1. NAME: Jayashree Prabhu
SUBJECT: Business Ethics & Corporate
Governance
ROLL NO: 43
MMS, Sem IV
ASSIGNMENT ON BUSINESS ETHICS IN
ACCENTURE
2. Accenture is a global management consulting, technology services and outsourcing company.
Combining unparalleled experience, comprehensive capabilities across all industries and business
functions, and extensive research on the world’s most successful companies, Accenture collaborates
with its clients to help them become high-performance businesses and governments. At Accenture
you can join ranks with more than 177,000 people in 120 countries and work with clients in nearly
every major industry worldwide, including 96 of the Fortune Global 100, more than three-quarters
of the Fortune Global 500 and government agencies around the world.
Accenture takes very seriously its business ethics, corporate governance and transparency of
operations. Our board of directors authorized the creation of our Ethics and Compliance program.
Led by our general counsel, the program is designed to:
• Foster the highest ethical standards amongst Accenture personnel.
• Be effective in preventing, detecting and appropriately reporting and addressing any
allegation of misconduct and violations of law by Accenture personnel.
• Comply with government standards, including those set forth in the US Sentencing
Commission's Federal Sentencing Guidelines for Organizations. Accenture’s Standards of
Federal Business Ethics and Conduct apply to Accenture employees in every country, as well
as third parties when they are acting on Accenture's behalf.
• Set forth the standards and practices that Accenture suppliers are required to uphold.
Accenture believes that the Code of Business Ethics reinforces core values and drives culture of
compliance, ethical decision making and accountability. Our core values shape the culture and
define the character of our company. They guide how we behave and make decisions.
Accenture Ethics & Compliance program includes written standards and procedures; training and
communications; visible support of senior leadership; appropriate oversight and delegation of
authority; auditing and monitoring; consistent enforcement and discipline; and response and
prevention.
Accenture Code of Business Ethics
The Accenture Code of Business Ethics has been substantively revised and a new version was
adopted in September 2006.
The new Code is designed to:
3. • place more emphasis on Accenture's six core values,
• give practical examples to our people of what these values mean in their everyday work life,
• accommodate new legal and regulatory developments,
• make the Code more user friendly.
Our Code at a Glance
Living the Code of Business Ethics: Our core values in action
The Code of Business Ethics applies to all Accenture people—Accenture's directors, officers and
employees in every country, workforce and entity. In addition, third parties, such as consultants,
agents and independent contractors are required to comply with the Code when acting on
Accenture's behalf.
1. Stewardship in action
• We respect and support our communities and the environment, and we encourage active
involvement in charitable activities
• We act like owners of the company and make decisions within our authority
• We share our deep experience to maximize its value
• We protect and invest in Accenture's assets and safeguard Accenture's proprietary and
confidential information
• We use electronic communications technology responsibly and professionally
• We encourage appropriate participation in political activities
2. Best People in action
• We foster a fair and positive environment in which people can grow and succeed
• We seek to engage our people and understand different points of view
• Our personal relationships and activities do not compromise Accenture's objectivity or
reputation
• We respect prior employment obligations
3. Client Value Creation in action
• We seek to build long-term relationships with our clients based on delivering value
• We commit to what we can deliver and deliver on what we commit
4. • We seek to understand and follow our clients' codes of conduct
• We comply with government contracting and procurement laws
• We purchase goods and services on their merits
4. One Global Network in action
• We are a good corporate citizen and follow consistent global standards
• We are fierce but fair competitors
• We understand and comply with laws that affect the cross-border movement of people and
goods
• We protect the privacy of personal information and comply with data privacy laws
• We engage with governments in each country in which we operate as a local company yet we
speak with a consistent global voice
• We live our global brand
5. Respect for the Individual in action
• We foster an inclusive environment that values individual uniqueness
• We treat each other with respect and do not tolerate harassment or intimidation
• We maintain a safe and nonthreatening workplace
6. Integrity in action
• We refuse to offer bribes or make questionable payments
• We do not give or receive inappropriate gifts or hospitality
• We communicate accurate, timely and relevant information to our stakeholders
• We prepare and provide complete and accurate financial and other reports and records
• We protect the proprietary information and licenses of our clients and others
• We avoid conflicts of interest
• We handle "inside information" appropriately and lawfully
5. Accenture Business Ethics Line
(Encrypted website hosted by a specialist third-party service provider.)
