Welcome to the TISCreport Transparency Pledge, Pioneer, Fundamentals and Exemplar Certification FAQ. If you have a question that isn't listed here, please drop us a line!
What is the TISCreport Corporate Transparency Pledge and how can I sign?
"I pledge to champion transparency within our organisation, uniting with the corporate transparency movement to strengthen trust and collective action for our planet and its people."
What specific implications does signing this pledge have for our organisation?
The pledge is a commitment to ethical practices and transparency, aligning with global standards. It does not prescribe specific actions but encourages a culture of openness and accountability.
Does this pledge align with our existing policies and corporate values?
This pledge is designed to complement and enhance your existing values and policies, fostering a culture of trust and integrity that benefits all stakeholders.
Are there legal or regulatory implications to consider when signing this pledge?
The pledge is crafted to respect legal and regulatory frameworks. It promotes transparency within the bounds of your legal obligations and industry regulations.
What are the potential risks and benefits of signing this pledge?
Signing the pledge can significantly boost your reputation and stakeholder trust. The risks are minimal as the pledge is a statement of intent rather than a binding contract.
In contrast, there is a growing evidence base of the benefits of signing this pledge available for you to access by signing up for more information on https://insights.tiscreport.org/transparency-pledge
How will signing this pledge impact our relationships with stakeholders?
This pledge can strengthen stakeholder relationships by demonstrating your commitment to transparency and ethical practices. Critical to this is communicating your pledge to your stakeholders. TISCreport has prepared resources for you to use in order to do this as part of our certification process.
What changes or initiatives might we need to implement to uphold this pledge?
We provide guidelines and support to help you implement transparency best practices via our platform. The changes are scalable and can be adapted to your organisation's size and sector.
How can we measure and report our progress in championing transparency?
Our platform offers tools and metrics to track and report your progress, making it easy to communicate your achievements to stakeholders. It is our mission to help you by doing as much of the heavy lifting as possible.
Is there a conflict with our competitive position or intellectual property rights?
The pledge is worded to respect the need to protect competitive and proprietary information. It promotes transparency in areas that do not compromise your competitive edge.
How does this pledge fit into our long-term strategic plan?
This pledge aligns with long-term strategic goals centred around sustainability, corporate responsibility, and stakeholder trust, key pillars for future-oriented businesses. Equally, if those pillars are not the foundations of your strategic goals, taking the pledge can be viewed as a first step in making those commitments.
How will this affect our internal processes and employee responsibilities?
The pledge is designed to integrate smoothly with your existing processes, with minimal disruption. It can also enhance employee engagement and morale by aligning with values of transparency and integrity. Pledging permits your employees to have conversations around transparency and accountability, and can be used to lead your organisation by example.
What is the public perception of the pledge and the entities promoting it?
The pledge is backed by a respected and credible platform, positively recognised for advocating corporate transparency and ethical practices.
I can sign the pledge but do not have board approval. Can I still be a Transparency Pioneer?
Yes! It is your personal intention and commitment to Transparency as an officer of your organisation that qualifies you, and you are not committing your organisation to anything by signing. If you need board approval to be transparent about that commitment (publicly, online, offline..) then your primary focus must be on making the business case for Transparency and identifying the key blockers in being be public about signing the pledge. Luckily we can help you on the way!
Some of my suppliers are reluctant to sign the pledge. What does this mean and what should I do?
The pledge is designed to be generic enough to be easy to sign. If it is difficult to commit at such a low level it would be indicative of a greater problem within their organisation. Identifying the key barriers to this low level of transparency can really help when it comes to accountability, and in working with your suppliers to make it easier, you will automatically help them be better. Introduce them to TISCreport tools as part of your commitment and you can track their sign-ups as part of your own transparency performance.
In the meantime, tracking the willingness or reluctance of company officers to sign the pledge can provide valuable insights into the corporate culture and governance of different organisations. This data can be used to:
Identify Industry Trends: Understanding which sectors or types of companies are more open to such pledges can highlight broader industry trends in transparency and corporate responsibility.
Guide Stakeholder Engagement: This information can be useful for investors, customers, and partners in making informed decisions about their engagements with these companies.
Inform Advocacy and Policy Making: Data on corporate openness to transparency can inform advocacy groups and policymakers in their efforts to promote ethical business practices.
Benchmarking and Best Practices: Organisations that readily embrace such pledges can be studied as benchmarks or best practice examples for others in their industry.
Internal Reflection and Change: For companies hesitant to sign, this could spark internal discussions and potentially lead to positive changes in their policies and practices.
What is the duration of our commitment, and is there flexibility in our participation?
The commitment is flexible. We understand that organisational capacities evolve, and our platform accommodates varying levels of engagement over time.
