So You Think You Are An Effective Contract Management Professional! Are You Prepared To Handle Ethical Dilemmas? September 23, 2014 Penny L. White NCMA President Elect
Effective Contract Management Professionals! Are you Ethical? What is the Contract Management Code of Ethics? 1
Are you Ethical? 2
Ethics Defined Merriam-Webster The principles of conduct governing an individual or a group; a guiding philosophy. World English Dictionary A moral principle or set of moral values held by an individual or group. BusinessDictionary.com The basic concepts and fundamental principles of decent human conduct. It includes the study of universal values such as essential equality of all men and women, human or natural rights, obedience to the law of land, concern for health and safety and it, increasingly also for the natural environment. 3
Food for Thought Conscience is the inner voice that warns us somebody may be looking. H.L. Mencken You've got to be brave and you've got to be bold. Brave enough to take your chance on your own discrimination - what's right and what's wrong, what's good and what's bad. Robert Frost Moral courage is a more rare commodity than bravery in battle or great intelligence. Robert F. Kennedy Real integrity is doing the right thing, knowing that nobody's going to know whether you did it or not. Oprah Winfrey 4
Do You Follow the Contract Management Code of Ethics? 5
Introduction The Contract Management Code of Ethics Each member of the contract management profession ( the profession ) accepts the obligation to continuously improve one s professional knowledge and job performance in the field of contract management, and to abide by the letter and spirit of the ethical standards set forth below. Each member of the profession shall: 6
Standard One Strive to attain the highest professional standard of job performance, to exercise diligence in carrying out one's professional duties, and to serve the profession to the best of one s ability. 7
Standard Two Conduct oneself in such a manner as to bring credit upon the profession, as well as to maintain trust and confidence in the integrity of the contract management process. 8
Standard Three Avoid engagement in any transaction that might conflict or appear to conflict with the proper discharge of one's professional duties by reason of a financial interest, family relationship, or any other circumstances. 9
Standard Four Comply with all laws and regulations that govern the contract management process in the jurisdictions in which one conducts business, including protection of competitionsensitive and proprietary information from inappropriate disclosure. 10
Standard Five Keep informed of developments in the contract management field, utilizing both formal training and ad hoc means, to continuously increase knowledge, skill, and professional competence. 11
Standard Six Share one s knowledge and experience openly to contribute to the development of other professionals, improve performance quality, and enhance public perception of the profession. 12
Standard Seven Not knowingly influence others to commit any act that would constitute a violation of this code. 13
Standard Summary The Professional Standards and Ethics Committee of the NCMA Board of Directors has as one of its goals the enhancement of the awareness of and commitment to the Contract Management Code of Ethics. The members of the committee share suggestions and best practices for how to reinforce this fundamental part of effective acquisition a strong code of ethics that helps generate conversation around this important topic. 14
SO ARE YOU AN EFFECTIVE (ETHICAL) CONTRACT MANAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL? ANSWER: YES 15
Ending Thoughts If you don't know where you are going, you'll end up someplace else. Yogi Berra Our deeds determine us, as much as we determine our deeds. George Eliot There is no such thing as a minor lapse of integrity. Tom Peters Values are like fingerprints. Nobody's are the same, but you leave 'em all over everything you do. Elvis Presley Whoever is careless with the truth in small matters cannot be trusted with important matters. Albert Einstein 16