CODE OF CONDUCT PROJECT REQUIREMENTS

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

DUE DATE

? For grading: By 11:59 p.m., Monday, February 23, 2015, submit your report as a Word file to the proper location in Bb Learn.

? For discussion: The reports will facilitate class discussions on and after Tuesday, February 24, 2015. For your personal reference for the discussion on February 24, please bring a copy of your report to class, since graded reports may not be ready for return by then.

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

CODE OF CONDUCT PROJECT REPORT ACC 399 - Spring 2015 Page 1 of 2 CONTENT/SUBSTANCE Acceptable (75) One required element was missing. Requirements Categories Codes of conduct selected Two codes of conduct selected Correct types of codes selected Internet addresses included for selected codes Comparison Five components of codes that are similar identified and described Why student thinks that firms included similar components in codes Excellent (100) All required elements were included. In an exceptional manner, accomplished purpose of assignment directly and completely. All major subjects for this category clearly explained and thoroughly supported by relevant, specific, accurate data. Accomplished purpose of assignment directly and completely. All major subjects for this category explained and supported by relevant, specific, accurate data. Major subjects for this category covered. Supporting detail lacked some relevance, specificity or accuracy. Partially or indirectly accomplished purpose of assignment. Major subjects for this category covered haphazardly; little or no supporting detail; or data presented lacked relevance, specificity or accuracy. Comparison section not included. Did not accomplish purpose of assignment. 25% Contrast Five components of codes that are different identified and described Why student thinks that firms included differing components in codes In an exceptional manner, accomplished purpose of assignment directly and completely. All major subjects for this category clearly explained and thoroughly supported by relevant, specific, accurate data. Accomplished purpose of assignment directly and completely. All major subjects for this category explained and supported by relevant, specific, accurate data. Major subjects for this category covered. Supporting detail lacked some relevance, specificity or accuracy. Partially or indirectly accomplished purpose of assignment. Major subjects for this category covered haphazardly; little or no supporting detail; or data presented lacked relevance, specificity or accuracy. Contrast section not included. Did not accomplish purpose of assignment. 25% Summary Student's views on existence (or lack thereof) and need for codes of conduct for professional organizations and corporations Student views clearly stated. In an exceptional manner, accomplished purpose of assignment directly and completely. All major subjects for this category clearly explained and thoroughly supported by relevant, specific, accurate data. Student views stated. Accomplished purpose of assignment directly and completely. All major subjects for this category explained and supported by relevant, specific, accurate data. Student views stated. Major subjects for this category covered. Supporting detail lacked some relevance, specificity or accuracy. Student views not clearly stated. Partially or indirectly accomplished purpose of assignment. Major subjects for this category covered haphazardly; little or no supporting detail; or data presented lacked relevance, specificity or accuracy. Summary not included. Did not accomplish purpose of assignment. 20% C:\\RLH\\NAU\\ACC399_S15\\CodeOfConductReportRubric.docx Good (85) Name________________________________________ Below Expectations (65) Unacceptable (0) More than one required element was missing. Weight 10% Points CODE OF CONDUCT PROJECT REPORT ACC 399 - Spring 2015 Page 2 of 2 Requirements Categories Written communications skills Incorporate good grammar, spelling and punctuation Clear, readable prose Sentences and paragraphs well formed Not too wordy, too short or inappropriate use of jargon. No profanity or similar colloquialisms. Excellent (100) In an exceptional manner, demonstrated excellent written communication skills. No errors in grammar, spelling and/or punctuation. Clear, readable prose used throughout. Sentences and paragraphs well formed. Not too wordy or repetitive. Not too short. Any use of jargon appropriately explained. No use of profanity or similar colloquialisms. Report organization Well organized Logical flow Lay-out elements to aid reader Exceptionally professional, balanced appearance. Logical flow with transitions or headings to help reader navigate. All layout elements appropriately included (i.e., student name, title and page numbers). WRITTEN COMMUNICATION SKILLS/FORM Good (85) Acceptable (75) Demonstrated strong written Demonstrated adequate communication skills. One to written communication skills. three errors in grammar, spelling Four or five errors in grammar, and/or punctuation. Clear, spelling and/or punctuation. readable prose used throughout. Generally used clear, readable Sentences and paragraphs well prose. Most sentences and formed. Not too wordy or paragraphs well formed. repetitive. Not too short. Any use Occasional wordiness, brevity or of jargon appropriately explained. unexplained use of jargon. No No use of profanity or similar use of profanity or similar colloquialisms. colloquialisms. Professional, balanced appearance. Logical flow with transitions or headings to help reader navigate. Lay-out elements appropriately included, except for page numbers. Adequate professional, balanced appearance. For most of report, logical flow with transitions or headings to help reader navigate. Some lay-out elements excluded. Name________________________________________ Below Expectations (65) Written communication skills lacking. More than five errors in grammar, spelling and/or punctuation. Generally lacked clear, readable prose. Most sentences and paragraphs poorly formed. More than occasional wordiness, brevity or unexplained use of jargon. No use of profanity or similar colloquialisms. Lacked professional, balanced appearance. Flow not logical; did not use transitions or headings to help reader navigate. Lay-out elements excluded. Unacceptable (0) Significant number of errors in grammar, spelling and/or punctuation. Lacked clear, readable prose. Sentences and paragraphs poorly formed. More than occasional wordiness, brevity and/or unexplained use of jargon. Use of profanity or similar colloquialisms. Not organized. Sloppy. Totals Your category points are calculated by multiplying each category score (100, 85, 75, 65 or 0) by the weighting percentage for that category; then the category points are summed to determine total points. C:\\RLH\\NAU\\ACC399_S15\\CodeOfConductReportRubric.docx Weight 10% 10% 100% Points