“For our Code of Conduct Training course, we ended up with something our employees loved and became the gold star training for our Company. We don’t feel we could possibly have achieved this with another provider.”
– Joanne Temmel, PepsiCo Compliance Manager

PepsiCo Custom Training Courseware Brings their Code of Conduct to Life

This case study was published on August 1, 2011

Problem

As the regulatory environment and PepsiCo’s global presence evolved, the company realized it needed a faster and more efficient way to communicate and monitor training initiatives.

“Our first online Code training needed to be completely customized and able to really stand out,” says Temmel. “Off-the-shelf [courseware] doesn’t work for us, and we couldn’t do this alone. Our training programs educate our employees about the standards to which they are being held – almost more than our actual Code. [Therefore], we wanted our Code of Conduct training to communicate the principles in our Code that may not be explicitly stated. We bid with numerous vendors, but [ultimately] we went with Corpedia because of their ability to create custom solutions.”

Resolution

Due to Pepsi’s large size and global presence, decentralization was an obstacle. Their challenge was to:

• Produce an automated, Code of Conduct course and Certification Program for annual training
• Create a global, legally defensible and customized training program that actively tracks employee completion
• Implement the program online to nearly 60,000 employees in 37 languages worldwide
• Achieve 100% program employee completion of the Code of Conduct training
• Ensure that the look and feel of the training modules represent PepsiCo’s brand and utilizes their specific brand design and lingo.

“There have been some bumps in the road – this process has not all been perfect,” Temmel reflects. “Of course, we were always asking Corpedia to do things outside the box. But, we brainstormed and we collaborated, and ultimately figured out problems together. It is the understanding and flexibility on Corpedia’s part that really makes the relationship work so well.”

Outcome

The Tangible Result of this Process:  “Corpedia helped us establish a training program that was really applicable to us, across the world, without being so watered down that it was just ‘do good, avoid evil.’  The products are made for us and when our people take the courses they feel like the training is Pepsi-specific.” – Stephen Naughton, PepsiCo Chief Compliance Officer

Additional Benefits of Pepsi’s Training Program:

• Streamlined, automated, efficient and predictable online training and certification process
• Consistent messaging throughout communication among global workforce Code of Conduct has been “brought to life” through use of customized and specific learning aids, based on relevant and real-life situations 100% employee completion of Code of Conduct training
• Demonstrably raised awareness of ethical behavior as evidenced through hotline reports

Looking Forward

PepsiCo has implemented other customized training programs, including anti-bribery training for 22,000 employees world-wide. In addition to annual Code of Conduct updates, PepsiCo will soon be launching custom sales training and is looking forward to uncovering their new Code of Conduct later this year.  Once “our new Code is released, the training will be a lot simpler, but will still allow the Code to come to life for our employees,” says Temmel.