Ethics in Management: PGDM/GGN/2018-2020/501 Academic Year 2018-19 Trimester-1 Credit - 2 Brief About The Course
Ethics in Management: PGDM/GGN/2018-2020/501 Academic Year 2018-19 Trimester-1 Credit - 2 Brief About The Course
Ethics in Management: PGDM/GGN/2018-2020/501 Academic Year 2018-19 Trimester-1 Credit - 2 Brief About The Course
PGDM/GGN/2018-2020/501
Academic Year 2018-19
Trimester-1
Credit -2
__________________________________________________________________________________________
Brief about the course
This course explores the numerous ethical dilemmas faced by managers and organizations. A
diverse set of ethical viewpoints will be considered with an emphasis on not only their
implications for ethical behavior but also on the social and cognitive pitfalls that undermine
the ability of business leaders to fulfill their ethical duties. Banks like PNB, ICICI Bank,
Bank of Maharashtra and many public listed firms like Infosys and Tata Sons have faced
such dilemma recently. The course aims to understand the scenarios of ethical dilemma and
challenges which some of these companies and banks have experienced. In the wake of
frauds, which marred the corporate world a course in ethics is all the more important for the
students to understand the importance of ethical conduct in the corporate world.
1. Introduction to Tutors
E-mail: aayushman.gupta@iilm.edu
This course explores the numerous ethical dilemmas faced by managers and organizations. A
diverse set of ethical viewpoints will be considered. The outlook of this course is to create a
balance between the implications of ethical behavior, social norms on one hand versus the
cognitive pitfalls that undermine the ability of business leaders to fulfill their ethical duties
along with processes and regulations to encourage ethical behavior will be discussed.
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Course Focus:
With leadership comes responsibility. This course combines analytical frameworks with the
latest findings on human behavior to inform a wide range of ethical decisions and strategies.
Readings include case studies, insights from experimental psychology and economics, and
excerpts from or about major works of moral philosophy. Through online and in-class
exercises, discussions, and personal reflection, you will reveal and assess your ethical
intuitions, compare them with more explicit modes of ethical thought, and learn how to use
ethics in business settings.
Companies value students who have the ability to understand corporate governance, code of
conduct and are ethical. This is a requirement that cuts across all industries including
entrepreneurial ventures and job roles that include corporate and top management positions.
Students who complete this course successfully will be able to:
1. To increase their sensitivity to the prevalence and complexity of ethical dimensions
in everyday managerial decision-making.
2. To familiarize themselves with a diverse set of descriptive and prescriptive frameworks
that facilitates the analysis and resolution of ethical situations.
3. To have the ability to understand values and their influence on ethics.
4. To have the ability to apply various approaches in making ethical decisions.
This course outline details on the session plan and readings for each session in the following
sections. Students are expected to go through the relevant materials/pre-readings provided in
the course pack before they reach the class-room. Similarly, for sessions identified for case
discussions, individual reading and group discussion of the case must precede discussion of
the same in the class room. Adequate preparation at an individual/group level will determine
the richness/quality of discussions and the learning from each session. Read the articles
mentioned in the links mentioned alongside sessions. Refer to the web resources frequently in
order to be abreast with recent developments. Reading a Business newspaper on a daily basis
is an absolute must.
4. Module Overview
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Session 2 Rational Behaviour versus Ethical Behaviour.
