1. Supplier Code of Conduct

2. 2014 Supplier Code of Conduct | 2The Advisory Board Company
Purpose of the Code of Conduct
The mission of The Advisory Board Company (the “Advisory Board”, “our,” or “we”) is to
elevate the performance of our mission-driven members (i.e., clients), thereby improving
health care and higher education in communities across the globe. Our goal as a business
is to help ensure that all of our actions, from our work with members to our efforts in the
community to the way we utilize our purchasing power, have a positive impact on the world.
Therefore, through relationships with our
suppliers, contractors, vendors, consultants,
and any of their subcontractors or agents
(the “Suppliers” or “you”), we are able to
continue to provide the highest caliber of
services to our members in the most cost
effective manner, while also seeking minimal
environmental impact, positive community
benefit, and a culture of safety and respect for
our employees and yours.
This Supplier Code of Conduct (the “Code of
Conduct”) contains principles and standards
that are intended to achieve these goals, and
that, as a provider of goods and services to the
Advisory Board, we expect you to follow, and we
expect that you will provide a copy of this Code
of Conduct to all individuals assigned to perform
work for the Advisory Board on your behalf.
This Code of Conduct does not replace any
specific contractual requirements in place
with the Advisory Board. Rather, this Code
of Conduct is a guide and establishes basic
principles for business conduct. If a contract
between you and the Advisory Board contains
more specific contractual language or is stricter
in its requirements than this Code of Conduct,
then it is expected that you will fully comply with
the requirements within the contract.
We reserve the right to request information and
perform audits or other assessments to confirm
your compliance with this Code of Conduct.
PURPOSE Interactions stewardship workplace respect conclusion
CEO Robert Musslewhite
“We always leverage our talent and resources to
improve the world—through our member-facing work,
our volunteerism, our interactions with colleagues,
and the ethical way we run the business.”

3. 2014 Supplier Code of Conduct | 3The Advisory Board Company
Acting Honestly, Transparently,
and Ethically in All Interactions
You conduct all business transparently and accurately maintain your books and records in
accordance with the highest ethical standards. You understand the importance of providing
quality products and services and continually seek to improve your work.
Representation, Reporting,
and Business Partners
You do not knowingly conceal or falsify any
statements, communications, contracts, or
representations. You choose your business
partners carefully and with due diligence.
Bribery, Corruption, Extortion,
and Embezzlement
You maintain a zero-tolerance policy of any
form of bribery, corruption, extortion, or
embezzlement and have monitoring and
enforcement procedures in place to prevent
any such action.
No Undue Influence
Conflicts of interest may arise with the giving
and receipt of gifts. Gifts shall not be given
to any Advisory Board employee if such gifts
reasonably would create a feeling of obligation
or influence judgment.
Reporting
You must report any violation or suspected
violation of this Code of Conduct to the
Corporate Governance/Compliance
Hotline by calling 855-289-1579 or visiting
advisory.alertline.com. If you are reporting the
conduct of another individual, such reporting
will be considered confidential and handled
appropriately by the Advisory Board. Please do
not hesitate to reach out for clarification of any
requirement of this Code of Conduct.
PURPOSE Interactions stewardship workplace respect conclusion
We hold our staff to the highest standards.
We expect the same of you, too.

4. 2014 Supplier Code of Conduct | 4The Advisory Board Company
Commitment
You are committed to improving your energy
efficiency, minimizing your waste generation,
and protecting the environment in every aspect
of your business operations.
Regulations and Management System
You comply with all material environmental
regulations applicable to the products or
services that you provide to the Advisory Board,
and proactively create management systems
that allow you to monitor the strength of your
efforts and find ways to improve.
Environmental Stewardship
You take into account the full cycle of a product, including its supply chain, as a crucial way
to accurately measure your impact on the community, environment, and natural resources,
and encourage the development and use of environmentally friendly practices for the full
cycle of any products in your portfolio.
PURPOSE Interactions stewardship workplace respect conclusion
Strengthen our community
by sustaining its health.

