Consultant's Code of Conduct

Ethics are important for all professionals. They are particularly important to consultants because of the high level of trust their clients place in them, and because of the access that consultants have to confidential and proprietary information. The MEL Group has adopted the Independent Consultants Association's Code of Ethics to guide our actions while working with our clients.

The Code is as follows:

• Consultants will be honest and not knowingly misrepresent facts
• Consultants will install and use only properly licensed software on their systems as well as the clients' systems
• Consultants will divulge any potential conflicts of interest prior to accepting the contract
• Consultants will only represent opinions as independent if they are free from subordinated judgment and there is no undisclosed interest in the outcome of the client's decision
• Consultants will ensure that to the best of their knowledge they can complete the project in a professional manner both in terms of skill and time
• Consultants will keep the client informed of any matters relating to the contract even if the information is unfavorable, or may jeopardize the contract
• Consultants will safeguard any confidential information or documents entrusted to them and not divulge any confidential information without the consent of the client
• Consultants will not take advantage of proprietary information obtained from the client
• Consultants will use the client's equipment, software, email, or the Internet solely for the client's business, not for personal use.