Code Of Ethics Carries Weight For MSPAlliance Members

While some solution providers are calling for help to differentiate themselves from VARs behaving badly, MSPAlliance members said their organization's Code of Ethics & Conduct has already had a positive effect on their businesses.

MSPAlliance's code, a collection of 19 points drafted and ratified by that organization's members, includes such topics as accepting professional responsibility for your work and not representing yourself to have capabilities and skills you do not possess.

The code was developed by about two dozen MSPs over a year and a half and is something that MSPAlliance members use to differentiate themselves, said Charles Weaver, co-founder and president of the organization.

"We had reports from members who heard different things about different companies above and beyond the normal trash talk," Weaver said. "Talking about capabilities is one thing, but outright misrepresentation is another. Those are things that should cause concern for end user consumers."

The dialogue led to the drafting of the Code of Ethics & Conduct, which includes a seal that members can use on their Web sites and business cards.

"Members saw the need to start a self-regulation at some point. Even if it's only within our group, it matters. The code encompasses a broad set of rules that are not difficult to follow. They're pretty basic if you're good in business and don't want to do bad things," Weaver said.

In at least one case, including the code in a proposal helped win a deal for Bill Crowsey, then owner of TecWatch, a Dallas-based MSP that has since been purchased by ClearPointe in August 2009.

Crowsey included the draft of the code as an appendix in a business proposal and the customer later told him that that was a major factor in the customer choosing him for the deal.

"If anything, it generates discussion. In most cases, it leads to further conversations about longevity, partnerships. It's always good to build trust," said Crowsey, now general manager of ClearPointe Dallas.

ClearPointe, which was recently named one of CRN's 40 Most Innovative MSPs, displays the MSPAlliance Seal of Ethical Conduct on the front page of its Web site.

"It's pretty telling when you do that and present that to the client as a collateral that we aren't 'fly by night,' that we take this seriously," Crowsey said. "That's what people look for when they're looking to hand over IT management to a third-party company."

Next: Members Self-Police Ethical Adherence

Do IT Smarter, a San Diego-based company and member of CRN's Most Innovative MSPs, also includes the MSPAlliance seal on the front page of its Web site.

"It's something we adhere by. We advertise our MSPAlliance accreditation and code of conduct separately," said Lane Smith, president of Do IT Smarter. "It's hard to tell what you're going up against [trying to win business]. Nobody on the outside is going to appear unethical so having [the accreditation and code of ethics] is a help."

Weaver admits that the code of ethics is difficult to enforce. MSPAlliance relies on members to police each other and bring alleged misdeeds to the organization's attention. Thus far, Weaver said no MSPs have been found to violate the code while representing themselves to adhere to it.

"If a general member is doing something they shouldn't be doing, we hear about it or it is brought to our attention," he said. "The more that use [the code] in membership, the more weight it will carry. This is an unregulated industry. When someone comes in and adheres to some standards, those things matter."

Full text of MSPAlliance's Code of Ethics & Conduct can be accessed here.