dnwe Annual Conference 2011: Can we trust in comparability? International standards for ethical corporate governance

From 8 to 9 April 2011, the annual conference of the German Network for Business Ethics (dnwe) will take place at the Nordakademie in Elmshorn, near Hamburg, on the theme ‘Trust in comparability? – International standards for ethical corporate governance’.
Confidence in the social market economy is waning. Companies and business associations are experiencing a pervasive lack of trust. Is adherence to national and international ethical standards a useful tool for corporate governance?

Global business ethics, the German Corporate Governance Code, the UN Global Compact, the model of the honourable businessman, or the new ISO 26000 – Guidance on Social Responsibility: this list of standards by which companies and organisations can guide themselves is by no means exhaustive. However, it is not only the range of options that raises questions. Their implementation in processes, their binding nature and their prioritisation are points of discussion with and for business leaders.

Under the title ‘Trust in Comparability?’, the conference will discuss whether standardisation efforts can create or maintain trust: Do comparable standards provide a convincing framework for binding ethical corporate governance? Can ethics even be standardised? At what point is a standard considered to have been established, and who can ‘monitor’ standards or their enforcement? Can voluntary standards ‘work’, or do they contribute to a more ethical business culture?

Over the course of the two days, these and other questions will be critically examined in panel discussions and interactive workshops, together with various representatives from politics, business and professional associations. During the conference, dnwe members and interested guests will have the opportunity to engage in dialogue and jointly explore the possibilities and limitations of implementation.
Further information on the programme and registration conditions can be found on the dnwe website.