The set of indicators is constructed in the belief that building integrity process in a company starts with a top level commitment with a code of conduct that reflects the values and expectations for the organisation’s ethical culture and its consequences. It is important to apply the model of an organization’s building integrity, detecting the misconducts and assessing those misconduct’ consequences.

The first step for companies in developing their integrity is to show their commitment to business integrity. The Code of Conduct helps employees and other stakeholders  manage dilemmas and conflict of interest situations. Ethics has to underpin values and compliance on following the standards.

A company has to introduce a code of conduct that articulates the company’s business values, principles and standards. Adopting a code of conduct is generally the starting point, followed by an ethics and compliance program that includes management oversight, employee communication and training, auditing and monitoring plans, hotlines, enforcement mechanism, response protocols.

As such, the integrity of a company integrity that can be measured by using indicators which measure:

1. Commitments to integrity.
2. The existence and quality of  the Code of Conduct.
3. The quality of compliance programs.
4. Good governance for good control.
5. The codes and compliance programs are monitored and tracked and reported to all levels of the organization.
6. Timeliness and appropriateness of actions to address unethical conduct, the (potential) impact of unethical conduct on the corporation and its stakeholders.
7. Review, monitor, evaluate and change for continuous improvement.

More details on the methodology and indicators of VBII are available at the document “Methodology and Indicators of VBII” which can be downloadable from the Library of this website.