Center for the Study of Ethics in the Professions at IIT

Introduction.

1. In applying. to join the Institute, members undertake to abide by "the Constitution, Memorandum and Articles of Association, Rules and By-Laws of the Institute". The Code set our below was approved by the Institute's Council on 26th February 1977 and is binding on members.

2. The cases of members reported to have breached the Code shall be investigated by a Disciplinary committee appointed by the Council; where a case is proven, a member may, depending on the circumstances and gravity of the charge, be admonished, reprimanded, suspended from membership or removed from the list of members. Details of cases in which members are found in breach of the Code will be notified in the publications of the Institute.

Precepts

3. Members shall never use their authority of office for personal gain and shall seek to uphold and enhance the standing of the Purchasing and Supply profession and Institute by:

(a) maintaining an unimpeachable standard of integrity in all their business relationships both inside and outside the orgnisations in which they are Employed.

(b) fostering the highest possible standards of professional competence amongst those for whom they are responsible.

(c) optimising the use of resources for which they are responsible to provide the maximum benefit to their employing organisation.

(d) complying both with the letter and the spirit of:

(i) the law of the country in which they practice.

(ii) such guidance on professional practice as may be issued by the Institute from time to time.

(iii) contractual obligations.

(e) rejecting any business practice which might reasonably be deemed improper.

Guidance.

4. In applying these precepts, members shall follow the guidance set out below:

(a) Declaration of interest. Any personal interest which may impinge or might reasonably be deemed by others to impinge on a member's impartiality in any matter relevant to his or her duties should be declared.

(b) Confidentiality and accuracy of information. The confidentiality of information received in the course of duty should be respected and should never be used for personal gain; information given in the course of duty should be true and fair an never designed to mislead.

(c) Competition. While bearing in mind the advantages to the member's employing organisation of maintaining a continuing relationship with a supplier, any arrangement which might, in the long term, prevent the effective operation of fair competition, should be avoided.

(d) Business gifts. Business gift, other than items of very small intrinsic value such as business diaries or calendars should be avoided.

(e) Hospitality. Modest hospitality is an accepted courtesy of a business relationship. However, the recipient shod not allow him or herself to reach a position whereby he or she might be or might be deemed by others to have been influence in making a business decision as a consequence of accepting such hospitality; the frequency and scale of hospitality accepted should not be significantly greater than the recipient's employer would be likely to provide in return.

(f) When it is not easy to decide between what is and is not acceptable in terms or gifts or hospitality, the offer should be declined or advice sought from the member's superior.

5. Advice on any aspect of the precepts and guidance set out above may be obtained on written request to the Institute.