ASSIGNMENT SUBMISSION AND ASSESSMENT

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BMOM5203
ORGANISATION AND BUSINESS MANAGEMENT
SEPTEMBER 2016
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INSTRUCTIONS TO STUDENTS
1. This assignment contains question that is set in English.
2. Answer in English.
3. Learners are to submit assignment only in MsWord (.docx) format unless
specified otherwise. Please refrain from converting text / phrases into
picture format such as .gif / .jpeg / print screen / etc.
4. Download the language version of the assignment template concerned
from the myINSPIRE for preparation and submission of your assignment.
Your assignment should be typed using 12 point Times New Roman font
and 1.5 line spacing.
5. Your assignment should be between 3,000 words to 5,000 words
excluding references. The number of words should be shown at the end of
your assignment. Do not copy the assignment question and instructions
to your answer.
6. Submission of assignment:

Face-to-face Class Student:

You MUST submit a softcopy of your assignment online through
myINSPIRE and a hardcopy to your facilitator.

Online student:
You MUST submit a softcopy of your assignment via myINSPIRE and
another softcopy to the facilitator via e-mail.

7. You can submit your assignment ONCE only in a SINGLE file.

8. Your assignment must be submitted between 4th November 2016 until
6th November 2016.
9. Your assignment should be prepared individually. You should not copy
another persons assignment. You should also not plagiarise another
persons work as your own.
10.Please ensure that you keep the RECEIPT issued upon submisson of your
assignment as proof of submission. Your assignment is considered as NOT

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submitted if you fail to produce the submission receipt in any dispute

arises concerning assignment submission.
EVALUATION
This assignment accounts for 60% of the total marks for the course and shall
be assessed based on the Rubrics attached.
You would be given feedback on the assignment before the Final Semester
Examination commences.
PLAGIARISM: MARKS DEDUCTION
Warning: The submitted assignment will automatically undergo a similarity
check. If plagiarism is detected, marks would be deducted as follows:

No.

% Similarity Group

1
2
3
4

0 30
30.01 50
50.01 70
70.01 100

% of Mark
Deduction
0
5
10
100

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ASSIGNMENT QUESTION
PURPOSE
The purpose of this assignment is to enhance the learners ability to analyse
ethical issues based on the case study given and to provide suggestions to
overcome the issues.
REQUIREMENT
This is an individual assignment. Read the following case study carefully and
answer all the questions at the end of the case. Each question carries different
marks and the marks are indicated at the end of each question. Support your
answer by referring to at least 5 (FIVE) relevant journal articles or textbooks.
CASE STUDY
The State of Ethics at IBM
One advantage IBM has in meeting its standards for trust is that it is part of a
relatively trusted industry. In the Edelman Trust Barometer, an annual survey of
public attitudes towards a variety of institutions, people from around the world
rated the technology industry as the industry they most often trust to do what is
right mainly because they see a tech company as able to benefit society.
People are, however, concerned about data security and privacy.
IBM is addressing these issues. It has a set of policies aimed at building trust,
including a policy for business conduct and ethics and a policy for protecting
data privacy. The ethics policy states, It is IBM policy to conduct itself ethically
and lawfully in all matters and to maintain IBMs high standards of business
integrity. It puts employees on notice that there are consequences for unethical
conduct. IBMs policies call for fairness, equity, a commitment to quality and
compliance with laws, including employment and anti-corruption laws. It data
privacy laws call for employees to collect only relevant personal information,
keep it as accurate as possible and take measures to keep it secure among other
requirements.
Compliance with ethical standards is most likely when managers and employees
at all levels are committed to the standards. Thus, it should help IBM that its
strategy and culture changes under Sam Palmisano started with an all-employee
values jam. An outcome of that process was a statement of three values:
1. Dedication to every clients success.
2. Innovation that matters, for our company and the world.
3. Trust and personal responsibility in all relationships.
These statements appear on the companys website, where any employee or
concerned citizen can be reminded of what IBM is striving to achieve.

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Even with a formal statement and consequences for behaviour, maintaining

ethical conduct is a challenge, especially for a global company, because
employees encounter differences in standards and practices in other countries.
IBM was charged by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) with bribing
government officials in South Korea and China over more than 10 years. In its
settlement, IBM must file monthly reports with the SEC to demonstrate it effort to
avoid future violations of the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act. Living up to its own
code of ethics will require continued vigilance at IBM.
Source: Bateman, T.S and Snell, S.A (2015). Management: Leading and Collaborating in a
Competitive World (11th Ed), McGraw-Hill. pp167.

QUESTIONS

a. Discuss the ethical system in the business environment.

(10)

b. Evaluate how the ethical decision making process takes place. Support your
evaluation with relevant examples.

(15)

c. Beside the measures described in the case, examine how IBM can promote
ethical conduct by its employees.
(15)
d. Choose a situation where a company or employees need moral courage to
forgo bribery at the risk of losing a big sale. Analyse the situation.
(20)
(TOTAL: 60 MARKS)
Marks Distribution (60%) :
Marking Dimension

Introduction on the main issue highlighted in the

case.
Evaluation on ethical decision making process with
examples.

10
15

Examine on how IBM can promote ethical conduct.

15

Analysis on company or employees dilemma to

forgo bribery at a risk of losing a big sale.

20

Total

60
%