Video Case 2: Shoot the Dog
Module Readings
5.1 Main Text
Business Ethics: An Indian Perspective by A C Fernando, 6th edition, Pearson
5.2 References
Being Ethical: Ethics As the foundation of Business by S Manikutty, IIMA / Penguin
E-Book
a) Course era
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Managing Responsibly: Practicing Sustainability, Responsibility and Ethics,
University of Manchester (Jul, 9)
About the Courses: Managers are increasingly confronted with issues of sustainability,
responsibility and ethics. Managing responsibly is an integrative approach to
sustainability, responsibility and ethics, which allows you as a manager to deal
competently with such challenges. This course will facilitate your learning process to
engage in changing practices to make them more sustainable, responsible, and ethically
informed. We will first introduce the context of the trend towards responsible management
practices (week 1). We then explore the basics of each set of issues, sustainability (week
2), responsibility (week 3), and ethics (week 4). In week 5 you will work on your own
responsible management issue/task and explore responsible management practices in an
area of professional interest (e.g. strategy, entrepreneurship, innovation, organization,
operations, supply chain, human resources, marketing and communication, international
management, accounting and finance). In week 6 we will try to understand and experience
what managing responsibly means in practice, including opportunities and challenges, and
with a focus on transformative change. During these last two weeks you will work in a
problem-oriented way, based on a challenging topic you have come across in your own
management practice. In the course we will form multicultural teams to learn about
problems you bring forward. The course also facilitates the formation of peer networks
that allow you to continue this learning experience after finishing the MOOC. The MOOC
is an initiative in collaboration with the UN-supported Principles for Responsible
Management Education (PRME) initiative. Overall Learning Outcomes 1) To provide an
introduction to the three constituting fields of managing responsibly: sustainability,
responsibility and ethics. 2) To help apply the knowledge and insights gained from these
three fields to real life problems in your own setting. 3) To identify, understand and
facilitate individual action that can lead to change at the organizational and system level
...to ‘act is to move’ 4) To learn to appreciate and bring together different points of view,
and negotiate collective solutions to pressing problems.
About the Course: Global business ethics is the study and analysis of how ethics and
global business are connected. How we should treat each other and our organizations in
global and local contexts is the topic of this course. Business ethics and corporate
responsibility are inherent in global commerce. Commerce is about markets, and markets
entail exchanges between people and groups of people. So commerce is about human
relationships, and indeed, it could not be otherwise. One of the important challenges in
global business is working out the extent of these obligations in the interrelationships
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between businesses and the particular local cultures in which that business operates. The
ethical issues arising from these engagements, the kinds of values-based considerations
out of which an organization negotiates with local concerns, and how an organization can
be both an enabler of economic value-added while respecting cultural differences will be
topics of this course. Upon successful completion of this course you will be able to: •
Become morally sensitive to ethical dilemmas in global commerce • Identify ethical issues
in global business • Master stakeholder analysis • Address issues from more than one point
of view • Use a well-reasoned process by which to arrive at ethically-defensible decisions
• Evaluate good and weak arguments • Defend your conclusions
Website
www.theeconomictimes.com
www.livemint.com
www.businessstandard.com
6. Session Plan:
This session will explain to the students the course structure and how the participants are
expected to learn the concepts through class discussions and appreciation of the diverse
perspectives and motivations that drive ethical decisions. The instructor will assign students
to teams of 5 to 7 members each. Existing teams formed in other courses like Organization
Behavior may be retained. Students will discuss the case and share their view points and
opinions. Diverse perspectives including discussions on right and wrong, duties and moral
intentions, fairness will be discussed. Students learn that the issue of moral and ethical
dilemmas is a day to day occurrence in life and not something that only top management has
to face in big transactions.
Learning Outcome:
The students will be able to understand the importance of Ethics in their day to day routine.
They would be able to learn what kind of ethical dilemmas are faced by organizations and
business leaders globally.
Required Reading:
ITC Interview Case Study
Chapter 1, Business Ethics: An Indian Perspective by A C Fernando, 6th edition,
Pearson Publication
Desired Readings:
Corporate Ethics Isn’t About Rules: It’s About Honesty, HBR, 2009
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Corporate Ethics Can’t be Reduced to Compliance, HBR, 2016
This session continues to explore the ethical dilemmas faced in life and the students will
explore what are the motivators that cause individuals to act in unethical ways. Students will
discuss in class the video case and defend their viewpoints with their own values and view
point/perspective.
Learning Outcome: Students learn that ethical decisions are complex and cannot be
explained by rationality. They will be able to understand the importance of ethical behavioral
in the corporate world.
