The purpose of the November PM cover story, “A Code of Ethics that Packs a Punch,” is to provide a case study, which authors Kevin Duggan and Kevin Woodhouse refer to as a blueprint, of the development of a code of ethics from the ground up. More than 150 city employees from all departments crafted a code of ethics this way for Mountain View, California.

Here are the key guiding principles associated with the code’s development:

• The process should not be top-down. That is, the code should not be promulgated from the leadership of the organization.
• A recognition that the process will be part of the product.
• The process should strive to have as many employees participate as possible.
• The final product should be as concise as possible, ideally one page.

These steps were taken to distribute the final code:

• The final code was distributed by e-mail (or through the use of paper copies for those employees without e-mail) to all city employees.
• The code was placed on the city’s website, as well as on its employee intranet site.
• Wallet-sized copies of the code were distributed to all employees.
• Framed copies of the code were placed in every department and public spaces of city offices.
• A discussion of the code is included as part of new-employee orientation programs, training programs, and performance evaluations.
• All city departments are encouraged to have a periodic dialogue regarding the code and ethical scenarios.

For more details on each of these points and more, read the cover story at PM’s website.