MBA Question/Answer: Is ethics a limiting factor in doing business?

Before going for Any B-schools Interview go through there website and know about there vision.Read about there alumni Networks.Good B-school has Good Alumni Network,Give example of any Alumni whom they admire as a leader or Visionary.

In interview tell them how passionately they want to pursue this course in this institute.

I strongly believe that, ethics at a larger platform depicts a picture starting from "how an organisation is breathing" to "how it's operating".

Ethics can be a limiting factor provided the "Ethics Book" has some more blank pages, a pen and a sensible writer. Everything changes with time and so as the people and the system. Amendments should be done from time to time.

Obeying to the Ethics wins the customer's attention and confidence.

So far my opinion is concerned, Ethics should be a limiting factor in doing business!! 😀😀

#-Link-Snipped-# Not sure how alumni can help in answering about ethics. Could you elaborate?

#-Link-Snipped-# You mean that ethics 'should be' a limiting factor, that means to protect the companies ethics (or vision, values etc) it's ok for the business to suffer a little? Correct me if I am wrong.

Ankita Katdare#-Link-Snipped-# You mean that ethics 'should be' a limiting factor, that means to protect the companies ethics (or vision, values etc) it's ok for the business to suffer a little? Correct me if I am wrong.

If I am saying, ethics should be a limiting factor, I am assuming that company's Ethics policy is a custodian of each and every rules and regulations following which company's doing are purely as per the law.
My answer is Yes to your question, "You mean that ethics 'should be' a limiting factor, that means to protect the companies ethics (or vision, values etc) it's ok for the business to suffer a little?"
We can see number of Indian companies who are suffering (various cases like 2G spectrum, Coal Block etc are pending in court). They have not followed their company's ethics which, I believe, never ever wants the company to be remain indulge in any matter and remain in any unlawful activity which, in future might cause any issue for them!! Kindly let me know if my understanding sounds odd!! 😀😀

Yes, that understanding sounds about right. I am sure any b-school values its ethics and loves the applicant who can stand by these ethics with a reason convincing enough.
I think candidates can give an example of a situation (they've heard of or experienced), where a company has benefited from living up to its ethics, to support their answer.

An example of this is a story I heard a few days back. A firm that specialized in selling cockroach-killing spray had its field workers explain how to use it from door-to-door. A manager in the company asked a fresher to do the demo. The fresher went to the client and did the demo and handed over the product. He forgot to ask how much to charge and therefore gave a random figure he had heard of. On returning, he narrated the incident to his manager, over which he got scolded. The manager and fresher returned to the client's house to return the money as the company isn't supposed to charge anything for the product given with a demo. Seeing their honesty and loyalty to the company, the client not only bought a couple more products, but also spread a word of goodwill in the neighborhood.

What say CEans? How would you convince the panel that ethics is NOT a limiting factor in business?

Ankita KatdareYes, that understanding sounds about right. I am sure any b-school values its ethics and loves the applicant who can stand by these ethics with a reason convincing enough.
I think candidates can give an example of a situation (they've heard of or experienced), where a company has benefited from living up to its ethics, to support their answer.

An example of this is a story I heard a few days back. A firm that specialized in selling cockroach-killing spray had its field workers explain how to use it from door-to-door. A manager in the company asked a fresher to do the demo. The fresher went to the client and did the demo and handed over the product. He forgot to ask how much to charge and therefore gave a random figure he had heard of. On returning, he narrated the incident to his manager, over which he got scolded. The manager and fresher returned to the client's house to return the money as the company isn't supposed to charge anything for the product given with a demo. Seeing their honesty and loyalty to the company, the client not only bought a couple more products, but also spread a word of goodwill in the neighborhood.

What say CEans? How would you convince the panel that ethics is NOT a limiting factor in business?

Ekjactly #-Link-Snipped-# !! 😀 A nice example you put here... Thanks.

I do not agree with it. Ethics are a limiting factor in business. Even Mr. Ratan Tata admitted that if you are engaged in discussing about ethics, you are losing a lot of business. And even business schools know that. What they are trying to test is whether you will adapt to the situation, bend a rule a lil bit in your favour when required. If you go for one sided answer they will definitely put you in a situation where you will have to change your side.

And if you need example to support this you can draw examples from epics like mahabharat and all. Even lord krishna broke the rule of war when he made both the sides stand still when trying to convince arjun to fight against kaurvas. That was not ethically right. was it? and actually there is a whole article on this. I can post the link if you want.

Ankita Katdare#-Link-Snipped-# Not sure how alumni can help in answering about ethics. Could you elaborate?

My bad i have taken question in incorrect way.As per me yes ethics is a limiting factor in doing business.

Sometime you have to do things in a business which may be limited by your ethics.

Hey all .... I am touching upon this subject pretty late, well I perceive this matter differently! I do not think ethics in business is a LIMITING factor , well, ETHICS ARE THE DEFINING FACTORS in business today! And hence they are increasingly governed by their COMPLIANCE policies!
It's not just include anti-corruption rules but also touches upon CSR (Corporate Social Responsibilities)