Governance & Risk
Integrity, Control and Ethics (ICE) in the Workplace
Integrity as the foundation of organisational control, ethics and accountability
Course Abstract
Modern organisations should rely on mechanical controls alone. Policies, procedures and automated monitoring systems may exist, but their effectiveness ultimately depends on the integrity of the people managing them, the mixture of the controls supporting them, and the ethical culture within which decisions are made. The Integrity, Control and Ethics (ICE) course is an intensive 2-day (16-hour) programme that translates this principle into action, structured around four core pillars—Integrity (foundation), Control (protective mechanism), Ethics (evaluation standard), and Accountability (ownership). The course teaches participants to integrate business ethics, risk identification, robust controls, spot behavioral red flags, and promote clear oversight. Delivered through eight facilitated sessions, a practical risk-mapping workshop, and a capstone action plan, it equips attendees with actionable templates including risk checklists, Risk and Control Matrices, ethical decision frameworks, Responsible, Accountable, Consulted and Informed structures, and monitoring dashboards.
learning Outcomes
- Articulate the relationship between integrity, control mechanisms and behavioural ethics
- Identify workplace integrity risks, fraud risks, ethical dilemma
- Select, classify and assess preventive, detective, automated and manual controls
- Integrate COSO, ISO 31000 and COBIT principles within the ICE architecture
- Delineate control ownership using the Three Lines Model
- Spot operational irregularities, control override and behavioural red flags early
- Implement Key Integrity Indicators (KIIs), continuous monitoring and exception dashboards
- Build psychological safety and speaking-up mechanisms that resist corrupt pressure
Course Audience
Course curriculum
1. Foundations of Integrity, Control and Ethics 6 topics
- From internal control to integrity control
- Moving from mechanical compliance to culture-driven integrity
- Integrity vs. compliance; personal vs. institutional integrity
- Why good control systems fail when culture is weak
- Governance, risk, control and ethics in the modern enterprise
- Practical Exercise: The Integrity Gap — analysing control failures in policy-compliant environments
2. The Control Process & Life Cycle 6 topics
- Objective-Driven Design & Risk Alignment
- The ICE Control Cycle Architecture
- Control Integrity Evaluation & Corrective Action Loops
- Governance Approaches: Principles-Based vs. Rules-Based Control
- Industry Framework Integration: COSO, COBIT, and ISO 31000
- Control Architecture Life Cycle & Maturity
3. Control Classifications & Architecture 5 topics
- Structuring layers of defence
- Classifications: preventive, detective, corrective, directive, deterrent and compensating
- Types: administrative, financial, operational, IT/digital, access and supervisory
- Balancing integrity and ethics with manual vs. automated controls
- Practical Exercise: How to integrate business ethics and integrity with risk management
4. Workplace Integrity, Controls and Ethics Environment 5 topics
- Tone at the top and the middle
- Leadership behaviour, ethical messaging and organisational values
- Addressing performance pressure, unrealistic targets and toxic incentives
- Responsible use of authority and navigating management pressure
- Speaking-up cultures, whistleblowing protections and anti-retaliation systems
5. Risk Governance 6 topics
- RACI and ICE governance
- Roles across Board, Executive, Operations, Risk/Compliance, Audit, HR and IT
- Applying the Three Lines Model to ICE accountability
- Consequence management for intentional control bypass
- Day 1 workshop: ICE Risk & Control Mapping
- Day 2 capstone: build and present an ICE Organisational Action Plan
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