IBM Ethics Program

Monitoring

As well as engaging in rigorous ethical monitoring of its own practices through formal channels, IBM also has a kind of honor system whereby IBM employees are told to immediately report ethical violations regarding government contracts to the corporate management, "either directly or through the Open Door or Speak-Up programs" ("Business Conduct and Ethics," 2008, IBM.). Upper as well as lower-level members of the management are involved in ethics scrutiny, and ethical monitoring is the responsibility of all members of the company, not just management or specific personnel. Open Door programs mean that upper-level managers have an open door to hearing ethical problems, regardless of the source, even if they are not directly supervising the lower-employee with the grievance. The Speak-Up program, originally designed "the to handle minor administrative problems such as heating and parking," has since been expanded to allow employees to report ethical problems as well as areas that need improvement at the company ("Lend an Ear, 1981, Time Magazine).

Enforcement

IBM has an extremely rigorous ethics enforcement program and policy. It perhaps goes without saying that IBM notes that any employee found in violation of the law will be dismissed. However, this scrutiny extends to intense self-monitoring on the part of the corporation as a whole. According to its mission statement, it is "IBM's practice to voluntarily and promptly disclose known violations of government procurement laws to appropriate officials of government. In the event that IBM benefited economically from such known violations, it is our practice to reimburse the government customer accordingly" ("Business Conduct and Ethics," 2008, IBM.). In other words, IBM does not simply strive to uphold the law and ensure that violators within the company are punished. It also submits itself to intense self-scrutiny and self-monitoring, is committed to transparency in regards to violations and will go above and beyond the law even in the absence of a conviction to ensure that customers are treated fairly.

Works Cited

Business Conduct and Ethics." (2008). IBM Official Website. Retrieved 20 Jul 2008 at http://www.ibm.com/ibm/responsibility/company/management/policies/conduct.shtml

Lend an Ear." (7 Dec 1981). Time Magazine. http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,953249,00.html