5. 2014 Supplier Code of Conduct | 5The Advisory Board Company
Labor Conditions
You do not use forced or trafficked labor,
corporal punishment, threats of violence, or
other forms of physical coercion or harassment
within your labor force.
Respecting Cultural Differences
You understand that recognizing and respecting
cultural differences goes hand in hand with
seeking to employ the best possible talent
based on merit and job requirements regardless
of individual characteristics.
Safe Environment
You create environments where employees
feel comfortable and safe raising concerns
and do not unlawfully discriminate in any
employment practice.
No Discrimination
You do not unlawfully discriminate against
any individual in your employment practices,
including hiring, compensation, access
to training, promotion, termination, and
retirement. You do not unlawfully discriminate
based on race, color, religion, age, gender,
gender identity or expression, sexual
orientation, nationality, social or ethnic origin,
marital status, pregnancy, disability, HIV status,
political affiliation, union membership, veteran
status, or any other status or characteristic
that is not related to the individual’s merit or
the inherent requirements of the job.
No Harassment
You do not tolerate unlawful harassment or
unlawful threatening/violent behavior. You
are committed to a work environment free
from unlawful harassment or violence, where
everyone is treated with respect and dignity.
All interactions among your employees,
customers, and suppliers will be free of
unlawful harassment of any kind.
Ensuring Safety, Dignity,
and Respect in the Workplace
You must have respect for all of your employees.
PURPOSE Interactions stewardship workplace respect conclusion
Our strongest relationships
are built on kindness, trust,
and professionalism.

6. 2014 Supplier Code of Conduct | 6The Advisory Board Company
Office Privileges
Interactions with the Advisory Board may be
through email, by phone, or in person at our
facilities or even at a third party’s facility on
our behalf. You may occasionally visit our
offices, and we will allow such visits and
provide any accommodations at our sole
discretion. Advisory Board technology assets
(including workstations, laptops, copiers,
fax machines, printers, scanners, and other
electronic devices), systems, information
(including information on internal Advisory
Board websites, electronic mail, and company
mail), and supplies (collectively, the “Advisory
Board Property”) may be used by you only
when required to complete work for the
Advisory Board and when approved by the
Advisory Board team with which you are
working. Personal use of Advisory Board
Property may be grounds for immediate
termination of your services and/or contract
with the Advisory Board. Use of any Advisory
Board Property is subject to the Advisory Board
Acceptable Use Policy, which may be updated
from time to time, with the following additional
restrictions:
• You may use only computers assigned to
you. Any attempt to use another individual’s
password or access files, systems, or
networks that are not required to perform
your services may result in immediate
termination of your contract in addition to
pursuit of all other remedies available at law.
• If you wish to connect non-Advisory Board
equipment to Advisory Board’s network,
servers, or equipment, you must receive
prior written approval from Advisory Board’s
Information Security department.
• Offensive behavior or communications,
including racial, ethnic, or sexual slurs,
are not tolerated.
We reserve the right to search all Advisory
Board Property at any time, with or without
your knowledge or presence. Additionally, we
retain the right to collect and maintain records
of your use or access to Advisory Board
Property. Your use of Advisory Board Property
is not considered private and is subject to such
inspections regardless of password protection.
While on our premises, traveling on Advisory
Board business, or attending any Advisory
Board social function, we expect that you will
treat everyone with respect and dignity and
that all of your interactions with our employees,
members, and other suppliers will be free of
unlawful harassment of any kind.
Respecting Advisory Board Employees
and Keeping Our Office Safe
You uphold the highest standards of privacy, safety, and respect in every interaction.
PURPOSE Interactions stewardship workplace respect conclusion
We believe in the value of our
employees and the value of
those who we serve.

7. 2014 Supplier Code of Conduct | 7The Advisory Board Company
PURPOSE Interactions stewardship workplace respect conclusion
Our mission goes beyond commerce.
Join us in making an impact.
In Conclusion
Our expectation is that you, our Suppliers, will act in accordance with these principles not
only within your own organization, but also make these principles the expectation of your
own suppliers. By ensuring that our own organization and those we partner with conduct
business in an ethical and transparent way, we can make a significant positive impact on
the world. Thank you for partnering with us to make it happen.
Learn More
To learn more on how this fits into our firm’s mission to make a positive impact on the world through
our business, our volunteering, and our purchasing please see our Community Impact page.
advisory.com/community-impact

8. 2445 M Street NW, Washington DC 20037
P 202.266.5600 | F 202.266.5700
advisory.com
Image Credits
Cover: Virginia Filer, Nini Jin
Page 2, 6: Virginia Filer
Page 3–5, 7: Nini Jin
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