Strengthen your ethical foundations and corporate governance practices with the questions included in this tool, which provides a comprehensive framework for evaluating the effectiveness of your code of conduct, focusing on key elements such as leadership’s role in setting the “tone at the top,” clear documentation of expected behaviors, and protocols for handling ethical dilemmas. It emphasizes the importance of management’s visible commitment to ethical standards and the board’s oversight responsibilities, ensuring that everyone from executives to employees understands and upholds the organization’s values.

Designed for both board members and management, the tool includes targeted questions to assess how well ethical principles are communicated, enforced and sustained throughout the organization. It highlights mechanisms for reporting violations, conducting regular training, and integrating the code into daily operations. This questionnaire also addresses evolving compliance requirements, including those under Sarbanes-Oxley, making it highly relevant for organizations operating in diverse and high-risk environments. By using this tool, companies can identify gaps, reinforce accountability, and foster a sustainable ethical culture that drives long-term success.

Sample questions include:

• Are you satisfied that the CEO and the management team emulate and practice the company's code of conduct?
• Does the board oversee management's communication, monitoring, reinforcement and enforcement of the company's code of conduct? Does the board have its eye on the warning signs?
• Is there a corporate governance code for the board setting forth its mission, roles and responsibilities, charter, committees, rights of shareholders, and other relevant matters?
• Has the board considered its policies and procedures for evaluating requests by management for waivers of the code of conduct?