Ethics for Innovation Professionals

Innovation leaders act within ethical standards that drive their conduct to be honest, fair, respectful, and responsible. 

Honesty and Fairness

Being honest and fair in serving internal and external stakeholders throughout the innovation ecosystem is a key tenet of ethical leadership.  Professional conduct is bound by a duty of fairness to make decisions and act impartially and objectively.  Honesty and fairness are demonstrated by conduct of innovation leaders that is free from competing self-interest, prejudice, or favoritism. 

Innovation professionals demonstrate transparency in the decision-making process and provide equal access to information for all who are authorized to have that information.  Contracts are not awarded that provide personal gain at the expense of others.  Hiring practices do not discriminate against others based on gender, gender identity, race, religion, age, disability, nationality, or sexual orientation.  When a conflict of interest arises, an innovation leader invokes the principles of honesty and fairness to refrain from engaging in the decision-making process or in other matters of influence.

Respect

Innovation leaders are respectful of other peoples’ values and decisions, showing empathy, and being tolerant of opposing viewpoints.  Respectful innovation leaders have a duty to show a high regard for themselves, others, and the resources entrusted to them.  Innovation practitioners inform themselves of the norms and customs of others and avoid engaging in behaviors that might be perceived as disrespectful.  Negotiations are always in good faith and property rights of others are respected in full.

Responsibility

Responsibility is the duty of an innovation leader to take ownership for decisions that are made or omitted, for actions that are taken or that fail to be taken, and consequences of any actions taken.  Innovation professionals and new product development practitioners have a commitment to public safety, health, and the environment. 

Innovation leaders strive to increase their competency and the professionalism within the practices and standards of innovation.  It is the responsibility of innovation leaders to use their knowledge and skill to fulfill commitments, to acknowledge and correct errors or omissions promptly, and to protect confidential information as necessary and as required by the law.

Innovation Code of Conduct

• Hold paramount the safety, health, and welfare of the public and the environment.
• Protect and hold confidential the private and identifying information of customers, clients, and potential customers unless explicitly authorized otherwise.
• Maintain professional competencies, certifications, and licenses to advance innovation and to practice as a professional innovation leader.
• Give proper credit for the work of others and accept and give professional criticism.
• Abide by the laws, regulations, and policies of nations, states, and communities where innovations are developed or deployed. 
• Act in a professional and ethical manner to all internal and external stakeholders.