Translations

Nokia Siemens Networks : Zero tolerance against corruption

5. Fair Operating Practices

Anti-corruption campaign

Sector Telecommunication, Medias, ITC

Year 2010

Country Finland

Transmitter

Context

Nokia Siemens Networks is a leading global enabler of telecommunications services. With its focus on innovation and sustainability, the company provides a complete portfolio of mobile, fixed and converged network technology, as well as professional services including consultancy and systems integration, deployment, maintenance and managed services. It is one of the largest telecommunications hardware, software and professional services companies, operating in 150 countries, a quarter of the world’s population connect using Nokia Siemens Networks infrastructure everyday. NSN provides its products to more than 600 Communications Service Providers.

Objectives

To avoid all impacts of corruption on the company (fines, jail for the CEO, legal risks, irreparable damage to reputation, market capitalisation)
To be the leader in its industry and to maximize its positive influence, as Rajeev Suri, NSN CEO, says: “NSN will only conduct its business worldwide with the highest ethical and integrity standards and will lead others in the industry to embrace equally high standards”.

APPROACH

Ethics & Compliance is part of Nokia Siemens Networks’ Corporate Responsibility strategy, and includes all the concerns around fraud, anti-competitive activities, workplace practices, theft, corruption, conflict of interests, misuse of company assets, labor conditions, health and safety, supply chain, discrimination, etc.

NSN clearly communicates on a very simple principle: “Zero tolerance”.

This principle is applied with a 4 points strategy:

Prevention: raise awareness through clear policies and training to prevent employees making mistakes

Detection: encourage people (from both the inside and the outside) to report any concerns or suspected cases of corruption and develop tools to identify potential issues. A specific hotline has been created by Ethics and Compliance office.

Correction: Investigate all reported concerns and take appropriate action when cases of corruption are confirmed. The “Code of conduct & anti-corruption Helpine & Reporting Line and Form” received 200 enquiries in 2009 (mainly in Iran). NSN also conducted 137 investigations that leaded to 19 dismissals of employees, 18 written warnings and 3 real cases reported to the authorities for a criminal investigation.

Interaction: collaborate with others in the industry to promote wider adoption of anti-corruption measures.