A Content Analysis of Whistleblowing Policies of Leading European Companies

Since the introduction of the U.S. Sarbanes-Oxley Act in 2002 and several other national corporate governance codes, whistleblowing policies have been implemented in a growing number of companies. Existing research indicates that this type of governance codes has a limited direct effect on ethical or whistleblowing behaviour whereas whistleblowing policies at the corporate level seem to be more effective. Therefore, evidence on the impact of (inter)national corporate governance codes on the content of corporate whistleblowing policies is important to understand their indirect impact on whistleblowing behaviour. This study analyzes the contents of whistleblowing policies, and parts of corporate codes of conduct and codes of ethics, describing such policies of 56 leading European companies. By classifying the contents in seven categories, an exploratory framework was created. General contents often identified were: applicability to all employees, a group-wide scope and an authoritative tone. The most common general violations to report were breaches of internal policies and external regulations or laws. The more specific violations most frequently mentioned were criminal offences and dangers to health and safety or the environment. Contacts to report to were the direct or indirect supervisors, a compliance officer or a confidential “hotline” facility. A confidentiality guarantee was common and anonymous reporting was often possible, though sometimes discouraged. Protection against retaliation is stated by ensuring that retaliation will not happen, prohibiting it or making it punishable. The requirement of good faith was frequently given. Finally, investigation of the report was often guaranteed. Surprisingly little information is given on the treatment of whistleblowers reporting an unfounded complaint in good faith, or reporting a violation they were involved in. The study’s findings are most relevant to companies without a whistleblowing policy or those that intend to benchmark their policies, and to pan-European standard setters.     

Countercyclical safety nets for the poor and vulnerable

Relatively little is known about how government safety net programs insure against low consumption and stabilize asset bases, compared to what is known about their role in transferring income. The insurance function requires a flexible budget that can be scaled up rapidly to meet unanticipated circumstances. Safety nets serving an insurance function also differ from other transfer programs in their targeting; they need to determine transitory need rather than more chronic correlates of poverty. Moreover, insurance safety nets need a more flexible implementation strategy than do more permanent programs. This paper reviews these issues from the perspective of low income countries.     

Consumer and Corporate Values: Yet Another View on Global Marketing

The author examines the issue of multinational marketing first from the point of view of the consumer. He argues that consumers make very personal decisions about the brands which they purchase. These decisions are based on each individual's own value system and on the values he or she sees in the brand. Independent research undertaken by the J. Walter Thompson Company indicates that successful multinational marketers understand this process. The entire debate on global marketing really concerns the management, development, manufacture, distribution and sales of brands around the world. The important link between consumers and marketers is the link of values. Because successful marketers understand both consumer values and brand values, they are capable of developing brands that work effectively across borders.     

Three eras of technology foresight

Technology has molded the industrial and information societies and will mold the molecular society of the future. The latter will encompass nanotechnology, biotechnology, and materials science. It will also lead to unprecedented convergence in the sciences and technologies. This discussion considers the unique impacts on technological forecasting and foresight accompanying each of the three societies.     

Investigating the dynamics of service attributes in multi-channel environments

Previous research has shown that customer evaluations of attributes in existing product and service categories are dynamic. In this study, we use a response surface model based on a conjoint analysis of service profiles in the context of mobile phone service to examine the dynamics of multi-channel service attributes and their influence on customers’ intention to renew a service agreement. Our results provide insights for the design of a service that may not be what customers have experienced in the past and demonstrate the qualities of a set of multi-channel service attributes that have not been included in previous studies.     

如何建立高效的物流体系

高效的运作有赖于一流的物流管理体系,你的物流战略如何?