Required Reading:
Chapter 1, Business Ethics: An Indian Perspective by A C Fernando, 6th edition,
Pearson
Why Ethical People Make Unethical Choices, HBR, 2016
Desired Reading:
What Moral Heroes are Made of?, New York Times, June, 20018
7-Eleven, Volkswagen cases show why we should push back on 'corporate ethics',
The Conversation, October 12, 2015
Videos:
Shoot the dog
https://youtu.be/RQzy2_NNsWM
Ethics is derived from the Greek word “ethikos” meaning character or custom. Students will
understand the various philosophical approaches in ethics and how these theories may be
distinguished. The dilemmas and conflicts that management students encounter during
decision making processes require a balancing act and each decision has its own rewards and
penalties.
Learning Outcome:
Students learn the concept of utilitarianism and deontology and how these approaches differ
from each other. Students are able to understand the theories of Ethics and their application.
Essential Reading:
Chapter 2, Business Ethics: An Indian Perspective by A C Fernando, 6th edition,
Pearson
The credibility gap in stakeholder management: ethics and evidence of relationship
management, Construction Management and Economics (June 2008) 26, 633–643,
Taylor and Francis Publication
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Desired Reading:
Business Ethics and Business History: Neglected Dimensions in Management
Education, British Journal of Management, Vol. 13, 209–219 (2002)
Videos:
What is ethics?
https://youtu.be/4tU0ifPhUwA
Utilitarianism
https://youtu.be/TuZ7_ivZeHQ
Deontology
https://youtu.be/jorMWgBlyqU
Business processes that handle personal data must be built with privacy by design and by
default and use the highest-possible privacy settings by default, so that the data is not
available publicly without explicit consent, and cannot be used to identify a subject without
additional information stored separately. A processor of personal data must clearly disclose
what data is being collected and how, why it is being processed, how long it is being retained,
and if it is being shared with any third-parties.
Learning Outcome:
Students learn the concept of GDPR (global data protection regulation) and the need for
businesses to protect personal privacy in a highly connected global economy.
Required Reading:
GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION - GDPR
https://eugdprcompliant.com/
Videos:
Facebook awkard moments
https://youtu.be/IuPABtlr-rM
The need to be ethical is well established and there are regulations established for businesses.
This session the students understand through the example of sport, that through cricket as to
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the far reaching impact an unethical action can have not only to the individual or the
organization but overall to the economy.
Learning Outcome:
Students learn the implications of not being ethical and the consequences of unethical
behavior.
Required Reading:
Chapter 3, Business Ethics: An Indian Perspective by A C Fernando, 6th edition,
Pearson
Desired Reading:
The care-of-self ethic with continual reference to Socrates: towards ethical self-
management, Business Ethics: A European Review, Volume 21 Number 4 October
2012
Videos:
ESPN video on ball tampering
https://youtu.be/SPwpSN7uO3U
In this session students will apply and reflect on the ethical dilemmas that they are expected
to face in their personal and corporate life. Based on a case handed out by the instructor in
class, they will submit their reflection and decision in an ethical decision making situation.
This is an in-class written submission for an assessment of 5 marks.
Learning Outcome:
Students based on their performance in this assessment will be able to receive feedback on
their progress in the course.
In this session students will deal with the necessity of business ethics in decision making.
Even after one has concluded that an action is unethical, it’s easy to convince oneself that
doing the right thing is not important enough given other considerations (including, but not
limited to, economic, political, and peer pressure influences). What are the challenges to
ethical decision-making, and how can they be overcome?
Learning Outcome:
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Students familiarize themselves with commonly accepted ethical decision making models and
recognize the common elements across corporate codes of conduct. Students are expected to
work in teams and study recent newspaper articles and reports and come to class to present
their findings on various corporate misdemeanors and fall-out of such unethical / illegal
events.
Required Reading:
Chapter 4, Business Ethics: An Indian Perspective by A C Fernando, 6th edition,
Pearson
Ethical Dilemma at Workplace-A Case Study, International Journal of Business, 2016
Desired Reading:
Videos:
Changing lanes - fraud
https://youtu.be/FCYA84FwbC0
There are many reasons why the elimination of corruption has become a priority within the
business community. Confidence and trust in business among investors, customers,
employees and the public have been eroded by recent waves of business ethics scandals
around the globe. The UN Global Compact’s 10th principle against corruption is a step in
bringing anti-corruption into the corporate responsibility agenda. In this session students will
understand the UN global initiatives that begin with the 17 Sustainable Development Goals
and the 10 principles of UN Global compact that deal with responsible business management.
