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Voluntary Industrial Code of Practice for IST-enabled work across national borders

Deliverables

Unomondo SAT has been developed by Centre for Social Innovation (CSI) in cooperation with GEOLOGIC Dr. Benedikt. The Unomondo Self-Assessment Tool implements Fuzzy Logic in order to enable advanced searches of the documents contained in the Unomondo Database, based fundamentally on culturally and socially different perceptions of what can be seen as an accepted, acceptable, good or inappropriate code of practice. It is assumed that humans perceive a complex world and make simplifications by classifying what they perceive. These classifications or categorisations are based on the human's ability to identify prototypes and use them as a general measure for everything they perceive. Unomondo SAT provides assistance for developing an own code of practice for e-work or to perform advanced evaluations of already existing ethical standards. The UnoMondo SAT is mainly directed at companies wishing to develop their own code of practice, but it also of interest for researchers on the topic. UnoMondo SAT is free. The SAT takes document research and analysis to another level through the implementation of Fuzzy Logic. Application Sectors: All industrial sectors operating across national borders applying e-work.
The UnoMondo Database contains 230 codes and other relevant documents like reports and policy descriptions from companies and other organisations operating in business sectors where e-work is of particular relevance. It consists of documents as publicly available on websites, and in some cases as obtained from printed material (folders, reports) issued by companies and business associations. To classify the documents, a list of about 90 keywords was developed covering the main issues of the Unomondo Code of Practice. Potential Application: The Unomondo Database enables searches for keywords covered, provides statistics on overall keyword coverage and makes the documents contained accessible in full text. It thus presents a unique knowledge base on codes of practice and related means of ethical regulation of global e-work. Access to the UnoMondo Database is free. It can be used both by researchers and companies interested in examples for regulating e-work. The UnoMondo Database supports both the development of codes of practice regarding e-work and corresponding research. Application sectors: All industrial sectors operating across national borders.
"The UnoMondo Tool Box: A tool kit for supporting/facilitating introduction, implementation and monitoring of the UnoMondo Guidelines." The UnoMondo Tool Box includes: - Three training packages/�slide shows� for interest creation, introduction, internal learning and implementation. - Guidelines for implementation: General implementation model. - Examples on methodologies for good implementation practices. - General and specific tools for monitoring/auditing for the code compliance The training packages can be used when disseminating the ideas of the VIP initiative within an organisation or when implementing the UnoMondo Code of Practice. The implementation models and the implementation cases - providing overviews of stages and activities included and good examples � are aimed at facilitating implementation of the UnoMondo Code of Practice. The tool for monitoring/auditing suggests a method to monitor the implemented Code. Users of the tools in the UnoMondo Tool box are in the first place companies that intend to implement the UnoMondo Code of Practice. Especially smaller organisations, that do not have own experience of policy development and established implementation models and channels for information exchange with the stakeholders, can benefit from using the UnoMondo Tool Box. The content of the UnoMondo Tool Box is in many cases ready for use in an organisation. Application sectors: All industrial sectors interested in implementing the UnoMondo products. Potential barriers: Companies may be reluctant to introduce new implementation and monitoring methods.
Theoretical Models: Studies on business ethics, corporate values and the linkage to business strategies and corporate social responsibilities. Analysis of company codes of conduct. VIP background research and theoretical models have been carried out in the VIP project. Publications: - “Theoretical essence of business ethics” (Juhani Pekkola & Kimmo Pekkola): The study is aimed at enriching the pragmatic actions of the VIP initiative. The approach is descriptive and includes classification of research approaches on ethics, identification of value systems, cultural and business environmental impacts on ethics and documented ethical behaviour within organizations. - “Values and Ethics and CSR in Business Practice” (Juhani Pekkola & Kimmo Pekkola): The study aims at describing the linkages between traditional ethics and business values. The approach is empirical and based on cases studies on current business values and their implication to the development of the VIP code. Studied cases include companies, social partners, non-governmental organizations and other stakeholders. - “Ethics, Business Ethics and the Role of Codes of Conduct for IST-enabled Cross-border Work Arrangements - Context Analysis”: (Fritz Betz, Christa Maad, Maria Schwarz-Wolzl): In the study, three trends are identified: a) a weakness of national and supra-national institutions in elaborating normative frameworks for cross-border e-work, b) increasing power of Multinational Corporations (MNC’s) as main players of globalisation, and c) the rise of a „politics of morals“ along with emphasising the need to found work and business on a comprehensive business ethics. - “Impact analysis Critical Issues Pertaining to the The Code of Practice for e-Work across Borders (Hubert Eichmann, Bernhard Saupe, Maria Schwarz-Wolzl)”: The study consists of two parts. In Part A, a detailed definition of e-work and e-collaboration is developed and compared with similar theoretical concepts like “telework” or “online-work”. In Part B relevant e-work issues are discussed in a structured way and specifically the items in the 6-draft version of the Code of Practice for e-work across borders are addressed.
"The UnoMondo Guidelines and Code of Practice for e-Work Across Borders: Guidelines for cross-border e-work arrangements including a model code of practice for e-work across borders." The Code of Practice addresses aspects specific to e-work across national borders and focuses on work conditions, data protection and security, work technologies and tools, contribution to progress in the countries of operation, and environmental considerations. The Code aims to supplement national and international standards for work across borders, facilitated by information and communication technologies. The Code may be applied partly as complementary to existing company policies or in full. Users and endorsers of the Code are multinational companies/other organisations and the addressees are policy- and decision-makers at corporate level and at business entities/virtual offices abroad. The values expressed in the code are also applicable to suppliers, subcontractors and local partners. Complementary to legislation and general corporate policies, the code provides to the enterprises a management tool for e-work across national borders and contributes to: - Improved business performance. - Improved attractiveness to recruit the most qualified people. - Improved exchange of global knowledge and smoother cooperation between dispersed entities. - Reduced risk for conflicts with stakeholders. - Enhanced public relations and company reputation. - Support to internal initiatives addressing international operations and technology use. Application sectors: All industrial sectors operating across national borders. Potential barriers: The Industrial Code of Practice is related to corporate values and business ethics. Attitudes and the opinion of key players in an organisation may take long time to change.

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