SCSA Code of Practice

CODE of PRACTICE

Preamble

Supply Chain Services Australia (“SCSA”) adopted the following Code of Practice in 2009 as proof of the commitment of SCSA to:

• Develop realistic and practical solutions to client problems,
• Act in the clients’ best interests at all times,
• Render impartial, factually-based, independent advice,
• Accept only those client engagements they are qualified to perform,
• Behave with integrity and professionalism at all times,
• Agree with the client in advance on the basis for their professional fees,
• Safeguard confidential information

SCSA requires adherence to this Code of Practice by all its officers, employees, associate consultants and contractors (collectively referred to below as “SCSA personnel”).

The Code sets out the principles of the ethical practice of SCSA’s business. The purpose of this Code is to ensure SCSA officers, employees, associate consultants and contractors maintain their professionalism and adhere to high ethical standards while providing services to clients; and also in their dealings with the public.

SCSA Code of Practice

1.    It is the objective of SCSA personnel to assist his or her clients to add value to the client’s enterprise; whether that enterprise takes the form of a business, a not-for-profit organisation or any element of government.
2.    SCSA personnel will serve clients with integrity, competence, objectivity, independence and professionalism.
3.    SCSA personnel will only accept assignments that SCSA is competent to perform; and, on a client project, will only assign staff or engage colleagues with knowledge and expertise relevant to the client project.
4.    Before accepting any engagement SCSA personnel will establish with the client realistic expectations of the objectives, scope, expected benefits, work plan and fee structure of the assignment.
5.    SCSA personnel will agree in advance with the client on the basis for fees and expenses. SCSA personnel will charge fees that are reasonable; commensurate with the services delivered, the value created and the risk or responsibility accepted.
6.    SCSA personnel recognize that the client’s enterprise has many stakeholders whose interests are sometimes divergent, and will seek to balance and reconcile these different interests in their guidance to the client.
7.    SCSA personnel’s advice to the client will be delivered with independence and courage; always focussing on the long-term best interests of the enterprise as a whole, even when this guidance may lead to actions such as restructuring or retrenchments that may be painful in the short-term.
8.    SCSA personnel will continually invest in professional development to keep abreast of evolving knowledge within their profession and in areas of technical expertise.
9.    SCSA personnel will treat all confidential client information appropriately; will take reasonable steps to prevent access to confidential information by unauthorized people and will not take advantage of proprietary or privileged information, for use by SCSA or others, without the client’s permission.
10.    SCSA personnel will avoid conflicts of interest, or the appearance of such, and will disclose to the client immediately any circumstances or interests that they believe may influence their judgment or objectivity.
11.    SCSA personnel will offer to withdraw from a consulting assignment when they believe their objectivity or integrity may be impaired.
12.    SCSA personnel will act with integrity and professionalism in their relations with clients, colleagues and the general public.
13.    SCSA personnel will respect the rights of other organisations and will not use their proprietary information or methodologies without permission.
14.    SCSA personnel will report to appropriate authorities within or external to the client organisation any occurrences of misconduct, dangerous behaviour or illegal activities discovered during the course of an assignment.
15.    SCSA personnel will not accept commissions, remuneration, or other benefits from a third party in connection with any recommendations to a client without that client’s prior knowledge and consent, and will disclose in advance any financial interests in goods or services that form part of such recommendations.
16.    SCSA personnel will refrain from inviting an employee of an active or inactive client to consider alternative employment without prior discussion with the client.
17.    SCSA personnel will not advertise their services in a deceptive manner nor misrepresent or denigrate other organisations.