Speaking of ethics: a five-point model for introducing ethics initiatives in organizations

Purpose This article promotes a research-informed approach to the rollout of ethics initiatives in medium to large organizations. While best-practice models for ethics policies and processes exist in prior scholarship, this paper focuses on the introduction and characterization in internal organizational communication as opposed to the initiative itself. Design/methodology/approach Drawing from the insights of topical and timely peer-reviewed research studies, this article distills a clear picture of best-practices for the introduction of ethics initiatives in a way that reduces the friction of implementation. This distillation is shaped into a nonlinear five-point model that can be utilized by organizational leadership. Findings The model proposed in this article is a research-informed approach to characterizing an intra-organizational ethics initiative in a manner that reduces the friction of implementation, ameliorates fear of change, and builds momentum for implementation success. Research limitations/implications This article draws upon the research and conclusions of industry and business researchers and practitioners and does not purport to be an original analysis using inferential statistics, experimental design, or quantitative methods. Practical implications Enhancing ethical decisions, behaviors, and ethical procedural systems within an organization is best accomplished through the development of an ethical change-making plan that evaluates possible barriers to the ethics initiative. This article proposes a five-point model for the introduction of ethics-improvement initiatives in medium to large organizations. Social implications Ethical organizations contribute to social good, and organizations that implement deliberate, routine, and well-assessed ethics initiatives, including training programs, are more capable at contributing to a society that reflects social justice. Originality/value While best-practice models for ethics policies and processes exist in prior scholarship, this paper focuses on the introduction and characterization in internal organizational communication as opposed to the initiative itself.