Maintain Ethical Conduct – 3735R Amanda Falls

Research Activity 1
Ethical Conduct Statement – Example 1
Company: Bernard/Allison Management
Website: http://www.bamsi.com/ethical_conduct.htm

Our commitment to our clients is to develop and maintain a business atmosphere that focuses not only on the property
management services we provide but also on the ethical conduct of our employees. The following summarizes our
policies with regard to eight areas of primary concern:

1. Incentives. We will not take or give gifts, incentives, or other forms of consideration at any time other than
reasonable gifts of appreciation given or received at Christmas time. Our actions will always be in the best interest of
our clients without hidden compensation or benefit.

2. Competitive Spirit. We will concentrate on improving our service and will not unfairly criticize or make negative
statements about our competition in the property management field. However, we will compare ourselves too our
competition when factual circumstances warrant comparison.

3. Honesty. We will not lie or provide false information but will always respond truthfully based on current knowledge.
We will not resort to puffery or exaggeration.

4. Client Confidentiality. Without our clients' consent, we will not divulge confidential information unless we are bound
by legal or ethical standards to divulge such information, and then we will do so only to the appropriate parties.

5. Awarding Contracts for Services and Product Purchases. We will always seek out the best value with regard to price,
quality, delivery, service, and maintenance. Contracts will not be given to friends, relatives, or others we have a
personal relationship with unless full disclosure is made and their service or product is the best value.

6. Managing Property for Out-of-town Owners or Owners Whose Property is Not Large in Size. All owners will receive
the same effort from our staff, whether they live in town, or are out of town, or are in constant contact with us, or
only visit with us once per year. Our management effort will also be the same for large and small sites and owners
with one site or multiple sites.

7. Substance Abuse Policy. Our policy regarding substance abuse is as follows:

A. It is a violation of company policy for any employee to possess, distribute, sell, trade, or offer for sale
illegal drugs or otherwise engage in the use of illegal drugs or alcohol on the job.

B. It is a violation of company policy for anyone (during normally scheduled work hours) to report to work
under the influence of illegal drugs or alcohol.

C. It is a violation of company policy for anyone to misuse or use prescription drugs illegally. (However,
nothing in this policy precludes the appropriate use of legally prescribed medications.)

D. It is a violation of company policy to not report a work-related injury within 24 hours.

E. Violations of the above policies are subject to disciplinary action which may include termination.

8. Code of Conduct. Annually, each employee signs a code of conduct which renews the focus on our ethical
commitment to our clients. Our code of conduct is:

Compared to some of the conduct statements that I have come across in my

research one is medium in length. I think any longer and you are dramatically
reducing the amount of people that are actually going to read it. The layout of the
statement – the numbered points works well to break up the page aesthetically.

This is quite a detailed statement, which is good if it is necessary, depending on the

company. What I like about this statement is that for each point it has a heading and
then a sentence of two going into more detail about the topic. The statement has
been written using general terms so there shouldn’t be any discrepancy in regards to
a person not understanding.
I think this is a really good example for a business as I read the statement and
completely understood the ethics of the business and its employees.

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Maintain Ethical Conduct – 3735R Amanda Falls

Ethical Conduct Statement – Example 2

Company: Web Marketer
Website: http://www.webmarketer.com.au/policies/ethics.php

Ethical Conduct Statement

Webmarketer operates all it's services under a Code of Ethics because we value integrity in
business.

1. We aim to foster trust by providing communication that is both accurate and articulate.
2. We represent ourselves with proof of our abilities, and never falsify our competencies.
3. We use software and hardware that has been legally purchased, and audit our systems
regularly to ensure security and legality.
4. We keep our clients and staff informed of relevant information and do not obscure or
avoid eventualities.
5. We provide value for money and maintain a competitive marketing strategy.

Our chief concern is to establish a business relationship that so impresses our clientele, that
they would not consider going elsewhere for web services.

This conduct statement is the companies promise to its current/potential customers.

It is short but can be easily read and understand it.

It is concise and simplified into numbered points making it very for people to read.
Anything too long I find that people get board and don’t finish reading especially
when it is something like ethics or privacy.

However I think it needed to be short as it had a Code of Ethics on the website also
and that was very long and detailed. I guess the idea is that you can read the
statement and leave it at that or if you are really interested you can go one to the
code of ethics.

