Tone At The Top

Tone at the top is a phrase that signifies the culture put forth by an organization through its top management. The idea implies that the authorities' activities, whether they are positive or negative, affect workers. It highlights the importance of leading by example. 

The tone set is considered a significant contributing factor to the conduct and ethical culture of the organization. This is because the behavior of the organization's employees is heavily influenced by how their bosses work. The transmission of values often occurs in a top-down approach and may become the reason for corporate failures.

The tone at the top describes the ethical (or immoral) atmosphere that the organization's leadership fosters in the workplace. The tone that management establishes will trickle down to the company's employees. Employees will likely uphold those values if managers establish a tone that values ethics and integrity. However, they will be more inclined to commit fraud if upper management gives the impression that it is unconcerned with ethics and only focuses on the desired results. This is because they will believe that the company does not place a high priority on ethical behavior. Employees closely observe how their managers respond and behave, and they imitate them. In other words, workers will imitate their superiors.

Therefore, the top management must set an ethical example (or tone) for how their staff members should conduct themselves at work for the company's performance. When those in positions of authority set an evil, immoral example by engaging in fraud, their subordinates will take notice. There is a high chance that they try to imitate their dishonest leaders, fostering a culture of workplace fraud. In such a culture, executives force employees to do whatever it takes to achieve those goals, whether they are correctly accomplished or not. Employers pressure the employees to meet unattainable goals that will increase profits for the company, and the employees will resort to unjust means. The goal justifies the means in their minds.

It is crucial and influential in fostering an atmosphere conducive to fraudulent financial reporting. Top-level managers must take crucial actions to set the right example for their teams, such as explaining to workers what is expected of them, setting a good example, providing a secure channel for reporting violations, and recognizing and awarding integrity. These steps help in fostering a healthy ethical environment.

Let's understand the concept with the help of some real-world and hypothetical scenarios.

Example #1

Suppose Dan was the CEO of a small company. He wanted to run the company ethically and drafted specific rules to be followed. From the dress code to internal management, everything was required to be done formally and legally. He wanted every transaction and activity to be recorded in compliance with the standards laid down by the law. The management also ensured an employee grievances cell was opened so that employees could come forward with the things bothering them. Overall, the tone set by the top management was one of being ethical and dutifully complying with the laws. Due to this, the employees will not intend to commit fraud, as this would go against the organization's motto.

Example #2

In the realm of audit quality within CPA firms, the concept of "tone at the top" is exemplified through leadership's pivotal role in shaping audit practices. A survey by the AICPA revealed that in terms of leadership elements, auditors can assess the true tone at the top by examining various factors, such as assigning responsibility for quality management to top executives and ensuring proper deployment of personnel. These indicators underscore the importance of strong leadership, practical risk assessment, and adherence to professional standards in fostering a culture of integrity and ensuring high-quality audits.

It is considered necessary for the following reasons:

• It sets the cultural and ethical atmosphere for the organization to function.
• It holds the organization together with a set value system.
• Having an ethical and moral background ensures compliance with the laws of the land.
• The moral culture also indicates that the company's financial statements will reflect an accurate and fair view of the organization.
• Investors tend to have a positive impression of companies that comply with rules and regulations and maintain the standards of financial statements. This brings investments and opportunities for growth to the company.
• In addition to this, providing a healthy environment where wrongdoing is confronted makes employees feel safe. They tend to work with enthusiasm for the company, and since productivity increases, so does the profit.