Tag: Dilbert

Who Can Define Values?

A cynical look from Dilbert at corporate culture creation:

Dilbert.com

Some of the comments to the comic reinforce this cynical view of corporate values (and ethics):

kmulchandani:

Just Brilliant! i had a boss who always preached in a code of ethics and values, but when it came to him he was always excused. Quoting him it was – “for the greater good” or “my experience tells me that in this case it can be ignored”. “Values” are a subjective term, flowing down a corporate hierarchy, with the ones on top enforcing them onto their “minions”.

It’s not about stating what values and ethics should be. It’s what values and ethics are evidenced by the actions of your company’s employees at all levels in the organization.

Power Corrupts – So Does Powerlessness

Rosabeth Moss Kanter points out another reason that the “tone at the top” is only one factor for corporate compliance in Powerlessness Corrupts.

“Power corrupts, as Lord Acton famously said, but so does powerlessness. Though powerlessness might not result in the egregious violations associated with arrogant officials who feel they are above the law, it is corrosive.”

  • Managers spread powerlessness by limiting information.
  • They compound the insult by sneaking unpopular decisions through when they think no one’s looking.
  • Powerlessness burgeons in blame cultures.
  • The powerless retaliate through subtle sabotage. They slow things down by failing to take action
  • Negativity and low aspirations show up in behaviors psychologists call defensive pessimism, learned helplessness, and passive aggression.

Those are a lot of points for targeting the tone at the middle and the tone at the bottom.

Dilbert, being the epitome of powerlessness, captures some of this in today’s strip.
Dilbert.com

Compliance Bits & Pieces for July 9

Here are some stories I found interesting:

Compliance Lessons in Country Music by Frank Sheeder in The Healthcare Compliance Blog

We all get our inspiration from different places. As you will see, country music can support some of the best themes that we can establish as compliance professionals. The titles of some of the more popular songs evoke all sorts of interesting parallels with what we confront in the compliance world every day. For example:

Top 3 FCPA Hits of the 2010 – The Gun Sting Case by Tom Fox

But what does all of this mean for the Chief Compliance Officer (CCO) sitting in his office in the US? It should mean quite a bit. There are several lessons from which you can learn and immediately implement in your FCPA compliance program if you have not previously done so.

Good Intentions But Wrong Message by Kathleen Edmond in Best Buy Ethics

This is a great reminder for all of us: ethical behavior does not mean that we never make mistakes – it is about quickly and transparently correcting a course of action when needed, and sharing the learning.

EU Financial Chief Says Hedge Fund Rules Near in Compliance Avenue

In an interview with Bloomberg News, Michel Barnier, the 27-nation bloc’s Financial Services Commissioner, said that EU member states and the European Parliament are “in the final stretch” before voting to approve the new rules in September.

How’s Your Business Doing?
Dilbert.com

Image of Garth Brooks is by Steve Jurvetson – edited by CPacker

Perception, Dilbert and a Magical Management Necklace

Are your assumptions correct?

You get a new tool to help manage your processes and everything starts working better. Is everything actually working better? Or is the data just being manipulated to look better?

As is often the case, the pointy-haired boss can show us the problem.

Often the compliance officer is like the pointy-haired boss. Everyone is on their best behavior when you are around. But what’s happening when you aren’t looking?

Its a matter of perception.