Global professional services firm Accenture says it is transforming its Code of Business Ethics for the digital age by applying changes including the use of integrated intelligence technology.
The New York-headquartered firm says the move is reinforcing its commitment to ethical business practices by applying design thinking and integrating intelligent technology, and reinventing its Code from a legal document into an interactive, mobile-first tool that helps its global workforce act with integrity.
Accenture says it has developed a chatbot, referred to as COBE, that provides its people with an anonymous way to access the information and resources they need “in the moments they need them”.
Designed to support artificial intelligence and machine-learning capabilities, it says the chatbot surfaces real-time trends that enable Accenture to continuously tailor the bot’s responses and identify new topics and training opportunities.
{loadposition peter}"Our Code isn’t just a document – it’s what we believe, how we live and how we lead,” said Pierre Nanterme, Accenture’s chairman and chief executive.
“It’s embedded in all we do, empowering our people to operate with the highest standards so they can lead with confidence and help create a better world.”
Accenture says it has also added new topics to its Code to help address new interactions occurring in the workplace, such as the use of new technologies, data privacy and human rights. For example, a new section outlines the company’s pledge to develop AI systems that are secure, transparent and explainable.
“Our focus is on giving our people the tools and resources to think critically, and the new chatbot will help them look at ethics in a new, more interactive way,” said Chad Jerdee, Accenture’s general counsel and chief compliance officer.
“By using digital technology to embed ethical decision-making into how our people work and live, we’re empowering the next generation of business leaders to build their decision-making skills in a rapidly changing digital environment, where new ethical issues arise every day.”