I also think that this is a positive conduct statement. It focusing on telling the
customer “we will”, “we represent”, “we provide”. It doesn’t list all the negatives that
it won’t do, it just state all the positives and what can be expected from the
company.

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Maintain Ethical Conduct – 3735R Amanda Falls

Ethical Conduct Statement – Example 3

Company: Australian & New Zealand School of Government
Website: http://www.anzsog.edu.au/images/docs/Code of Ethical Conduct.doc

Code of Ethical Conduct

In the pursuit of its goals ANZSOG is committed to:

Maintaining the highest international standards of ethics and quality in research, teaching and
administration, including working within the law, honestly, fairly, with integrity and diligently;

Advancing the intellectual, cultural, economic and social welfare of the Australian and New Zealand
communities it serves;

Working with member governments and educational institutions to extend educational opportunity and
enrich intellectual discourse, educational quality and research activity;

Encouraging all staff and students to understand and accept their moral responsibilities as educated,
informed, tolerant citizens of their own societies and of the wider international community;

Defending the academic freedom of all staff and students to engage in critical inquiry, intellectual
discourse and public controversy without fear or favour;

Sustaining a diverse, harmonious, scholarly community committed to equity and merit as the
fundamental principles, encouraging and assisting staff and students to realise their full potential; and

Maintaining a safe, attractive, environmentally responsible learning and working environment for the
ANZSOG community.

Again this is another reasonable sized conduct statement. It is also concise, and
encouraging with positive sentences.

It lists everything the company strives for as a business and as employees

individually. This statement sounds like the company is trying to motivate
employees/students to do the right thing and up hold their ethics without drilling into
them what they can and can’t do. While this statement my not work in all industries
especially if there is no code of ethics to back it up I think that possible it could be an
effective method.

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Maintain Ethical Conduct – 3735R Amanda Falls

Research Activity 2
FIFA VP Jack Warner breaches ethics code
The Sydney Morning Herald February 18, 2006 - 12:29PM. Taken from www.smh.com.au

FIFA vice-president Jack Warner could be expelled from world soccer's governing body after a committee found
he had violated its code of ethics on tickets for the 2006 World Cup.

Warner is special adviser to the Trinidad and Tobago Football Federation. Trinidad have qualified for the World
Cup for the first time.

Warner invited FIFA to investigate his relationship with Simpaul Travel Service after the Trinidad and Tobago
Express newspaper alleged Trinidad's allocation of tickets to the World Cup finals in Germany would be handled
solely by the company.

"The (ethics) committee concluded that because of his involvement with Simpaul Travel Service in Port-of-
Spain, FIFA vice-president Jack A Warner has a conflict of interest with regard to ticketing for the 2006 FIFA
World Cup, and as a result, he has violated FIFA's Code of Ethics," a FIFA statement said.

Warner has been one of president Sepp Blatter's closest allies since his appointment to FIFA's executive in 1983.
His case will be dealt with by FIFA's executive committee on March 16-17.

The newspaper alleged that unlike other countries where tickets would be made available on a match-by-match
basis, Trinidad's allocation would have to be bought as part of a three-match plus accommodation package
organised by Simpaul.

Warner, 63, could become the first FIFA vice-president to be expelled if the executive committee deems he has
failed to meet the organisation's ethical principles.

Section three of the FIFA Code of Ethics governing "Eligibility for and removal from office" states: "Only
persons with the highest ethical principles... may serve as an Official or a member of a body.

"Anyone who does not fulfil or ceases to fulfil these conditions shall be deemed ineligible to serve as an Official
or a member of a body and, if already in office, shall be relieved of that position.
"The same applies to persons convicted of an offence that calls into question their ability to discharge their
duties.

"Prior to being elected or appointed as an Official or a member of a body, all persons must automatically declare
any interests they have that may interfere with their duties."
Trinidad have been drawn with England, Sweden and Paraguay in Group B.

I thought that this was a really good example of unethical behaviour. Jack Warner is
a Vise President for FIFA and has possibly used his power and position to possibly do
something highly illegal and unethical which I’m sure he was going to benefit out of
– or why else would he having been putting himself that that situation.

As any employee of a company you have to sign documention stating that you have
read and understand the company ethic policy and it is this code of ethics that FIFA
are now throwing back at him while questioning his behaviour.

