Remolding a company through a compliance program : the case of Siemens

Abstract : Since at least the 1980's, a growing number of companies have set up an ethics or a compliance program within their organization. However, in the field of study of business management, there is a paucity of research studies concerning these management systems. This observation warranted the present investigation of one company's compliance program. Compliance programs are set up so that individuals working within an organization observe the laws and regulations which pertain to their work. This study used a constructivist grounded theory methodology to examine the process by which a specific compliance program, that of Siemens Canada Limited, was implemented throughout its organization. In conformity with this methodology, instead of proceeding with the investigation in accordance to a particular theoretical framework, the study established a number of theoretical constructs used strictly as reference points. The study's research question was stated as: what are the characteristics of the process by which Siemens' compliance program integrated itself into the existing organizational structure and gained employee acceptance? Data consisted of documents produced by the company and of interviews done with twenty-four managers working for Siemens Canada Limited. The researcher used QSR-Nvivo computer assisted software to code transcripts and to help with analyzing interviews and documents. Triangulation was done by using a number of analysis techniques and by constantly comparing findings with extant theory. A descriptive model of the implementation process grounded in the experience of participants and in the contents of the documents emerged from the data. The process was called "Remolding"; remolding being the core category having emerged. This main process consisted of two sub-processes identified as "embedding" and "appraising." The investigation was able to provide a detailed account of the appraising process. It identified that employees appraised the compliance program according to three facets: the impact of the program on the employee's daily activities, the relationship employees have with the local compliance organization, and the relationship employees have with the corporate ethics identity. The study suggests that a company who is entertaining the idea of implementing a compliance program should consider all three facets. In particular, it suggests that any company interested in designing and implementing a compliance program should pay particular attention to its corporate ethics identity. This is because employee's acceptance of the program is influenced by their comparison of the company's ethics identity to their local ethics identity. Implications of the study suggest that personnel responsible for the development and organizational support of a compliance program should understand the appraisal process by which employees build their relationship with the program. The originality of this study is that it points emphatically that companies must pay special attention in developing a corporate ethics identify which is coherent, well documented and well explained.

Alumni involvement in a technology program

Abstract: Everyone knows that in today's modern world, it is hard to keep up with the pace of the ever changing field of technology. This is no different in technology programs at the cegep level. Teachers who are employed at the cegep level find it difficult to keep up to date with the evolving industry trends, especially when working full time. In this paper, the involvement of alumni in the program is examined. The purpose of this study is to examine five areas of alumni involvement. These five major areas of alumni involvement are advisory committees, internships, field trips, guest speaking and real life projects. The literature is reviewed with respect to each of the described areas of involvement as well as theories of motivation. The shift of emphasis from teacher to student is discussed as well as the role of the teacher when faced with changes in technology. Finally students and alumni are surveyed to examine their perceptions to the various types of alumni involvement in the B.S.E.T. program. This research helps to describe whether and to what degree alumni involvement benefits our students in B.S.E.T. Several variables are examined, such as: academic satisfaction and alumni involvement; graduation year and academic satisfaction; graduation year and alumni involvement. The study also examines areas such as motivational attitudes of graduates to stay involved; areas where it is crucial for alumni to stay involved; desire to partner in a capstone project and area of involvement that tends to motivate students the most and that the graduates find of utmost importance.