Integrity-based ethics programs are described as combining which elements?

• A. concern for the law with an emphasis on employee responsibility.
• B. focus on maximizing shareholder value.
• C. rely solely on disciplinary actions.
• D. focus on external reputation management.

Answer: (A)

Integrity-based ethics programs are built on fostering an internal ethical culture where employees act with integrity. They combine concern for the law with an emphasis on employee responsibility: the law sets baseline standards, but employees are expected to internalize values and take responsibility for ethical decision-making and for reporting misconduct. This approach aims for proactive ethical behavior rather than simply following rules to avoid punishment. Other approaches tend to emphasize compliance through penalties, external reputation management, or purely financial goals, which don’t cultivate the same level of internal moral commitment.