Codes of conduct are statements of values, beliefs, standards, legal compliance, or organizational policy and procedures that are articulated to inform those governed by the codes or hold those affected by the codes accountable to this type of ethical behavior. Every professional association and nearly every business organization of any size has created and promulgated a code of conduct for its members. Codes are understood as the primary means of institutionalizing ethics into the culture, religion, profession, learned societies, or business organizations. A Touche Ross national survey revealed that their respondents believed that codes are the most effective measure for encouraging ethical behavior at work.

Historically, the Code of Hammurabi contained almost 200 paragraphs of rules governing business, moral life, and social life reaching back to ...