Introduction to Ethics (interview)

Welcome to Health Procurement Africa. This is where people come together to share their experience of the supply and purchase of the healthcare products used across Africa every day.

Our community and learning hub exists to improve the way we buy products and services, finding solutions that work for everyone. Our aim is to ensure that all across Africa patients can obtain the medicine and treatments they need at an affordable price that delivers good value for money. This is where you can start learning, sharing and solving your procurement problems.

Today, Emma and William are joining us to discuss Ethics. Emma is a Procurement and Supply Thought Leader and works to raise the standards and build the profile of the procurement and supply management profession. William is an FCIPS member and works on the ground to offer advice, training and specialist skills when it comes to public policy and institutional reform through procurement, supply chain management and finance. It’s great to have two leading experts in procurement and supply.

We all want to do ‘the right thing’ for our communities and for the environment. But how can we apply this in business?

Listen to the podcast or if you would prefer to review the transcript below.

Mpho: Welcome to Health Procurement Africa. This is where people come together to share their experience of the supply and purchase of the healthcare products used across Africa every day.

Our community and learning hub exists to improve the way we buy products and services, finding solutions that work for everyone. Our aim is to ensure that all across Africa patients can obtain the medicine and treatments they need at an affordable price that delivers good value for money. This is where you can start learning, sharing and solving your procurement problems.

Today, Emma and William are joining us to discuss Ethics. Emma is a Procurement and Supply Thought Leader and works to raise the standards and build the profile of the procurement and supply management profession. William is an FCIPS member and works on the ground to offer advice, training and specialist skills when it comes to public policy and institutional reform through procurement, supply chain management and finance. It’s great to have two leading experts in procurement and supply.

We all want to do ‘the right thing’ for our communities and for the environment. But how can we apply this in business?

Mpho: Emma and William, welcome to Health Procurement Africa. These days we hear so much about ethics and corporate social responsibility. What do these things mean?

Emma: Thank you for having us and great question. We all say we want a better world, for ourselves and for our children. But sometimes, when we are at work, we put these dreams to one side because our jobs are under pressure and we want our business to do better. 

But each day we are learning more about how, what is good for our communities is also good for our business. We should not have to chose between one or the other.

Mpho: But when you are busy at work it is difficult to find time to talk about ethics.

William: It may appear so. But let us consider what we mean by ethics. They are a set of moral principles or values about what constitutes ‘right’ from ‘wrong’. At work, this means applying these values to the way you do business and to the way you and your colleagues behave towards each other.

Mpho: What does this mean, if you are a procurement specialist? 

Emma: In procurement and supply, it is about following the rules and regulations and speaking out when others try to break the rules to gain unfair advantage. Your choice of products can also have an impact on the environment. For example, buying raw materials that are produced sustainably or recycled, can make a big, positive difference. Would you agree William?

Mpho: This can be a big challenge in procurement.

William: Sadly, yes. Procurement teams are responsible for spending large amounts of money and their decisions have a big impact on people outside their organisation as well as on their colleagues.

Emma: In healthcare it is likely to be taxpayers’ money, so you also have a responsibility to them.

William: But you are also in a position of trust and influence. By behaving in an ethical way, you set an example for others to follow.

Mpho: This is not something you can do alone. You must have support.

William: Indeed, this is critical, in my experience. In order for procurement to be ‘ethical’, ethics must be at the centre of your organisation’s corporate culture. All departments must embrace the same culture.

Emma: But their leaders need to be role models, giving direction to the organisation. Managers and employees must all understand the importance of professional integrity.

Mpho: What do you mean by professional integrity?

Emma: This means being honest and trustworthy, making choices based on ethical principles and values.

Mpho: How can this approach be instilled across an organisation, particularly a large organisation with many employees?

William: It is important for organisations to have a Code of Conduct. This is a written set of rules explaining how people in an organisation or professions should behave. A Code of Conduct gives practical guidance on how to apply rules and regulations in your work day-by-day.

Mpho: How can organisations make sure that their Code of Conduct is understood by employees?

Emma: In my experience, a good way to make sure it reaches everyone is to make it available to all new employees and use it as the basis for the induction course, when an employee is introduced to a new job or position. Also, make sure it is referenced during training and courses provided by your organisation.

Mpho: Should organisations expect all their employees to accept the Code of Conduct?

William: Yes, it is important for the Code of Conduct to be understood and applied across the organisation, by senior managers as well as by employees. However, your organisation also has a responsibility to recognise that employees are not all the same. They are influenced by the attitudes and beliefs they bring from outside their work. They may have different religions, national culture, speak a different language or have a different education. You must take this into account as you try to create an organisational culture. 

Mpho: Should your organisation expect all employees to know what the law says about things like bribery or modern slavery?

Emma: No, that is not reasonable. However, you can support an open and transparent organisational culture where an employee feels confident in coming forward to raise concerns over something that makes them feel uncomfortable. It is the responsibility of line managers to act once concerns have been raised.

William: Regular training is important, in this regard, and the induction process is a good place to start. Your induction course should take into account that new employees begin with different expectations and experiences. They may come from different cultures and speak different languages. This will influence their understanding of your organisational culture.

Mpho: Is it not the case that a focus on ethics will cost your organisation a lot of money?

William: This doesn’t have to be the case. If you look at all the most successful organisations, who have been in business for many years, they all have strong organisational cultures with an ethical approach at the centre.   Over time they have learned that there is a cost to getting things wrong, which can cause them to lose business or suffer damage to their reputation. If you want to be in business for the long-term, you need to consider your ethical approach.

Mpho: Emma, William how can Health Procurement Africa help your organisation be ethical and to understand all the rules and regulations that apply to their business?

Emma: Health Procurement Africa brings together the best resources to support your plans to adopt a positive approach to ethics in your organisational culture.

William: They work in partnership with the CIPS, which sets a benchmark and standard of professional integrity and behaviour in procurement and supply. 

Mpho: If you work in healthcare in Africa and are buying products or services on behalf of your organisation, this is the perfect community for you, where you can start learning, sharing and solving your procurement and supply problems. Thank you Emma and William for joining us today to talk about Ethical Procurement.