Evaluation of Ethics Program Effectiveness

In November 2004, Federal Sentencing Guidelines for Organizations were revised to include "periodic measurement of program effectiveness" among the criteria for an effective ethics and compliance program (U.S.S.G. §8B2.1(b)(5)(B)). Where FSGO criteria were previously met by the presence of certain program elements, organizations must now also provide evidence that their programs actually work. While FSGO is advisory for organizations, its standards have been adopted as common practice regardless of sector.

ERC assists organizations of all types with their efforts to assess their ethics and compliance programs. Our datasets, collected from over a decade of organizational assessments and research, can be leveraged for the following purposes:

• Assessment of organizational risk for misconduct;
• Assessment of ethical culture;
• Measurement of program effectiveness; and
• Comprehensive program evaluation.

ERC assesses organizational programs by utilizing qualitative and quantitative techniques. We provide national and industry peer benchmarks to help organizations better understand the findings from their own contexts.

In our measurement work, ERC abides by our Principles for Effective Measurement. [downloadable document available on 10/12/05.]