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Business ethics and the social responsibility of business?
03-30-2014, 05:13 PM
Post: #1
Business ethics and the social responsibility of business?
(a) You are a project manager for a company making a major proposal to a Middle Eastern country. Your major competition is from Japan. Your local agent, who is closely tied to a very influential sheik, would receive a 5 percent commission if the proposal were accepted. Near the date for decision, the agent asks you for $150,000 to grease the skids so that your proposal is accepted. What do you do?

(b) What if, after you say no, the agent goes to your vice president, who provides the money? What do you do?

© Your overseas operation learns that most other foreign companies in this Middle Eastern location bolster their business by exchanging currency on the gray market. You discover that your division is twice as profitable as budgeted due to the amount of domestic currency you have received on the gray market. What do you do?

Note: Related to business ethics and the social responsibility of business

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03-30-2014, 05:20 PM
Post: #2
 
First, never do anything illegal, even if you have the written approval of your bosses to break the law. If you get caught, and bribery is a crime, then while your employers may well get collared so will you. Using the excuse "they told me to do it" might get you a reduction in your jail sentence, but it also might not. Either way if found guilty you will have a criminal record and most likely no job and fewer prospects.

In scenario b - the agent goes over your head I'd leave that decision with someone else to break the law, on their heads be it. By all means make your opinion known, but the problem here is that you might lose your job. Putting something in writing can be dangerous as well - potentially it implicates you as an accessory. In theory you should go to the police - but I can understand why many people wouldn't. it's easy to say what someone should do - but then the likelihood of a police investigation will mean having to resign from your job and getting a new job will be difficult while this is going on plus you will be effectively blacklisting yourself - eg at your next job interview:
"why did you leave your last job?"
"I reported them for bribing people."
"Ok, interesting to know, we'll be in touch if we want to employ you...next interview candidate please..."

Repeat several dozen times.

Part C - there is nothing wrong in currency speculation as long as it is legal and reported as income etc. Many companies may have accounts with other currencies to hedge against a sudden fall/rise in a currency with which you have to do business in. Suppose you work for a construction firm who is US based but buying land in say the UK, if the £ suddenly rose by 10% against the dollar you have a deficit and problems paying bills.

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