Champion ethical behaviour

CRS practitioners are expected to maintain and champion high standards of business ethics.  This may require individuals to challenge accepted behaviours, standards and practices.  

CRS practitioners are expected to demonstrate and promote integrity, and appreciate the importance of such behaviour in sustaining an organisation.

In doing so, practitioners are expected to comply with both the spirit and the letter of all applicable legal responsibilities.  A keen sense of justice and a commitment to diversity, equal opportunity and intergenerational equity are to be expected, and practitioners should reflect these values both in their words and their actions. 

Given that the subject of ethics is value-laden and affected by an individual’s experiences, interests and education, practitioners should continuously question and review their ethical assumptions and standards.  This is particularly important because many CRS activities entail decision-making in complex scenarios where activities may be morally ambiguous.

Awareness

  • Understand the main ethical and good corporate governance issues faced by an organisation and, if relevant, its supply chain and what an organisation’s policy should be in relation to those issues.
  • Horizon scan for issues that an organisation may face in the future and determine policy in relation to those.
  • Keep informed of the latest debate and thinking on ethical issues, and the role of business in relation to ethics. 

Advocacy and Advice

  • Encourage an environment of professionalism, openness, transparency, mutual respect and support.
  • Develop compelling arguments for addressing ethical and good governance issues.

Compliance 

  • Follow and uphold relevant organisational or industry-specific codes of conduct.

Strategy

  • Maintain, support or develop (as appropriate) effective policies and procedures concerning bribery, corruption, whistle-blowing and good corporate governance.
  • As appropriate, help embed a code of ethics in an organisation and the supply chain.

Stakeholders 

  • Consider the views of stakeholders, understand their main concerns and their impact on the business, and engage in constructive dialogue on ethical and good corporate governance issues.
  • Identify opportunities for collaboration with external organisations on business ethics.

Communication

  • Be open and honest about ethical practice in an organisation and promote regular review of how that practice can be extended and further embedded.
  • Engage with, challenge and support senior leaders where possible to make that happen.