Culture. A generic term for thoughts or patterns of behavior shared by a group of people. We use it at several system levels such as Norwegian culture, subculture, and corporate culture. And in this post, we'll take a closer look at why everyone should build a good (and safe) IT culture.

Cultures can arise spontaneously, or through unwritten rules or guidelines. A house rule can be something as mundane as: "When we play Ludo at the cabin, it's always the youngest player who starts." Surprisingly, it's not like that in all families - some take turns to start and in some families, it's first come, first served... 

For the game night to be successful and to avoid disagreements halfway through the game, we have rules of the game. The rules of the game are what we have to adhere to in order to actually play, and the house rules are guidelines or small adjustments that are adapted to the playing style, the setting, or the skill level, etc. The Code of Conduct is the company's house rules.

Code of Conduct is the house rules

The Code of Conduct is the document that defines the company's expectations for how employees should conduct themselves in their daily work. It reflects the company's overall corporate culture, core values, and daily operations.

The purpose of the house rules is to safeguard the company's market position, integrity, and protect the areas of risk. And it turns out that the most effective way to do this is by creating an inclusive IT culture! And in order to create an inclusive IT culture, which aligns with the company's other goals, the expectations and house rules must be defined by management.

It is important to remember that an inclusive IT culture is not created by a Code of Conduct alone - it must also be created through social and professional arenas. This can be kick-offs, training, seminars, internal competitions, and the like.

We recommend that all companies - regardless of size - create a Code of Conduct. The goal is to make the core values and the company's worldview accessible to employees, so that everyone is constantly working towards a common goal. It does not have to be long or complicated. It's better to have something than nothing at all.

The benefits of a Code of Conduct

A good IT culture consists of a set of values, norms, and perceptions of reality. The values are what is perceived as important and worth working for, the norms are the social rules that determine which attitudes, actions, and behaviors are considered acceptable or unacceptable. And the perception of reality is the employees' view of what is happening around them.

The combination of these points will make the employees feel responsible and take ownership of their own company, and the values will slowly, but surely, become a natural extension of the choices the employees make. This can be seen through the demands placed on quality and deliveries, how and what governs processes, and the internal security procedures.

What can happen if the company has a Code of Conduct?

• The company can more significantly influence the employees' attitudes towards their own workday

• Reduced absence is reflected by employees who thrive and have a clear purpose

• Projects and collaborations (internally and externally) have more favorable progress

• Purchases and investments align with the company's house rules

• Partners and suppliers are chosen based on the company's values

• Employees help protect areas vulnerable to data attacks through simple security routines in their daily work

• Enhanced reputation provides the opportunity for a stronger market position

Read more about how we can help your company with IT security and how to build a good IT culture internally.