Assignment: CODE OF CONDUCT PROJECT REQUIREMENTS ACCOUNTING ETHICS

OVERVIEW

This assignment will provide students with basic knowledge of codes of conduct for professional organizations and corporations and will facilitate discussion of codes of conduct and ethical issues in class. Throughout this project description, "code of conduct" also may refer to a "code of ethics," as various organizations use different terms.

PURPOSE AND LEARNING OBJECTIVES

The purposes of this assignment are for each student to:

· Learn that there are codes of conduct for many professional organizations and corporations and how to find them on the Internet

· Identify components of codes of conduct

· Demonstrate a basic understanding of some of the ethics issues that may be addressed through codes of conduct

· Prepare a written report comparing and contrasting two codes of conduct

· Demonstrate solid written communications skills, including a well-organized report with a professional, balanced appearance that is written using proper grammar and spelling

REQUIREMENTS

Each student will identify two codes of conduct - one for a professional organization and one for a corporation - and will prepare a written report comparing and contrasting the two codes selected. For this project, "professional organizations" means associations or organizations that exist to promote performance for professions, such as the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for CPA's. There are professional organizations for many professions, including engineering, medical professions, management, financial executives, tax accountants, marketers, attorneys, etc.

The code of conduct report is to include the following components:

· Codes of conduct selected: List the two codes of conduct selected and the Internet address where each can be found.

· Comparison: Identify and describe at least five components of the selected codes that are similar. Explain why you think the organizations/firms included similar components in their codes of conduct.

· Contrast: Identify and describe at least five components of the selected codes that are different. Explain why you think the organizations/firms have included differing components in their codes of conduct.

· Summary: Summarize your views on the existence (or lack thereof) and need for codes of conduct for professional organizations and corporations.

The report should be approximately five pages long, with one-inch margins and 1.5-line line spacing. The report should flow logically with transitions and/or headings to help the reader navigate it. The pages should be numbered.

CODE OF CONDUCT EXAMPLES

Professional organization: AICPA, http://www.aicpa.org/research/standards/codeofconduct/pages/default.aspx Corporation: Pinnacle West Capital Corporation, http://www.pinnaclewest.com/aboutus/Pages/Ethics_1.aspx

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Code of Conduct Requirements Version

RECOMMENDED RESOURCE

It is recommended that students consult with FCB's Business Communication Center (http://franke.nau.edu/bcc/) in FCB room 114. The BCC can help improve written, verbal and nonverbal communication skills.