Research Paper on Code of Conduct and Code of Value

Introduction

Sony Company is one of the world's leading electronics company. The company began in Japan, and it has since grown from a humble background to a transnational giant. Notably, it got established after World War II in the year 1946 in Tokyo. Its initial name was Telecommunications Engineering Corporation started by Akio Morita and Masaru Ibuka. Besides, the company began with a capital of less than 200, 000 Japanese Yen and initiated research. However, within one year Sony released its first item for consumption, a power loudhailer.

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To move on to a global market, the corporation began by changing its initial name (Telecommunication Engineering Corp) to the current name(Sony) which they considered for trademarking reasons since they wanted a word that had not discovered in any language. The company further expanded through opening branches in the United Kingdom and the United stated. The firm has since 1955 developed a series of electronics products which have eventually done well in the market. They started by introducing the first transistor radio, the TR-55, the portable direct view television, Walkam (lightweight, portable media player) and many more. Today, the company's mobile communications division, imaging products, the gaming division, and Sony pictures split remain robust, providing a bulk of the firm's anticipated revenue (Taylor 1330).

A Discussion of Sony's Code of Value And Law of Conduct

Code of value, also known as the code of ethics frameworks set values that affect policymaking. Notably, they are set of beliefs and culture that affect organizational operations. On the other hand, a code of conduct is the rule and regulations used to enforce the firm's ethics.

Sony Company upholds innovation through its obligation to high standards of a code of values and a responsible corporation code of conduct. Their ethos was constructed upon accountability to their core moral values of honesty, respect, fairness, integrity, and responsibility. Also, those standards underline their mutual obligations to boost and advance their ethical culture and shield the company's reputation. On the other hand, the firm engages various code of conduct such as fair labor and employment practices, human right protection, workplace health and safety, anti-corruption/bribery, accurate record keeping, tax compliance, financial integrity and antifraud among others. These professional codes act the meat and potatoes the codes of value as mentioned earlier.

To implement the code, Sony Corporation uses its group of leaders to promote the codes as part of their ongoing commitment towards improving their ethical decision making. Furthermore, the code of conducts and values are found on their Website and every Sony Company's intranet and has been translated into 23 languages to ensure that their employees and third parties understand them. Also, the firm recently updated their code of conduct training course where employees and selected third parties staff are required to finish the code training within three months. Finally, the company provides in-depth refresher after every two years on at least one code of conduct topic (Moon 4).

Code of Value 1: Open-Mindedness and Freedom In the Workplace

Being open-minded implies having a will to listen to other opinions and ideas and contemplate the likelihood that you were wrong or might alter your perception (Taylor 1326). Also, this can be a significant quality in the workplace. On the other hand, embracing employee's freedom at workplace fosters production in firms. Liberty at the workplace may include the ability to labor from home, take unrestricted retreat days, exercise creativeness in how to approach abrupt job objectives or otherwise. Sony personnel instills the spirit of open-mindedness among its employees and the third party which is vital to the firm operates. Notably, open-mindedness and freedom in the workplace come along with some benefits as listed below.

Benefits of Open-Mindedness and Freedom at the Workplace

Letting go of control. When the firm occupants open their minds, they free themselves from having to be in comprehensive control of their thoughts. Besides, open-mindedness allows one to experience new ideas and opinions, and they challenge the beliefs that they pose currently. Remarkably, it can be liberating to see the World in open minds.

Secondly, Open-mindedness and freedom in the workplace change one culture of thought and their worldly view. This does not necessarily improve ones believes, but they have the option when they reason with an open mind (McGregor and Marie 166).

Gaining confidence. Living around open minds instills a strong self-sense. It makes one no to be confined by their own beliefs nor other people beliefs. For that reason, open-mindedness boosts personal confidence gain and helps the growth of faith in oneself.

Boosting honest. There is some honesty that comes along with open-mindedness since being fair-minded means admitting one is not all-knowing.

On the other hand, the employee's freedom raises commitment and loyalty. Remarkably, potential benefits to free labor force include worker commitment and improved performance. Moreover, workers who have got the freedom to decisions in their workplace, and be held responsible for them, are better-off and extra productive than restricted employees.

Disadvantages of Open-Mindedness and Freedom at the Workplace

Cognitive dissonance. Being open-minded may sometimes create a lot of mental stress from holding or handling of numerous contradictory philosophies. Despite the flexibility of an open mind to accept peoples believe, they cannot help but get stressed occasionally.

Endless effort. Having an open mind seems like a relaxed position to uphold, but it necessarily requires a lot of energy. This is because open minds tend always to double-check what they think they know and verify claimed facts.

