A code of conduct is a set of rules outlining the responsibilities of, or proper practices for, an

individual, party or organization.

"Principles, values, standards, or rules of behavior that guide the decisions, procedures
and systems of an organization in a way that (a) contributes to the welfare of its key
stakeholders, and (b) respects the rights of all constituents affected by its operations."
A common code of conduct is written for employees of a company, which protects the business
and informs the employees of the company's expectations.
WHY HAVE A CODE OF CONDUCT
A code of conduct is intended to be a central guide and reference for users in support of day-today decision making. It is meant to clarify an organization's mission, values and principles,
linking them with standards of professional conduct. As a reference, it can be used to locate
relevant documents, services and other resources related to ethics within the organization.
A code is an open disclosure of the way an organization operates. It provides visible guidelines
for behavior. A well-written and thoughtful code also serves as an important communication
vehicle that "reflects the covenant that an organization has made to uphold its most important
values, dealing with such matters as its commitment to employees, its standards for doing
business and its relationship with the community."
A code is also a tool to encourage discussions of ethics and to improve how
employees/members deal with the ethical dilemmas, prejudices and gray areas that are
encountered in everyday work. A code is meant to complement relevant standards, policies and
rules, not to substitute for them.
Codes of conduct offer an invaluable opportunity for responsible organizations to create a
positive public identity for themselves which can lead to a more supportive political and
regulatory environment and an increased level of public confidence and trust among important
constituencies and stakeholders.

Code of ethics
A written set of guidelines issued by an organization to its workers and management to help
them conduct their actions in accordance with its primary values and ethical standards.