A GUIDE TO BECOMING A LEADING COMPANY IN ETHICS
A few years ago, a well-known company developed a new software product that could help clients acquire and analyse huge amounts of data. This software had the potential to be game changing in tackling increasing criminality, and the company was soon approached by the government to prepare a proposal to support its efforts. Shortly after, the government asked for a meeting. Word was already out, passing from ear to ear, that their answer to the proposal would be affirmative.
However, things were to become more complicated. As the government gave its approval, it verbally imposed one condition that had the two men responsible, Edward and Philipp, sitting at the edge of their seat.
“We really want to do business with you, and we assure you it will make you a lot of money. But we will need you to do something for us – you will need to leak information about the patent to a company of our choice and refrain from any activity in relation to this software after that. Of course, you will get a good offer, one that can provide you with liquidity and save your company from the rough patch it is going through. On top of that, we will give $1m dollars to each of you as a reward. We need an answer in two days. Think about it.”
Philipp and Edward sat in silence on the drive home. As they parted ways outside Philipp’s house they agreed to sleep on the developments. The next morning Edward proposed that they announce their position by writing ‘Yes’ or ‘No’ on a piece of paper so that they would not influence each other’s opinion, and then exchange the pieces of paper to see how the other had voted.
Oct-Dec 2022 Issue
Novartis