Learning Outcome:
Students familiarize themselves with the IILM vision, mission and values and understand the
UN Global Compact principles for responsible business.
Required Reading:
Lazy Person’s guide to saving the world:
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment/takeaction/
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UN Global Compact 10th Principle Business against Corruption
https://www.unglobalcompact.org/library/162
Desired Reading:
The phenomenal growth of modern corporations many of them global in nature has brought
about unimaginable wealth and valuations. The exponential growth and power such
companies have made the earlier Indian Companies Act 1956 fall short in protecting
investors and other stakeholders. In this session students understand the changes brought
about in the Indian Companies Act 2013 and issues of corporate governance.
Required Reading:
Chapter 8, Business Ethics: An Indian Perspective by A C Fernando, 6th edition,
Pearson
EY on Corporate Governance:
http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAssets/EY-sebi-clause-49-and-companies-act-13-a-
comparison/$FILE/EY-sebi-clause-49-and-companies-act-13-a-comparison.pdf
Desired reading:
Indian Companies Act 2013
http://www.mca.gov.in/Ministry/pdf/CompaniesAct2013.pdf
Corporate culture and values plays an integral role in the employee behavior and managerial
decision making. The leadership teams in enterprises are driven by the stakeholder objectives
and act accordingly. In this session students understand how multinational corporations
articulate and implement the ethical behavior throughout the organization by means of
explicit code of conduct. Students study the Tata Code of conduct and identify various values
such codes specify for the conduct of their day to day business affairs. Towards the end of the
session the instructor will assign one corporate groups from the top 100 list to each team to
prepare and make presentations for assessment in the next session.
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Learning Outcome:
The assessment will be to check the learning achieved by the student on the concept of
“responsible business management” and will include business practices and their alignment
with UN goals.
Required Reading:
Tata Code of Conduct:
http://www.tata.com/pdf/tcoc-booklet-2015.pdf
In this session students will apply and reflect on the various corporate governance policies,
ethical code of conduct or values adopted by the corporate group assigned to them by the
instructor. They are expected to highlight key aspects of the policy, identify the UN goals
that match the corporate policy and present any corporate failure or success of the policy or
visible action taken based on the stated policy. This will be an in-class presentation of the
team submission for an assessment of 5 marks.
Learning Outcome:
Students based on their performance in this assessment will be able to receive feedback on
their progress in the course.
In this session students understand that the implementation of ethics is the responsibility of
the top management. Even in the case of Walmart though the business is in South Africa,
Walmart takes on responsibility to implement their code of conduct. Students understand
through their document and FAQ’s the various aspects that a business faces on a day-to-day
basis and what is the required behavior.
Required Readings:
Desired Readings:
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Who’s Responsible? The Role Of Stakeholders In Promoting Ethical Business Practices,
BUSIDATE, 2017
To protect the interest of the stakeholder, enterprises are required to have whistleblower
policy. The understanding of this concept is essential for students to understand the
challenges of maintaining ethical systems and need to have systems to capture instances of
unethical human behavior and have redressal mechanisms.
Required Reading:
Chapter 12, Business Ethics: An Indian Perspective by A C Fernando, 6th edition, Pearson
Reliance Industires
http://www.ril.com/getattachment/c5c2d3f9-8a4d-4075-830f-33d9917d05b4/Vigil-Mechanism-and-
Whistle-Blower-Policy.aspx
Assessment Plan
PLGs Assessed
Component Marks out of 30
Details of assessment:
Component 1: Case Analysis ( 5 Marks): Each student will be assessed on his/ her class
participation in the case discussion. Class participation includes preparedness for each class;
meaningful contribution made in class discussion. This will be an ongoing assessment during
class delivery. The class participation will be assessed on the following criteria: Level of
engagement, listening skill, relevance of topic and preparation. The students are also required
to submit a case analysis and interpretation of 1500 words.
