ASSIGNMENT ON

The learning derived from the interview of N R Narayana Murthy published in Harvard Business Review of November 2011

Submitted to : Prof. MANAS CHAKRABOTY

BY: SURAJ KUMAR MODI ENROLLMENT NO: 030301013

Why Dont We Try To Be Indias Most Respected Company? which was an interview by HBRs Anand Raman with N. R. Narayana Murthy who was a founder of the Indian company Infosys and its most recent Chairman of the Board. I often write about Tone at the Top, noting that not only does the US Department of Justice (DOJ) mandate it as one of the requirements for a best practices compliance program, but in reality it is the only way to set the tone for a corporations ethics and compliance program. Murthy said that he was one of the original founders of Infosys and his vision of the company included the question Why dont we aim to be Indias most respected company? To obtain the respect of governments, this meant to never violate any laws. To help to achieve this goal, the founders agreed to create a values-based organization. Murthy said that he believed that business would come if the company was respected. He said that while it took some time for this ethical corporate reputation to take hold, eventually it did. One of the results was that corrupt government officials stopped asking the company for favors. This ethical reputation also led to the generation of greater and greater business because our clients entrusted us with increasingly bigger projects. He said that you have to learn to stand by your principles; its wrong to believe that you have to bribe your way to success. Murthy said that Infosys managers are expected to lead by example, explaining that Leaders have to be careful not to create dissonance between what they say and do. One example he discussed was the consistency of discipline. He cited the examples of board members, who paid heavy fines for what could be considered minor infractions. Murthy believes that Setting an example at the top is the best way to instill confidence throughout the company.

Business Ethics -Role and Importance

1. Stop business malpractices: Some unscrupulous businessmen do business malpractices by indulging in unfair trade practices like black-marketing, artificial high pricing, adulteration, cheating in weights and measures, selling of duplicate and harmful products, hoarding, etc. 2. Survival of business: Business ethics are mandatory for the survival of business. The businessmen who do not follow it will have short-term success, but they will fail in the long run. This is because they can cheat a consumer only once. After that, the consumer will not buy goods from that businessman 3. Improve customers' confidence: Business ethics are needed to improve the customers' confidence about the quality, quantity, price, etc. of the products. The customers have more trust and confidence in the businessmen who follow ethical rules. They feel that such businessmen will not cheat them.

4. Develops good relations: Business ethics are important to develop good and friendly relations between business and society. This will result in a regular supply of good quality goods and services at low prices to the society. It will also result in profits for the businesses thereby resulting in growth of economy. 5. Creates good image: Business ethics create a good image for the business and businessmen. If the businessmen follow all ethical rules, then they will be fully accepted and not criticised by the society. The society will always support those businessmen who follow this necessary code of conduct. 6. Consumer satisfaction: Today, the consumer is the king of the market. Any business simply cannot survive without the consumers. Therefore, the main aim or objective of business is consumer satisfaction. If the consumer is not satisfied, then there will be no sales and thus no profits too. Consumer will be satisfied only if the business follows all the business ethics, and hence are highly needed.