Session 5 – Corporate Governance and Business Ethics Sunil Budhiraja
Topics to be covered today Business Ethics Ethics: Acquisitions and mergers Ethics of Consumer Production and Marketing
No such thing as a free drink!!! Case Study No such thing as a free drink!!!
Ethics and Business What is Ethics? Morality ?? Moral principles ?? Moral values ?? Norms?? Beliefs??
Definition Ethics is concerned with the study of morality and the application of reason to elucidate (clarify) specific rules and principles that determines right or wrong for a given situation. These rules and principles are called as Ethical theories.
Golden Rule of Ethics "Treat others only as you consent to being treated in the same situation."
Issues in Mergers and Acquisition Lies Coercion Deception in negotiation Maximizing of values without considering the other party’s need Termination of employees
Acquisitions Friendly and Unfriendly
Major Anti-takeover tactics Poison Pills Golden parachutes Greenmail Change of control covenants People pill
Consumer Protection Consumer Information gap Pattern of information Performance gap Absence of informed participation Poverty of consumers
Theories of Consumer Protection Contractual View Due Care Social Costs view
Contractual View Duty to comply with the terms of the contract Disclose the nature of the product Should not misrepresent the nature of the product or agreement
Due Care Design – all possible features Production - quality Information – should include labels, notices and instructions Caveat emptor is important
Social Cost Theory Manufacture should pay all cost of any injury sustained through any defect of the product. Caveat vendor is important
Ethical issues in marketing 4 P’s
Product Unethical product - Cigarette, Government's ban on tobacco advertising Safety of the product - Pepsi and Coke Pesticide controversy, Cadbury chocolates Product Updating- Availability of spare parts after updating products
Pricing Cross subsidizing – King Fisher airlines High prices – taking advantage of patents- Pharma products Arbitrary pricing – Cement companies MRP- not the final price JAAGO GRAHAK JAAGO
Place Not selling products in some places – Private Telecom players in rural India Avoid selling certain products in some specific places – Liquor near schools and places of worship
Promotion Exchange Offers - are they ethical? Misleading claims - Cello Pens and Stationery Pvt. Ltd- Cello Maxriter pen is capable of writing 4000 words Unfair practices – Airlines cancellation scheme
Contd.. Market research