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Ethics
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» Send an e-mail to Creighton University ethicist Beverly Kracher, the alliance's executive director, at beverlykracher@creighton.edu
Five values
The Greater Omaha Business Ethics Alliance has identified five values through its Ethics Legacy Project as central to the city's business culture, defining its ethics for present and future business and community leaders.
Accountability: holding oneself and others answerable; setting clear expectations and using policies and systems to communicate responsible actions, to provide feedback and to implement corrective action when appropriate.
Community responsibility: a sense of responsibility to the entire community rather than just oneself, one's family, or one's organization; a culture of reciprocity between business and the community where commitment of time, talent and treasure shapes the long-term vibrancy of the community and business.
Ethical courage: consistent ethical behavior even when it is difficult, unpopular or comes at a cost.
Financial vitality: achieving sustainable financial success driven by ethical management and systems.
Integrity: being genuinely respectful, honest, fair and trustworthy in all and to all; doing the ethical thing even when no one is looking; walking your talk.
Omaha business leaders are taking another step toward establishing a model ethics program so that cities can encourage businesses to “do the right thing” now and in the future.
By defining the “Omaha way” of doing business, the Greater Omaha Business Ethics Alliance also is showing the way for generations of future Omahans, spreading the ideals of ethical conduct through young professionals, schools, community groups and others, said executive director Beverly Kracher.
One of the goals is to enable every high school graduate to identify the city's core ethical values.
The U.S. Chamber of Commerce and National Association of Better Business Bureaus have expressed interest in Omaha's communitywide ethics program, said Kracher, who also is an ethics professor at Creighton University.
“There is absolutely no doubt that our whole society is very well aware of the ethical problems that we've had in business,” she said. “I think leaders, good leaders, are looking for solutions. They're turning to us to see if we can provide those solutions.
“Our vision is to be a model for other communities in the nation.”
Among the national groups watching the Omaha program is the Better Business Bureau.
Art Taylor, president of the BBB Center in Arlington, Va., said Omaha's community emphasis on ethics seems to be unique.
“I don't know of any community that is addressing ethics in the way Omaha is,” an active, organized approach supported by leaders in the business, government and nonprofit sectors, he said.
“I think they're starting something that could be replicated in other cities.”
Kracher said the Omaha alliance, which started in 2006, is at a “tipping point” toward a national role in helping communities develop ethical cultures.
“We're getting a groundswell of people with a sense of doing the right things while they're making profits,” she said.
The modern business ethics movement began in 1991 with federal court guidelines that reduced criminal penalties for companies that got into trouble, if those companies had formal ethics programs.
The goals of Omaha's alliance go beyond avoiding legal costs, espousing an ethical business culture as a key to success by individual businesses and economic growth by the community.
Formal programs build a habit of ethical conduct, even in difficult economic times, Kracher said. For example, following ethical principles reduces firings due to misbehavior, helps retain top performers and strengthens ties among business operators.
The Omaha alliance has a 140-member board of trustees, including the leaders of many of the city's leading businesses, nonprofit groups, educational institutions and political bodies. Its annual $275,000 budget comes mostly from donations by businesses and individuals.
Robert Bates, a former insurance company CEO and volunteer chairman of the group, said the alliance is the nation's foremost regional business ethics network.
“Omaha is establishing an ethical standard and culture for business communities across the country to emulate,” Bates said. “This type of integrity and ethical awareness and emphasis are integral parts of the fiber of our business community.
“We need everyone's involvement to ensure we touch all community elements of ethical behavior.”
One goal, Bates said, is to keep Omaha “a beacon of honesty and trustworthiness in its business conduct.”
The group gives periodic “Beacon of Ethics” awards to recognize people dedicated to integrity and civic responsibility. Winners have included former Secretary of State Condoleeza Rice and former Mexican President Vicente Fox.
Recently, Kracher said, business people attending a breakfast meeting of the alliance “came up afterwards and shook (Bates') hand and said, ‘Oh, boy, we've never had that opportunity, to sit in a room with high-level executives like this, and everyone's saying the same thing — it's important to make profits, but it's how you make profits that matters.' ”
After one of the alliance's programs, a business representative in attendance told about resisting what he called a “bribery situation.”
“I wouldn't have paid a bribe anyway,” he said, “but I know now that there are other people who think exactly the same as I do. It's good to know there are people who would back me up. It makes me feel strong and confident that I'm doing the right things.”
Kracher said the group reinforces the idea that it's OK to care about honor and integrity while being a profitable business. “When we hear that kind of anecdotal evidence, it makes our hearts sing.”
Contact the writer:
444-1080, steve.jordon@owh.com
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