Another thing to consider is that given that he was the Vice President of the
company he has a duty to the company to promote and displaying ethical conduct to
the employees that were not at the Vice President level. Ultimately he got caught out
and now he will suffer the conseques as set out in the code of ethics.

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Maintain Ethical Conduct – 3735R Amanda Falls

Research Activity 3
Internet Industry Association @ www.iia.net.au

The Internet Industry Association (IIA) is Australia’s National Internet Industry

organisation. They have many members from all aspects of the Internet Industry
including; telecommunications carriers, web developers, e-commerce traders,
hardware vendors, systems integrators, banks, technology law firms, research
analysts, and those providing professional and technical support services.
On behalf of its members IIA provides policy input to government and advocacy on a
range of business and regulatory issues, to promote laws and initiatives which
enhance access, equity, reliability and growth of the medium within Australia.

Their website has a huge amount of information available, including;

Information on Task Forces the IIA has set up.
IIA and Industry news
Information on Initiatives such as guide for internet users, national
Spam/Antivirus.
Codes of Practices

Australian Information Industry Association @ www.aiia.com.au

The Australian Information Industry Association is the peak body in Australia for the
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) industry. Its mission is to lead
and represent the ICT industry to maximise the potential of the Australian economy.
AIIA is a diverse company with influential board of directors that represent their
members while helping to further develop and expand the industry.

Their website has a huge amount of information available, including;

Information about their connections, groups, products and publications.
Information about events, latest industry news and issues.
Detailed information about what is happening in each state
Current and upcoming events

Australian Privacy Commissioner @ www.privacy.gov.au

The purpose of the office of the privacy commissioner is to promote Australian

culture that respects privacy. They provide the below services;
Hotline – Gives advise regarding the Privacy Act, to individuals about their
rights and to federal and ACT government agencies regarding legislation and
compliance.
Complaint handling and audits – to investigate complaints about Privacy Act
interference and breach of guidelines.
Policy – provides guidance and advice, examines proposed legislation and
seeks information on technological development that may affect policy.
Corporate and Public affairs – handles all communication with media

Their website holds a lot of information both general and specific relating to privacy
for individuals, businesses, health and government.

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Maintain Ethical Conduct – 3735R Amanda Falls

Australian Bureau of Statistics @ www.abs.gov.au

The Australian Bureau of Statistics doesn’t just provide statistics; it provides an

abundance of valuable information, which is reconginised as a source of news
stories, and objective information that can be used to inform public debate.

They provide access to statistics, Census, methods, classification, concept and

standards as well as news and media, education resources and other import links.

Some of the services they provide include;

Subscription - email notification
Consultancy services
University services
Library extensions programs
Business register
Web services
Australia’s economic and finical data
Plus much much much more

Research Activity 4
I have visited the Internet Industry Association and downloaded the below fact
sheets.
The link given in the Workbooks is no longer valid. I searched the website and found
that the fact sheets are now located;

http://www.iia.net.au/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=138&Itemid=32

“Laws Affecting E-Business”

Before is a list of interesting things that I learnt from this fact sheet in regards to
laws affecting e-business;
Copyright Act gives owner of the work exclusive rights.
The Cybercrime Act amends a number of crimes so that they relate to the
Internet and online business.
The Privacy Act protects personal information collected and used on websites
and e-businesses.
The Electronic Transaction Act establishes the basic rule that a transaction is
not invalid simply because it was done online
The Trade Mark Act provides a system of registration and protection for
company trademarks
The Trade Practice Act and Fair Trading Act provides consumer protection in
the event of deception and misleading selling.

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Maintain Ethical Conduct – 3735R Amanda Falls

“Consumer Protection”
Before is a list of interesting things that I learnt from this fact sheet in regards to
running an e-business;
You can’t not engage in misleading or deceptive conduct.
Information on a website should be kept up-to-date to avoid misleading or
deceiving customers. Promotions/Sales and specials should be removed as
soon as not valid and fine print should be brought to the customers attention.
No Puffing – exaggerated advertising is not allowed.
You cannot make false statements or statements with no actual basis or plan
of following through.
You can not promote free items if you have not intention of actually giving
them to the customer.
Bait pricing is not allowed – you can’t attract customers with a discount price
and then tell them they have to pay more for that item.
The ACCC can take action or any person who has been affected may seek an
injunction.

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