Photo: Morten Larsen

Code of conduct 

COWI's values are based on credibility and integrity. Actions that may put these values at risk are unacceptable.

COWI has adopted The International Federation of Consulting Engineers, FIDIC's model Code of Conduct, which reads as follows:

Social Responsibility

  • The firm accepts continuing responsibility for its consulting services before its clients and society.
  • The firm shall permanently contribute to the benefit of its clients and society, through sustained personnel training and technology development aimed at improving productivity.
  • The firm will include sustainability as a permanent goal in every project.

Quality of Service

  • The firm shall only undertake project assignments in its areas of expertise, where it has the capabilities to deliver efficient and effective service to its clients.
  • The firm is committed to providing high quality services to clients. The firm will focus on Quality Management as a working methodology, and on permanent improvement as a means to improve the quality of service.
  • The firm is committed to the continuing improvement of its knowledge base, abilities and tools in its area of expertise.
  • The firm will focus on technology management as a working methodology, and shall extend to its clients the benefits of its professional achievements.

Objectivity of the Firm

  • The firm will act with loyalty to its clients, and will maintain the confidentiality of any information from the client that is obtained in the process of performing services.
  • The firm will also keep confidential the documents and reports pre-pared for the client.
  • The firm shall avoid any conflict of interest, and will inform a client beforehand of any potential conflict of interest that could emerge during the execution of consulting services.
  • The firm will only offer its services under contracting terms that do not interfere with its independence, integrity and objectivity.
  • The firm will not accept any remuneration that could encourage the firm to offer a biased opinion.

Corporate Integrity

  • The firm will only solicit consulting work and participate in private or public competitive bidding under the highest standards of corporate ethics and competitive practices, and with total integrity in its transactions.
  • The firm will act at all times for the benefit of clients, and will carry out services with professional integrity, while not jeopardizing the interests of society.
  • The promotional activity of the firm and its services will uphold the dignity and reputation of the industry. Brochures and other formal documents describing resources, experience, work and reputation, will affect the firm's actual circumstances in a truthful manner.
  • The firm shall manage with integrity its internal and external clients.
  • The firm will focus on Business Integrity Management as a working methodology, consistent with the dignity of the knowledge-based consulting industry.

Competition

  • The firm favours Quality Based Selection for the contracting of its services. If solicited to review the work performed by another consultant, the firm will act in accordance with its business integrity and objectivity policies.
  • The firm will not endorse compensation or contribution arrangements destined to influence or secure consulting work, nor seek commissions from suppliers of equipment and services recommended to the client as part of the firm's consulting services.
  • The firm shall not take part in activities that could damage the reputation or the business of others.