyone uncertain, opening the door for the minority of people to rationalize selfish behavior. Trust in most traditional institutions is down—government, religious organizations, and higher education—and there’s a dark cloud hovering over technology. But this is precisely where companies come in; as peoples’ faith in establishments deteriorates, they’re turning to their employer for stability. In Intentional Integrity, Chesnut offers a six-step process for leaders to foster and manage a culture of integrity at work. He explains the rationale and legal context for the ethics and practices, and presents scenarios to illuminate the nuances of thinking deeply and objectively about workplace culture. We will always need governments to manage defense, infrastructure, and basic societal functions. But, Chesnut argues, the private sector has the responsibility to use sensitivity and flexibility to make broader progress—if they act with integrity. "Rob is an insider who's combined doing good with doing business well in two iconic Silicon Valley companies. His book contains smart, practical advice for anyone looking to do good and do well.” —Reid Hoffman, co-founder of LinkedIn and author of Blitzscaling

What do corporations look like when they have integrity, and how can we move more companies in that direction? Corporate Integrity offers a timely, comprehensive framework- and practical business lessons - bringing together questions of organizational design, communication practices, working relationships, and leadership styles to answer this question. Marvin T. Brown explores the five key challenges facing modern businesses as they try to respond ethically to cultural, interpersonal, organizational, civic and environmental challenges. He demonstrates that if corporations are to meet the needs of civil society, they must facilitate inclusive communication patterns based on mutual recognition and civic cooperation. Corporate Integrity is essential reading for professionals in organizational ethics, business leaders, and graduate students looking for practical and reflective insights into doing business with integrity and purpose.

Thanks to global news and social media, we are the most informed and socially conscious generation in history. But what are the sources of inner inspiration that guide our daily conduct and motivations in the workplace? Far from the old Machiavellian dictum that "the ends justify the means", the reverse is often the case: the means determine the ends. This book presents the stories of business leaders who have aimed to build trust in the economy, and have delivered value through integrity, cooperation, stewardship, purpose and sustainability. It proposes the eight Cs of trust which can define the culture of organizations: contracts, covenants, competences, character, conscience, conviction, courage and change. The book makes the clear link between personal decision-making and global outcomes and demonstrates how positive decision-making can lead to change inside organizations and beyond.

Goes beyond the call for more humanistic management in the aftermath of a series of corporate scandals and the recent financial crisis, and offers advice on how we can build more humanistic organizations with the help of integrity. The authors shed light on leadership, governance and further implementation issues.

Shows that executive integrity is not merely a moral trait but a dynamic process of making empathetic, responsible, and sound decisions. Describes key features of executive integrity including effective social interaction, open dialogue, and responsive leadershipand explains how integrity can be developed and practiced in today's organizations.

Robert Powell uncovers a secret stream of wisdom that flows through the heart of Christianity--the feminine principle, known in Greek as "Sophia," the being of Holy Wisdom herself. This sacred embodiment, named in the Old Testament as the first living being made by God, has comforted and guided seekers of truth in every age and in every human culture. Powell surveys the wonders and teachings associated with this unacknowledged treasure of Christianity's mystical past--a stream running from the Greek philosophers and King Solomon through the cosmic visions of Hildegard von Bingen, Our Lady of Guadalupe, and the relation of Sophia to Mary the mother of Christ. The Sophia Teachings provides accessible and informative insights into the being of Sophia--generally overlooked by modern, patriarchal Christianity and misinterpreted by new age and and other movements that often trivialize the meaning and purpose of this significant cosmic entity.

For companies, unethical business practices like bribery and corruption pose major business risks, and can result in fines, reputational damage, lost business opportunity and – increasingly – criminal or civil charges.Organizations have responded to this critical governance issue with rigorous formal integrity and compliance frameworks, to set out and enforce standards for ethical business practice. But companies also need to create an enduring culture of integrity that establishes doing the right thing as the cultural norm across the organization – and this requires more than compliance alone.Creating a Culture of Integrity identifies the key actions sustainability and compliance officers can take to foster this cultural shift within their organizations.This "one-stop" toolkit for embedding integrity also includes: inspiring best-practice case studies from companies who’ve implemented culture change, with insights on how they deal with ethical dilemmas when these arise and; powerful arguments to help you make the business case for building a strong ethical culture around your compliance system.