Please use this identifier to cite or link to this item: https://hdl.handle.net/10419/117904 
Year of Publication: 
2004
Series/Report no.: 
Nota di Lavoro No. 28.2004
Publisher: 
Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei (FEEM), Milano
Abstract: 
As businesses span the globe, multinational and translational companies conduct their business operations in foreign settings, especially in developing countries and in countries in transition from Communist regimes. This poses new challenges to expatriate managers and to home-based staff in charge of foreign affiliates. They are called on to determine the right versus the wrong, the good versus the bad over international business transactions, negotiations, advertisement and supply chain management taking place in foreign settings. As most of the time, businessmen lack a certain degree of cultural awareness and knowledge, managing ethical diversity over cross-country business transactions ends up to be a major challenge for business people. This paper's aim is to provide an introductory sketch on the cross-country issues facing international business, through detailed description of their level of disclosure (Political, Corporate, Internal) diverse areas and connected situations. The pros and cons of the traditional paradigms used by business people in dealing with such circumstances (Universalism and Relativism) will be weighed. In addition examples of “irresponsible business practices” resulting from cultural misunderstandings, ignorance and lack of contextualization on the behalf of business people will be provided.
Subjects: 
Business ethics
Cross-country ethical dilemmas
Corporate Social responsibility
Diversity
JEL: 
M1
M14
Document Type: 
Working Paper

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