Corporate Governance and Business Ethics Case Study
ASSIGNMENT NO.1
Subject: CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Topic: Business Ethics scenario Case Study
Date: 7th March 2011
Submitted by:
Miss. Janhavi R Joshi
Submitted to:
Professor Mrs. Monica Khanna
1. Receiving a Holiday Gift:
A supplier sends a basket of expensive foodstuffs to your home at
Christmas with a card: "We hope you and your family enjoy the
'goodies.'". What action(s) might you want to take?
Answer:
Ethical dilemma: There are two reasons for such generosity from the Supplier. One could be that there is a long standing relationship with the supplier, and therefore the supplier is genuinely sending these gifts with no other intention than Christmas greetings. But the second reason and the most likely one is that the supplier is indirectly trying to influence me by sending expensive gifts and mentioning the words “goodies” to emphasize the fact they are expensive. Usually such scenario is very common in India where government official receive unusually expensive gifts from Companies/individuals (referred to as a Party) during Diwali. Under the pretext of such gifts (which are now a day’s becoming customary) these Parties try and get their work done out of turn. The ethical dilemma in this situation hence is that should it be considered as a bribe and hence unethical or just a genuine holiday gift like ones received from friends and family??
Decision criteria:
The decisions would be taken on the basis of my relationship with the supplier.
Final decision:
Scenario ONE -a very old Supplier: I would send a fresh basket of expensive foodstuffs to his/her/their home with a similar note. As a result the give and take is equal and unintentional hence there would be no obligation on any ones part to return the favor otherwise.
Scenario TWO- a new supplier/Unfamiliar supplier: I would send back the same basket of goods with a note “Thank you for your card & gift. I and my family only want your best wishes & blessings. May you and your family have
Subject: CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
Topic: Business Ethics scenario Case Study
Date: 7th March 2011
Submitted by:
Miss. Janhavi R Joshi
Submitted to:
Professor Mrs. Monica Khanna
1. Receiving a Holiday Gift:
A supplier sends a basket of expensive foodstuffs to your home at
Christmas with a card: "We hope you and your family enjoy the
'goodies.'". What action(s) might you want to take?
Answer:
Ethical dilemma: There are two reasons for such generosity from the Supplier. One could be that there is a long standing relationship with the supplier, and therefore the supplier is genuinely sending these gifts with no other intention than Christmas greetings. But the second reason and the most likely one is that the supplier is indirectly trying to influence me by sending expensive gifts and mentioning the words “goodies” to emphasize the fact they are expensive. Usually such scenario is very common in India where government official receive unusually expensive gifts from Companies/individuals (referred to as a Party) during Diwali. Under the pretext of such gifts (which are now a day’s becoming customary) these Parties try and get their work done out of turn. The ethical dilemma in this situation hence is that should it be considered as a bribe and hence unethical or just a genuine holiday gift like ones received from friends and family??
Decision criteria:
The decisions would be taken on the basis of my relationship with the supplier.
Final decision:
Scenario ONE -a very old Supplier: I would send a fresh basket of expensive foodstuffs to his/her/their home with a similar note. As a result the give and take is equal and unintentional hence there would be no obligation on any ones part to return the favor otherwise.
Scenario TWO- a new supplier/Unfamiliar supplier: I would send back the same basket of goods with a note “Thank you for your card & gift. I and my family only want your best wishes & blessings. May you and your family have