| 1. Company Values Should Reflect Staff Values | | | | another because of the values base that they have |
| Company values are more important that we think | | | | chosen to pursue. Those organisations that adopt |
| as they create the cultural context in which we | | | | ethical approaches to their business dealings through |
| work, define how we interact with other employees | | | | offering fair trade agreements or who are perceived |
| and the attitudes we adopt towards customers. | | | | as less exploitative, often benefit more in the long |
| Company values are often perceived as being | | | | term from customer loyalty than those who are just |
| imposed by the organisation but an effective | | | | out to make a quick buck at any cost. |
| organisational culture enables a two way process to | | | | Nowhere is this being more acutely highlighted than |
| occur where employees help to influence the | | | | within Chinese companies, which for the past five |
| direction of the corporate values system, through | | | | years have produced billions of dollars of cheap |
| their individual beliefs and approaches they adopt. An | | | | goods with little or no regard for employee welfare, |
| organisation that doesn't adjust to reflect changing | | | | the effect their resources stripping is having on other |
| values will quickly become stagnant and obsolete. | | | | countries and the lack of respect for health and |
| 2. Company Values Define How Employees Behave | | | | safety guidelines. |
| Company values are essential for the day to day | | | | It is only recently that Western consumers are |
| approach that employees adopt in the workplace. | | | | realising that the company values of many, but not |
| Different organisations may foster different | | | | all, of these Chinese companies, are profit rather than |
| behaviours in their staff through their company | | | | safety orientated. |
| values. For example an organisation that has clearly | | | | 5. Company Values Provide a Standard Approach |
| defined policies on employee conduct and behaviour | | | | Customers also like to know what they are getting |
| is likely to create a culture in which respect for other | | | | and company values often play a significant role in |
| staff and clients or customers is high on the agenda. | | | | this process. Take for example a company like |
| Alternatively, an organisation that has few formal | | | | MacDonald's. They have clear values about how they |
| policies pertaining to staff behaviour in the workplace | | | | interact with customers and their approach to |
| leaves the individual employee to define their own | | | | business is almost identical across the world. You |
| sense of what is and isn't appropriate. This can lead | | | | know that if you walk into a MacDonald's restaurant |
| to conflicts with other staff as one individual's | | | | in Russia, The UK, Australia, The US or anywhere |
| concept of what is acceptable behaviour can differ | | | | around the world, you are likely to be dealt with in |
| wildly from another colleague. | | | | the same manner. Customer's like this because they |
| 3. Company Values Bring Stability | | | | like to know what they are getting and company |
| Employees like to work in a stable and secure | | | | values are important in delivering this. |
| workplace. Company values create order and enable | | | | Summary |
| the working environment to operate more smoothly. | | | | Finally we must remember that a company is only as |
| Without company values there would be no uniform | | | | good as its constituent parts, in this case its |
| process of achieving goals or dealing with situations | | | | employees. If the employees didn't come to work |
| that arise, which would leave staff feeling exposed | | | | then the company wouldn't exist. As such a company |
| and vulnerable. When company values exist, they | | | | is not an entity in itself, it can't think or act for itself |
| provide employees with a clearly defined approach to | | | | and therefore its values are in fact only a reflection |
| work life. | | | | of what its employees deem to be important. As |
| 4. Company Values Are Important To Customers | | | | such organisational culture or values, need to |
| Company values are not only important to | | | | constantly change to accommodate the many |
| employees but also to customers. Some customers | | | | diverse needs of its staff. |
| choose to use the services of one company over | | | | |