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The student will be presenting the research paper in a 15 minutes slot allocated to the group. Each
member of the group will be presenting some aspect of the paper. The students will be assessed on
content, body language and presentation style. This will be a group Assignment where students will
be presenting the Case Analysis and Interpretation. A group may consist of 4-5 members. Each
member needs to participate in the presentation and will be marked accordingly.
Assessment Rubrics
Rubric for Individual Submission based on Case:
Marks 1 2 3 4 5
Case Analysis Fails to demonstrate Shows no Shows some Some analysis Outstanding
understanding of case. understanding of under-standing and some analysis and
Unable to reproduce the case and is able of concepts. application of application of
case facts. to reproduce case concepts. concepts.
facts.
Marks 1 2 3 4 5
Knowledge & Fails to Shows a little Shows some or average Demonstrates Demonstrates
understanding demonstrate understanding understanding of outstanding outstanding
understanding of of concepts. concepts. understanding understanding of
concepts. of concepts. concepts and their
application.
Marks 1 2 3 4 5
Case Analysis Fails to demonstrate Shows no Shows some Some analysis and Outstanding
understanding of case. understanding of the under-standing some application analysis and
Unable to reproduce case and is able to of concepts. of concepts. application of
case facts. reproduce case concepts.
facts.
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Marks 1 2 3 4 5
Course Readings Fails to demonstrate Able to refer to Able to refer to Some application Excellent
concepts readings, even readings and of concepts and reference to
though unrelated to concepts related readings to the readings and
or refer to readings. the case. to the case. case. relates them
to the issues
in the case.
Assessment Map
This table shows main assessment methods which are used across module and its stages:
Assessment Map
Methods of Assessment
Module A1 A2 A3 A4 A5
Ethics in Management * * * *
Teaching Map
Teaching Map
Module T1 T2 T3 T4 T5 T6
Ethics in Management * * * *
T1- Lectures
T2- Seminars/Tutorials
T3- Live projects/presentations
T4- Case study
T5- Guest Lectures
T6- Industrial Visits
Curriculum Map
Programmed Learning Outcomes
Module L1 L2 L3 L4 L5 L6 L7 L8 L9
Ethics in Management * * * *
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(Taught and Assessed)
L4-Critical thinking and informed judgement leading to problem solving and decision
making skills.
L6- An understanding of disruptive and technological change and the ability to seek
innovative and entrepreneurial solutions.
L8- Demonstrate emotional intelligence and people’s skills in working in teams and with
people.
L9- Be cognizant of the impact of their individual and corporate actions on society, recognize
responsible and inclusive business practices and be sensitive to the social, economic and
environmental responsibilities of business.
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Required Readings
1. Chapter 1, Business Ethics: An Indian Business Ethics 17 Shared
Perspective by A C Fernando, 6th edition,
Pearson Publication
2. Why Ethical People Make Unethical Business Ethics 5 Shared
Choices, HBR, 2016
3. Chapter 2, Business Ethics: An Indian Business Ethics 19 Shared
Perspective by A C Fernando, 6th edition,
Pearson
4. The credibility gap in stakeholder Ethics 12 Shared
management: ethics and evidence of
relationship management, Construction
Management and Economics (June 2008)
26, 633–643, Taylor and Francis Publication
5. GENERAL DATA PROTECTION Data Privacy and Link Shared
REGULATION-GDPR Ethics
https://eugdprcompliant.com/
6. Chapter 3, Business Ethics: An Indian Business Ethics 11 Shared
Perspective by A C Fernando, 6th edition,
Pearson
7. Chapter 4, Business Ethics: An Indian Business Ethics 16 Shared
Perspective by A C Fernando, 6th edition,
Pearson
8. Ethical Dilemma at Workplace-A Case Ethical Dilemma 3 Shared
Study, International Journal of Business,
