Almost half of local government managers feel their authority has mediocre or poor standards of ethical behaviour, according to a new report.
The MoralDNA of Performance report, published by CMI (the Chartered Management Institute) and MoralDNA, also found that senior managers thought current standards are better than junior managers did. While 48% of senior managers said ethical standards were excellent, only 22% of junior managers thought the same.
The report also found that there is a clear link between ethics and performance, with those in growing organisation more likely to give themselves top marks for ethical behaviour. In declining organisations, only 19% rated themselves as high for ethical standards.
Ann Francke, chief executive of CMI, said: ‘When it comes to management and leadership in the 21st century, the truth is that who cares, wins. Ethics should be at the heart of every organisation’s culture, whatever their size or sector, and this research shows clear connections to business performance.
‘Every manager has a part to play: leading by example, making value-based decisions, and rewarding the right behaviour, not just results. If employers get the ethical culture right, they’ll reap the rewards through better performance, stronger employee engagement and improved relationships with their customers.’
The report calls for ‘far-reaching’ changes in public sector culture to drive long-term prosperity. The full report and recommendations can be found here: www.managers.org.uk/moralDNA -Ends-
