What are core values?

If an organisation wants to take ethics seriously, it needs to identify the core values or principles to which it wishes to be committed and held accountable. It then needs to translate those values into guidance for all employees so that they are helped with discretionary decisions i.e., when there are no rules or when facing an ethical dilemma. These form the foundation for a set of corporate ethical commitments and the organisation’s approach to corporate responsibility.
Core values include responsibility, integrity, honesty, respect, trust, openness, fairness and transparency. Organisations may also articulate a set of business values, such as quality, profitability, efficiency, reliability, customer services, etc.