2016
9. Lazy Person’s guide to saving the world: Sustainable Link Shared
Development
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment
/takeaction/
10. UN Sustainable Development Goals Sustainability and Link Shared
Corporate
https://www.un.org/sustainabledevelopment Governanace
/sustainable-development-goals/
https://www.unglobalcompact.org/library/1
62
13. Chapter 8, Business Ethics: An Indian Business Ethics 22 Shared
Perspective by A C Fernando, 6th edition,
Pearson
14. EY on Corporate Governance: Corporate Link Shared
Governance
http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAsset
s/EY-sebi-clause-49-and-companies-act-13-
a-comparison/$FILE/EY-sebi-clause-49-
and-companies-act-13-a-comparison.pdf
15. Google Code of Conduct: Business Ethics Link Shared
https://abc.xyz/investor/other/google-code-
of-conduct.html
16. EY Companies Act 2013 and keeping pace Corporate Link Shared
with Board Governance: Governance
http://www.ey.com/Publication/vwLUAsset
s/EY-companies-act-13-keeping-pace-with-
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board-governance-evolution/$FILE/EY-
companies-act-13-keeping-pace-with-
board-governance-evolution.pdf
17. Airtel Report on corporate governance: Corporate Link Shared
http://www.airtel.in/airtel-annual-report- Governance
2014-
15/pdf/Statutory%20Reports/Report%20on
%20Corporate%20Governance.pdf
18. Walmart and Massmart South Africa: Corporate Link Shared
https://www.walmartethics.com/uploadedFil Governance
es/Content/Massmart_SA.pdf
20. Chapter 12, Business Ethics: An Indian Business Ethics 25 Shared
Perspective by A C Fernando, 6th edition,
Pearson
21. Infosys Whistleblower policy: Whistleblower policy Link Shared
https://www.infosys.com/investors/corporat
e-governance/Documents/whistleblower-
policy.pdf
22. Reliance Industires Whistleblower policy Link Shared
http://www.ril.com/getattachment/c5c2d3f9
-8a4d-4075-830f-33d9917d05b4/Vigil-
Mechanism-and-Whistle-Blower-
Policy.aspx
23. Financial Express Article: Whistleblower policy Link Shared
https://www.financialexpress.com/opinion/a
-good-whistleblower-policy-must-
encourage-employees-to-openly-and-
anonymously-report-concerns/1159041/
Total 130
Desired Readings
1. Corporate Ethics Isn’t About Rules: It’s Corporate Ethics 3 Shared
About Honesty, HBR, 2009
2. Corporate Ethics Can’t be Reduced to Corporate Ethics 5 Shared
Compliance, HBR, 2016
3. What Moral Heroes are Made of?, New Moral Values 3 Shared
York Times, June, 20018
4. 7-Eleven, Volkswagen cases show why we Corporate Ethics 3 Shared
should push back on 'corporate ethics', The
Conversation, October 12, 2015
5. Business Ethics and Business History: Business Ethics 12 Shared
Neglected Dimensions in Management
Education, British Journal of Management,
Vol. 13, 209–219 (2002)
6. Hierarchical control or individuals’ moral Business Ethics 15 Shared
autonomy? Addressing a fundamental
tension in the management of business
ethics, Business Ethics: A European Review
Volume 16 Number 1 January 2007
7. The care-of-self ethic with continual Business Ethics 15 Shared
reference to Socrates: towards ethical self-
management, Business Ethics: A European
Review, Volume 21 Number 4 October
2012
8. Understanding Ethical Behavior and Approaches and 5 Shared
Decision Making in Management: A Theories in Ethics
Behavioural Business Ethics Approach,
British Journal of Management, Vol. 22,
S1–S4 (2011)
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9. From Responsible Management to Responsible 26 Shared
Responsible Organizations: The Democratic Management
Principle for Managing Organizational
Ethics, Business and Society Review 106:4
353–378, 2001
10. Indian Companies Act 2013 Corporate Link Shared
Governance
http://www.mca.gov.in/Ministry/pdf/Com
paniesAct2013.pdf
Taking an integrity pledge:
https://pledge.cvc.nic.in/
11. Who’s Responsible? The Role Of Responsible 6 Shared
Stakeholders In Promoting Ethical Business Management
Practices, BUSIDATE, 2017
Total 93
*****End of Document*****
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