Maintaining integrity in times of change.

• Author: Frei, Jason
• Position: Ethics Corner

* Success in the defense and aerospace industry requires companies to push harder and further than ever before. To do so, businesses are changing cost structures and infrastructure to compete and win. But as a business changes and pressure grows, it also creates opportunities for good people to make bad decisions, all in an effort to meet business goals and exceed customer expectations.

That's why it's so critical to focus on integrity when dealing with change, including organizational changes. Things like reductions in force, winning or losing new business, or changes in leadership can potentially lead to misperceptions of inequality, decreased employee engagement and a general feeling among employees that they aren't valued.

For some employees, those feelings can spiral into fears about their future and a belief that "I have to do whatever it takes" to appear valuable, even if that includes bending the rules.

In addition, much of the industry is undergoing a shift in demographics. As experienced employees retire and younger employees enter the workforce, the culture of an organization evolves. Leaders need to adapt to meet the communication styles and needs of a changing workplace environment. It's a tightrope walk balancing the emotional, intellectual and communication needs of employees at all stages of their career. from new hires to mid-career employees to those nearing retirement, and at all levels of the organization.

At the same time, industry is expanding globally into new markets. This involves learning to operate indifferent cultures, with employees from many backgrounds and with new laws and expectations--all while remaining true to company core values.

In this global arena, a company's strong reputation is crurial, even as the ethical or legal boundaries can sometimes become less clear. Employees who are willing to cross these boundaries for a short-term win are losing sight of the greater long-term negative effects. If a business wins a contract by unethical means, it is actually a loser. It's the job of leaders throughout the company to make sure that is clear.

In this sea of change, where do we start driving the importance of integrity? The answer is at the beginning, and at the top.

The reflection of a company's values is found in its code of conduct. Starting each year with a reaffirmation of company values is a significant opportunity to reinforce an "ethical tone" for a business. Here is where simple, effective...