{"id":927,"date":"2018-04-14T16:29:37","date_gmt":"2018-04-14T23:29:37","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/imho.kileozier.com\/?p=927"},"modified":"2018-04-14T18:31:31","modified_gmt":"2018-04-15T01:31:31","slug":"fantastic-codes-of-ethics-and-where-to-find-them","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/imho.kileozier.com\/?p=927","title":{"rendered":"Fantastic Codes of Ethics and Where to Find Them"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Don<\/p>\n

If every organization, association, company, guild, union, club and institution created, adopted and lived by a Code of Ethics<\/strong>; perhaps the world would be a far better place in which to live and do bidness.<\/span><\/p>\n

Am I dreaming? Perhaps. A little. <\/span><\/p>\n

Though, I don\u2019t believe it is out of the question for such organizations to consider and adopt such a code; to embrace a set of standards of conduct that are espoused, held as respectable examples and voluntarily exemplified by leadership and members of such a group. <\/span><\/p>\n

In response to last week\u2019s post, some have pointed out that \u201c\u2026we don\u2019t have a Code of Ethics<\/strong>, and our Mission Statement says nothing about having the backs of one another\u2026,\u201d as though such absences – these failures to outline and stand up for doing business with honor and integrity – somehow justify looking the other way as members fall victim to inappropriate and generally unacceptable business practices.<\/span><\/p>\n

Seeming to assert that, as these things aren’t covered in the organizational documents, said organization is absolved from any responsibility or blame. We can’t be bound by what we haven’t written and included.<\/p>\n

Consider<\/strong>: perhaps the absence of such codes of recommended conduct and the ongoing voluntary, active support of them are a large part of the problem\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe aren\u2019t in a position to police our industries!\u201d<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

Actually, \u201cpolicing our industries\u201d has not been suggested. <\/span><\/p>\n

On the other hand, it may be accurate to suggest that a laissez-faire<\/i> attitude toward irregular and sometimes dishonorable practices in the name of \u201cdoing business\u201d over the past few decades has contributed to the proliferation of such conduct.<\/span><\/p>\n

Perhaps transforming or evolving through example is a realistic, and potentially a compelling and effective, logical approach.<\/p>\n

The association of which I am a proud member was founded, in part, under an implied umbrella of collective bargaining. The little independents who made up the core of this then-new and now-worldwide leader in the industries were often put in exceedingly exposed positions – and sometimes put out of business – due to accepted and standard practices of the Big Boys of the Industry. Not by intent, perhaps; but by [perhaps unintentional or careless] de facto <\/i>design.<\/span><\/p>\n

As the industries have grown and become more and more global, diversified, expanded, sophisticated; perhaps some of the spirit of those founding, aspirational moments have been lost\u2026 dissipated. <\/span><\/p>\n

Those companies that have been able to afford the losses so often inherent in some contexts and cultures could slough those losses off; building protections against them into contracts in such a way as to protect profit even without the occasional failure to pay at the end of a project.<\/span><\/p>\n

The shape and form of the industries have, however, changed. <\/span><\/p>\n

Now, more so than ever before, a far greater segment of the work done worldwide is by and through ad hoc<\/i> or to-the-project collaboration of small businesses and independent contractors – organized and managed under the purview of a pivotal entity, perhaps, but contracted directly with a much larger entity as Client. <\/span><\/p>\n

Thus, financial dealings are not always equal within a given project; such that some companies and groups might be fully paid while other, smaller companies and individuals might be made to wait\u2026or even never receive their full due.<\/span><\/p>\n

This can seriously compromise the stability of the smaller businesses and individuals, or simply put them out of business.<\/span><\/p>\n

With that, and harking back to broad and often ambiguous language found in Mission Statements and Statements of Purpose that speak of healthy growth of industries and quality of experience for audiences and customers; we are again confronted with the vital importance of advocating honorable business practice among colleagues, clients and contractors, worldwide.<\/span><\/p>\n

To eschew such responsibilities – in my opinion pretty much inherent in the DNA of any such association – directly imperils the depth of the talent pool, the breadth of skills and talent at hand, indeed the very quality of skilled, contractable, collaborative expertise available to all of us as future projects materialize and future teams are assembled. <\/span><\/p>\n

If they\u2019re no longer in business, we have lost access to those assets and the quality of work achievable is at risk, overall.<\/span><\/p>\n

So, Why Not\u2026?<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

To be clear:<\/span><\/p>\n

Having A Code of Ethics<\/b> does NOT imply\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n