Prevention of Corruption and Breach of Probity in public companies

Corruption, along with lack of probity, conflicts of interest and cronyism among public officials, constitutes a scourge that undermines the proper functioning of all government institutions, entailing catastrophic consequences for both the economy and the social fabric of nations. This problem erodes trust and credibility in public entities, deeply affecting the foundations of society.

The World Bank highlights that corruption represents one of the most significant obstacles to economic and social development on a global scale. This phenomenon not only increases the costs associated with business activity but also diverts resources from vital public services, exacerbating inequality and poverty. Research shows that countries with high levels of corruption experience reduced economic growth. According to a report by Transparency International, the economic cost of corruption exceeds 5% of the global Gross Domestic Product (GDP) annually, negatively impacting the quality of life of citizens, who are forced to tolerate poor public services and greater vulnerability to economic and social crises.. 

To combat corruption, various strategies have been proposed, including rigorous audits, implementation of controls and the adoption of preventive processes. However, a frequently underestimated key piece is citizen participation. Evidence shows that opening communication channels, using appropriate methodologies, facilitates the collection of crucial information on existing corruption cases. In fact, 40% of frauds are discovered thanks to reports made by employees. Among the most promising solutions is ScanEthics, a methodology designed to diagnose seven critical factors related to organizational ethical strength. 

This tool, which includes open questions to denounce and report cases of corruption and breaches of probity within public institutions, has proven to be an effective mechanism in the prevention of crimes by public officials, by identifying vulnerabilities in control systems. internally through a well-structured complaints scheme.

A study by the University of Oxford highlights that organizations with effective whistleblowing systems and that promote a culture of transparency are up to 50% less likely to face cases of corruption. These practices not only help detect and prevent corrupt acts, but also promote an environment of integrity and trust within institutions.

Strengthening reporting mechanisms emerges as a key strategy in the fight against corruption. The Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) notes that countries that have established robust whistleblower protection laws have seen a notable improvement in their ability to investigate and punish corruption. Implementing these measures is essential not only to dismantle corruption networks, but also to build more transparent and equitable institutions. 

Corruption inflicts considerable damage to economic and social development. Adopting organizational surveys and promoting reporting mechanisms like ScanEthics are crucial steps toward creating transparent and ethical work environments. The fight against corruption requires constant effort and collaboration from all sectors of society to guarantee a more just and equitable future.

ScanEthics stands out as an effective solution to confront corruption in the public sphere, based on a precise diagnosis of the factors related to organizational ethics and facilitating a channel for reporting irregularities. Organizations with efficient reporting mechanisms discover 50% of fraud through these channels. ScanEthics seeks to expand this communication, allowing all officials to provide information about vulnerabilities in existing control and prevention systems. The inclusion of specific and open questions in ScanEthics makes it possible to collect a large amount of employee data, which is then processed using artificial intelligence to offer a quick and accurate diagnosis of risks, as well as define concrete action plans.

When cases of corruption or lack of probity are known, colleagues often become passive accomplices or, in other cases, they strongly oppose these practices, which generates great frustration by damaging the image of the institution and the service. public. The opening of anonymous and confidential communication channels allows valuable information to be collected for the timely control of possible acts of corruption.

ScanEthics is based on the premise of identifying vulnerabilities in a timely manner, avoiding their escalation and possible negative media attention, which could damage the reputation of officials and institutions. Public trust is crucial to the social fabric, and believing in those who govern us and trusting the administrators of the powers of the State is fundamental to the social contract. Thus, ScanEthics acts preventively, offering relevant information about the daily dynamics within institutions and allowing us to alert about situations of corruption or breaches of probity in time.