Objective
Voluntary Industrial Code of Practice (VIP) refers to a unilateral agreement among international companies to consider ethical aspects when establishing and carrying on IST-enabled work across national borders. By this, the project invites large international companies to take part in the shaping of a humane global Information Society and at the same time contribute to fair global competition. The objectives are: 1 to clarify the essence of business ethics and to review relevant existing codes of conduct applicable for work across national borders and to develop a tool that facilitates analysis of consensus building process; 2 to suggest an ethical code for IST-enabled cross-border work and to obtain endorsement of the VIP-Code by 100 international companies. The research activities consist of two sections. The first is to describe the nature of ethics in general, to identify value systems and clarify linkages to business ethics and strategies. The methodology is in the first place literary surveys, but also dialogues with VIP industrial participants. The work will result in a comprehensive discussion of the topic and provide a knowledge base, which will be used particularly in the VIP Code formulation process. The second includes systematic scanning of existing codes of conduct, ethical codes and multilateral agreements on human right, work conditions, environment protection, international business relations and information technology use and transfer. In addition, this section includes development of tools for analysis and consensus building - based on 'fuzzy logic', which is able to cope with multidimensional values and combinations of ethical codes. In parallel to the research, development work is carried out on VIP code formulation, expansion of the industrial participants group and on concertation and dissemination of VIP processes and outcomes. The crucial section of this part of the project is the expansion of the industrial participants group and the Voluntary Industrial Code of Practice (VIP) refers to a unilateral agreement among international companies to consider ethical aspects when establishing and carrying on IST-enabled work across national borders. By this, the project invites large international companies to take part in the shaping of a humane global Information Society and at the same time contribute to fair global competition. The objectives are: 1 to clarify the essence of business ethics and to review relevant existing codes of conduct applicable for work across national borders and to develop a tool that facilitates analysis of consensus building process; 2 to suggest an ethical code for IST-enabled cross-border work and to obtain endorsement of the VIP-Code by 100 international companies. The research activities consist of two sections. The first is to describe the nature of ethics in general, to identify value systems and clarify linkages to business ethics and strategies. The methodology is in the first place literary surveys, but also dialogues with VIP industrial participants. The work will result in a comprehensive discussion of the topic and provide a knowledge base, which will be used particularly in the VIP Code formulation process. The second includes systematic scanning of existing codes of conduct, ethical codes and multilateral agreements on human right, work conditions, environment protection, international business relations and information technology use and transfer. In addition, this section includes development of tools for analysis and consensus building - based on 'fuzzy logic', which is able to cope with multidimensional values and combinations of ethical codes. In parallel to the research, development work is carried out on VIP code formulation, expansion of the industrial participants group and on concertation and dissemination of VIP processes and outcomes. The crucial section of this part of the project is the expansion of the industrial participants group and the
OBJECTIVES
DESCRIPTION OF WORK
MILESTONES
The VIP project has in dialogue between large European multinationals and researchers in Sweden, Finland and Austria suggested a Code of Practice for e-Work across national borders. In addition, a database on company codes and a self-assessment tool have been developed. Using "fuzzy logic" technology, the self-assessment tool facilitates qualitative benchmarking in a structured way.
Fields of science
Not validated
Not validated
Call for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
CSC - Cost-sharing contractsCoordinator
151 85 SOEDERTAELJE
Sweden