A Code of Conduct may serve many purposes. For some, it is a legal document and “meta-policy” that summarizes key policies of the business. Leading firms, however, see the Code as an opportunity to codify in a single document the mission, vision, and values of the organization—as well as the expectations of the entire workforce and extended enterprise. In this sense, the Code serves as a guidepost for business conducted on behalf of the organization. This guidepost is especially important when “hard” controls are weak, confusing, or non-existent.
