Modeling the Message : Communicating Compliance Through Organizational Values and Culture

Ethical leadership matters. Organizational culture drives compliance and culture is transmitted and reinforced by communications through multiple channels, notably including the observation by employees of management behavior. In particular, employees judge the legitimacy of an organization's ethical leadership and authority not only by explicit communications received in the workplace but also by messages received via example and practice. This paper surveys behavioral science findings on how cultural attributes and management practices can either promote or undermine voluntary adherence to ethical standards, workplace rules and legal requirements, with special attention to the communicative aspect of management practices. Legalistic, command-and-control messaging is discussed and its inherent limitations and adverse side effects are contrasted with the virtues of ethical or values-based messaging. Particular concepts discussed include decision framing, group identification and commitment, intrinsic versus extrinsic motivation, legitimacy, procedural fairness, and value congruence. Specific markers of an ethical corporate culture are identified and practical suggestions offered for a communications program designed to foster a genuine “culture of compliance.”This paper was honored with a Burton Award for Distinguished Legal Writing in 2013