Best Practices of Ethical Guidelines for Business

In all professional settings, the code of ethics is of utmost significance as it aids the employees in the performance of their work. By definition, a code of ethics refers to a set guide of principles constructed to aid professionals to conduct organizational mandates with integrity and honesty ("Code of Ethics," 2017). As such, a document reflecting the code of ethics outlines the values and mission of an organization or business. This outline depicts how the employees are supposed to tackle various problems within the organization, how they are to carry themselves within ethical principles based on the core values and standards of the organization to which the professional works. All organizations and businesses have a kind of ethics that its members or personnel should adhere to. Failure to conform to stipulated ethical guidelines results in the dismissal and eventual termination of an employee from the organization. Therefore, the code of ethics is imperative since it undoubtedly stipulates the various rules of conduct and commensurately offers anticipatory warnings in the event of a breach of postulated guidelines. Irrespective of size, organizations depend on their management staff in the setting of benchmark standards of wholesome ethical conduct that their employees should adhere to effectively. This paper assesses the practical value of the code of ethics of two prominent organizations: The National Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators and The Council of International Schools

Under the National Association of Financial Aid Administrators, the principal goal of professionals within the financial aid industry is to assist children to reach their educational goals through the provision of financial resources and other types of support relevant to their educational needs. As such, members of the NASFAA are needed to epitomize high levels of behavior that is ethical and that validates extreme levels of practical professionalism. As of March 2014, this organization updated their guidelines through the involvement of the board of directors. In the meeting, the financial aid professionals declared their commitment to practical ethical guidelines and to statements of ethical principles that guided their actions in disbursing financial aid to students. The first practical ethical guideline was the advocacy for students when it comes to their financial need ("Statement of Ethical Principles," 2017). In this guideline, the practical ethical values portrayed were the ability to retain awareness of the issues that affect students and to advocate for their needs continually, at not only the institutional level but also the levels of the state and federal governments. Moreover, through advocating, financial aid professionals expect to employ the practical ethical policy of providing support to institutional, state and federal efforts to inspire children as early as elementary ones to aspire the planning of their future education beyond high school

Another best practice stipulation of the NASFAA is the manifestation of high levels of integrity both as an intrinsic character and as a value practically ingrained within this organization ("Statement of Ethical Principles," 2017). As a philosophical branch that deals with pertinent values within human conduct such as actions, motives and their corollaries, the fundamental quality of practical ethics stems from integrity. Therefore, the NASFAA commits to high levels best practices through the practical use of integrity in various ways. First, through observing integrity, the organization commits to high levels of ethical conduct and refrains from various conflicts of interest and their acuity. Through dealing with all persons fairly and honestly, this organization abides by their commitments and continually acts in a practical manner that merits public trust and confidence, thereby, allowing the conduction of professionalism without impunity or invalidation. Additionally, through integrity, the application of best practices such as the upholding of privacy, which relates to individual student financial records and the promotion of free idea and opinion expression is upheld. Such practical advantages of the code of ethics foster respect for not only divergent viewpoints within the vocation but also the professional standards involved.

Under the Council of International Schools, various practical code of ethics continue to portray best practices and are recurrently used in their day-to-day performance of professional activities. According to the purpose of its code of ethics, this organization resolves to describe and ascribe to moral and ethical principles that are practical and should be followed by CIS members, depicting their professional practice and conduct ("Council of International Schools (CIS): Code of Ethics," 2017). The first ethical principle is the fulfillment of all the promises stated within their contracts, guiding statements, promotional materials and contracts. In doing this, the organization continues to fulfill a practical duty in enabling the adherence to international standards within global schools. Another practical ethics is the nurturing of a culture of care, whereby, safety, education and the well-being of students is placed as the priority. In doing this, priority placement ensures that the needs of students are met according to stipulated and expected standards. Other practical ethical principles within the CIS include; the continual strive for excellence; the compliance with applicable regulations and laws; respect for the dignity and equality of individuals, cultures and groups; and the promotion of global citizenship among its members and students as well ("Council of International Schools (CIS): Code of Ethics", 2017).

Ultimately, ethical standards continue to be the cornerstone of professionalism among various organizations. Such standards continue to present systematic principles and rules that govern right conduct. As such, every practitioner, upon joining a particular profession invests in the accountability to conform to the stipulated standards of ethical conduct and practice stipulated by the organization in which they work. In the case of both the NASFAA and the CIS, practical guidelines continue to guide their ethical balance, resulting in best ethical practices, which adhere to the organization’s missions, visions, and objectives.

References

Council of International Schools (CIS): Code of Ethics . (2017).  Cois.org . Retrieved 24 October 2017, from http://www.cois.org/page.cfm?p=3142 

Statement of Ethical Principles . (2017).  NASFAA . Retrieved 24 October 2017, from https://www.nasfaa.org/Statement_of_Ethical_Principles 

Code Of Ethics . (2017).  Investopedia . Retrieved 24 October 2017, from http://www.investopedia.com/terms/c/code-of-ethics.asp