Q. It is said that for an ethical work culture, there must be code of ethics in place in every organisation. To ensure value-based and compliance-based work culture, what suitable measures would you adopt in your work place?

Model Answer:

An ethical work culture requires both value-based (intrinsic motivation) and compliance-based (rules and regulations) approaches working in tandem. A comprehensive code of ethics serves as the foundation, but its effectiveness depends on proper implementation through suitable measures.

Key measures I would adopt in the workplace:

Value-based Measures:

• Leadership by example – Senior management must embody organizational values in daily conduct, setting the ethical tone from top (like Narayana Murthy at Infosys)
• Core values integration – Embed principles of integrity, transparency, and respect into recruitment, performance evaluation, and reward systems
• Open communication culture – Create psychological safety for employees to voice concerns, admit mistakes, and learn without fear of retribution
• Ethics training on dilemmas – Use case studies and role-playing exercises to develop practical ethical decision-making skills

Compliance-based Measures:

• Robust whistleblower mechanism – Ensure confidential reporting channels with strong protection against retaliation (like Vigil Mechanism under Companies Act)
• Regular compliance audits – Proactive monitoring to identify and address potential ethical lapses before escalation
• Clear enforcement procedures – Consistent and fair investigation process with defined consequences for violations
• Dedicated Ethics Officer – Appoint responsible authority for overseeing ethics program implementation and accountability

Conclusion:
Sustainable ethical culture emerges when value-based inspiration meets compliance-based discipline, creating integrity-driven organizational excellence.