IOA Organizational Values & Community Norms 

After extensive input from IOA members and other participants, we are pleased to announce the pilot of IOA’s new Organization Values and Community Norms.

In order to create a culture where all Participants are treated with dignity and understand what is expected of themselves and each other, we have developed Organizational Values and Community Norms. Together, these Values and Norms will provide a framework for all Participants and support a collectively created, nurtured, and reinforced culture. They are not designed to inhibit dissenting views or constructive debate; rather, they are intended to remind all IOA Participants to bring their best selves to their interactions, and to respect the dignity of all IOA Participants in all IOA-sponsored activities regardless of their perspective, background, age, religious beliefs, lived experience, cultural background or state of practice.   

These Organizational Values are based on the values embedded in IOA’s Code of Ethics and the Community Norms are modeled after Community Norms used by other associations. These will be piloted from March 2023- July 2024, and IOA will use this pilot period to learn and assess what additional educational and other support will be needed to bolster their impact. 

How Participants in International Ombuds Association (IOA) activities respectfully interact with each other matters. To help clarify expectations and establish a safe and respectful environment for all, regardless of IOA membership status, IOA has defined Organizational Values and Community Norms for the Association. Our goal is to create a positive, sustainable culture that honors the dignity of each Participant, and to provide a framework so Participants know what to expect of each other. Participants’ attendance at or participation in any IOA Activity will be deemed to be an agreement to abide by these Values and Norms.

IOA Organizational Values

These values have been adopted from IOA’s Code of Ethics and will guide interactions that take place within the association between all Participants*:

• Act with honesty and integrity
• Promote fairness and support fair process
• Be open-minded, and act with empathy and respect for individual differences
• Promote dignity, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging
• Communicate accurate understanding through active listening
• Enable individual empowerment, self-determination, and collaborative problem-solving.

IOA Community Norms As a Participant:

1. I will behave with dignity, treating myself and others in a way that is respectful at all times.
2. Humility, thoughtfulness, generosity and IOA’s organizational values will guide my interactions.
3. I am responsible for my words and actions, and I will make space to openly listen if they impact others.
4. When I witness or experience a breach of IOA’s Organizational Values or these Community Norms, I am empowered and encouraged to stand up, speak up and call in. Inaction and silence harm IOA’s culture and intended clarity of expectations.
5. I will demonstrate respect for each individual throughout IOA. I honor current chains of command and direct my suggestions and contributions through appropriate channels.
6. I agree to abide by these norms and will remove myself from IOA Activities if I cannot.

These values and norms are not designed to inhibit dissenting views or constructive debate. They are intended to remind all IOA Participants to bring their best selves to their interactions, and to respect the dignity of all IOA Participants in all IOA sponsored activities regardless of their perspective, background, age, religious beliefs, lived experience, cultural background or state of practice.

These Organizational Values and Community Norms are a framework for all Participants and support a collectively created, nurtured and reinforced culture. Participants, including bystanders, are encouraged and invited to self-advocate as needed, and/or to utilize the services of IOA's Ombuds for additional support.

IOA will provide education around these Values and Norms, and is committed to annual review after the initial pilot to assess and modify, as needed.*

Concern & Complaint Policy and Procedures

As a companion to these Values and Norms, IOA has launched a Concern and Complaint Policy and Procedures to support IOA members in addressing concerns and behavior that may fall outside of our Values and Norms.

Learn More

Background:

The IOA Ombuds provided upward feedback that our organization may benefit from the creation of a code of conduct for both members and those stakeholders who participate in association activities. During August and September 2022, IOA invited members and the general IOA Community to participate in one of three focus groups to learn from their experience and understand their perspective around Codes of Conduct and other instruments that address behavior in organizations. 

Nearly 100 people attended, giving their time and thoughtfulness in that engagement. A few key messages emerged from these discussions:

• Before creating a Code of Conduct, the IOA should create a set of values and organizational norms.
• Whatever is created, we should balance need against over-regulation or an overly aggressive approach.

Questions?

Please direct questions or additional comments to Ellen Miller, IOA Executive Director.