Thirdly, being open-minded comes along with psychological difficulty. The reason being open minds live with countless questions without certainties. Notably, being thoughtful and questioning may be better for societal progress, but it is not fundamentally decent for own gain.

Fourthly freedom at the workplace gives employee's a tough time when it comes to recognizing the difference between management and employee level. When an organization removes excellent barriers between worker and the administration through granting employees freedom, the most worker does not remember higher ranks in the firm anymore.

Code of Conduct 2: Fair Labor And Employment Practices

Fair employment practices involve recruiting grounded on merit (skills and experience) plus being sensitive of the worker's welfare. Besides, employers are discouraged to consider factors like age, gender, marital status, religion or race while hiring a person.

Sony Company strives to uphold diversity. Remarkably, the firm seeks to create a culture that allows their employees to give out their skills and talents to yield the best products to their customer. Sony is committed to hiring and training employees without discrimination based on factors as mentioned above which are unrelated to the firm's genuine business concern.

Advantages of Fair Employment

Upholding fair employment practice helps a firm/corporation to scope a broader talent pool. Finding the right people with the right skills and experience is paramount to the company.

Secondly, when workers get hired and rewarded based on their ability and skills as opposed to factors like age, race or gender, the firm ensures the best person gets the post. This boosts the employee's productivity and staff retention.

Thirdly, firms that uphold just employment practices attract a workforce of different backgrounds. Such a diverse labor force encourages creativity and innovation in firms leading to business growth.

Fourthly, a diverse labor force gives insights into the experiences and thoughts of a company's customers and target marketplaces leading to better customer contentment.

Fifthly, firms that follow workstation fairness philosophies and device regulations to maintain these philosophies are capable of displaying their principles and compliance to the community. This might improve the firm's reputation, which possibly will translate to more market.

Lastly, different personnel gives a firm the flexibility to uphold right staff ranks while allowing the organization to hit its goals. For instance, during festive seasons the enterprise will be able to reduce scheduling skirmishes since they employ people from diverse backgrounds.

Disadvantages of Fair Workforce Practices

To start with, many firms require a highly specialized workforce that is available among certain individuals. This specialization requirement might cause a reduction in diversity even without deliberate discrimination (Wood 129).

Secondly, fair employment practices present an unfair advantage since firms have more to gain from the marginal (people with skills and experience) applicant. The reason being a large number of people who are not a portion of the minority (people with qualifications and knowledge) tend to struggle to secure jobs.

Code of Value 2: Integrity

Integrity is the quality of being truthful and having a strong moral principle (Bent & Seamen 109). Integrity appears in a variety of forms, but the most vital at a workstation include loyalty, honesty, reliability and upright judgment. Sony Company is steadfastly dedicated to piloting business in a fair, principled and legal manner. The firm's commitment to moral business behavior means curbing any form of corruption, compliance with state business operation laws, avoiding economic sanctions and tax compliance.

Advantages of Practicing Integrity

Firstly, integrity fosters healthier control of growth and development of a business. Once the organization designs mission and purpose, the values and vision it has, have a framework for making decisions which gives guidance to design its strategy.

Secondly, operating an organization with integrity makes consumers feel safe and protected. The practice in return leads to more customer satisfaction. In return, they will become the firm's greatest promoters since they might end up recommending others to the company (Chang Sea-Jin and Philip 299).

Thirdly, in several ways, firms that prioritize and value integrity attract most workforce who do the same. Moreover, young job applicants now exclusively look forward to working for firms which are ethically and socially upright. Thus, firms attract top skilled personnel through making integrity a significant part of their business strategy.

Lastly, integrity improves a company's culture. If the top management ranks operate with integrity, and the workforce emulates them, then there will be a rise in mutual conviction and respect within the corporate. The practice translates a huge slew of added advantages, which includes enhanced morale, improved communication, flexible labor arrangements and boosted the company's production.

Disadvantages of Integrity

On the other hand, lack of integrity, especially the firm's leadership sets a poor example to the subordinate staff. Besides, employees in most firms emulate the top leadership while performing their specified duties. In return, the practice instills dishonesty and lack of accountability thus poor performance in a company.

Also, the lack of integrity leads to falsified reporting. If to some extent a report could make an employee look bad, the management might not deliver it, or they might alter it to look better. Besides, the boss practiced expediency proving that its right for employees to do it.

Lastly, integrity lack fosters blackmail. For instance, if a subordinate who has the goods on their superior in a firm proves to be very difficult to discipline if that emplo...