A structured approach to the governance of ethics using the five lines of assurance model

Across the globe, the corporate world has once again been shaken by the Steinhoff Corporate Scandal, which affected millions of people as the Steinhoff Corporation operated in various countries, including Germany, the Netherlands, Australia, New Zealand, and South Africa. Once again, the media and the public questioned the absence of organisational ethics. The growth and influence of the multi-billion-dollar organisation has drawn increased media coverage and exposed the lack of business ethics within organisations. This paper reviews the key roles and responsibilities of specific stakeholders in relation to ethical conduct. It deliberates on a combined assurance effort and offers the structure for a comprehensive implementation of organisational ethics. The paper is a multi-disciplined literature study and argues that scant attention has been paid to the development of a framework to facilitate an ethical culture. The paper uses the 'five lines of assurance framework' to illustrate the distinct roles of the various internal and external role players to provide a structured approach to the governance of ethics.