Accenture believes in sharing responsibility to apply the principles of our Code of Business Ethics
in every business decision they make. they are also responsible for reporting violations and for
protecting from retaliation those who report their concerns.
For that purpose Accenture have a specialized website called Accenture Business Ethics Line
This website should be used to report specific concerns regarding Accenture's financial affairs,
accounting practices, auditing matters, corruption or fraud - and in serious cases where the vital
interest of the company or the moral or physical integrity of their people are at stake. If any
employee want to report any other matters, then he/she can use their usual reporting channels
including his/her supervisor, his/her career counselor, his/her Human Resources representative,
a member of the Legal group or any member of Accenture management.
When using the Ethics Line, it is not necessary for an employee to identify himself/herself.
However, if an employee choose to remain anonymous, Accenture's ability to investigate the
matter may be impaired and we may not be able to fully address all of concerns.
If an employee choose to identify himself/herself, his/her identity will be treated confidentially
and shared only with a limited number of people who have a need to know or who are
responsible for dealing with reports and investigations. Thepersonal information will be held and
used in accordance with Accenture Policy 0090-Data Privacy and data privacy law.
Accenture does not tolerate retaliation against any employee because they raised such an issue
or used the Business Ethics Line (or any other appropriate channel) to report an ethical or legal
concern. Employees who come forward with concerns play an important role in maintaining
their ethical workplace and high performance business, as well as in protecting our shareholder
value.
6. Ethical Fitness® Decision-making Model from the Institute for Global Ethics
(Adapted for Accenture)
The Five C
Another tool to help improve your decision making process is the “Five Cs.” The Five Cs are designed
to help you make the best decision by drawing on the strengths of your colleagues and the company.
Communicate
Keeping others informed using discretion to share information with those who need to know,
facilitating future contacts and ensuring you are not alone in a difficult situation.
Consult
Integrating others into the decision process, reaching out to those who have skills, capabilities,
qualifications or experience that you do not—for instance, someone from Finance, Legal, a Quality
executive or simply someone who has experience doing what you are trying to do.
Cross-check
Having someone else check your thinking to confirm you have not missed an issue or misread a
situation.
Collaborate
Taking a multidisciplinary approach, especially with the bigger decisions, ideally by using a teaming,
nonhierarchical, partnering approach.
Courage
Speaking out for what you know is right and acting on it even when taking a principled stand may
not be easy. Asking for help is asign of strength, not weakness.
The Ethics and Compliance program—of which the Code of Business Ethics is the cornerstone—
is responsible for the vision and framework for Accenture’s ethical conduct and compliance with
laws, under the direction of the Office of the CEO and the board of directors and its audit
committee. A small global staff is responsible for: managing the Business Ethics Line; overseeing
investigations, global compliance programs and local compliance programs under the direction of
local country company leadership; and developing global training and communications in key areas,
7. including Data Privacy, Export Compliance and Securities Law Compliance. The program also includes
the Ethics Champions role, carried out by our People Advocates, who focus on the ethics part of the
ethics and compliance equation, advising theprogram on what will be effective locally, supporting
our people, and helping communicate and reinforce ethics messages to people in their geographies
and workforces.
The Accenture Code of Business Ethics shows how we can build the right environment. Through
specific “action statements," it captures how we put our core values and principles into practice and
what we must do to comply with the law. While the Code does not try to capture every possible
action, it reminds us that Accenture will not tolerate behavior that falls short of these expectations.
To guide our people further, it includes links to key Accenture policies.
The Code is designed to help each of us aim higher than simply complying with the law: It goes
without saying that we comply with applicable laws—we hold ourselves to a greater standard. Our
target is ethical business practices—running our business in a manner we can be proud of and which
reflects the image and heritage of Accenture. We strive to be a good corporate citizen, making a
positive contribution in our relationships with all key stakeholders, including the communities in
which we work and live, as well as with clients, suppliers, employees and shareholders.
Douglas G. Scrivner
General Counsel and Secretary, and Compliance Officer