Code: 14E00301

MBA III Semester Supplementary Examinations May 2018

BUSINESS ETHICS & CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
(For students admitted in 2014, 2015 & 2016 only)
Time: 3 hours Max. Marks: 60
All questions carry equal marks
*****
SECTION - A
Answer the following: (05 X 10 = 50 Marks)
1 What do you mean by business ethics? Explain the functions of business ethics.
OR
2 Critically examine any two unethical business practices happened in Indian corporate world in the recent
past.

3 How can ethics and social responsibility be integrated into a firm’s marketing strategy? Elaborate.
OR
4 Discuss any four specific ways in which HR management can influence ethical behavior at work.

5 Write a brief note on any five corporate financial frauds reported in India.
OR
6 Explain how the internet, challenges the protection of individual privacy and intellectual property.

7 Define corporate governance. Explain the principles of corporate governance.

OR
8 Give a note on the future of corporate governance in India.

9 In order to protect the long-term interests of the corporation and external investors, two important functions
merit special attention. They are ‘oversight of strategy’ and ‘oversight of financial reporting and legal
compliance’. In this respect the audit committee holds the key to fulfilling the Boards oversight function.
Elucidate.
OR
10 Distinguish between ‘duty of loyalty’ and ‘duty of care’ with reference to audit committee.

SECTION – B
(Compulsory Question) 01 X 10 = 10 Marks
11 Case study:
Satyam Computers Limited (Satyam) was a leading global business and information technology (IT)
services company, delivering consulting, systems integration and outsourcing solutions. It began its journey
with 20 employees in 1987 and grew to become the fourth-largest software company in India with a market
capitalization of Rs.15,262 crs. Over a period of two decades, the company built a highly skilled employee
base of 53,000 and was on attractive IT outsourcing destination for a number of multinational companies
across the world. It was given the Golden Peacock Global Award twice for its excellence in corporate
governance in 2002 and 2008 by the world council for corporate governance. The golden peacock global
award was one among the several honours received by Satyam for corporate governance. It rated the
company with best corporate governance practices by investor relations global rankings (IRGR) in 2006 and
2007 in the investigation, Ramalinga Raju (Raju) founder and chairman of Satyam confessed fudging the
accounts books of the company to the tune of Rs.7,800 core. After the government changed the
management, Satyam was taken over by Tech Mahindra (TechM) and was renamed Mahindra Satyam
(Msat). It addressed the customers and employees’ issues very effectively; yet, even after a year of the
takeover, Msat continues to face a hoard of legal and financial hurdles in stabilizing the business. Lack of
re-instated financial statements has been posing tough situations for Msat to bag contracts. The Satyam
saga poses a question whether the government should bailout such companies when they reach a dead
end due to financial bankruptcy or moral bankruptcy resulting in financial bankruptcy endangering the very
economic and corporate image.
Questions:
(a) What are the ethical violations of corporate governance in the case?
(b) How can you prevent these kinds of ethical violations, suggest some code to stop these kinds of practices?
*****
Code: 14E00301

MBA III Semester Regular & Supplementary Examinations November/December 2017

BUSINESS ETHICS & CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
(For students admitted in 2014, 2015 & 2016 only)
Time: 3 hours Max. Marks: 60
PART – A
(Answer the following: (05 X 10 = 50 Marks)
*****
1 List the three basic ethical theories with an example of each in practice. Identify the limitations of each
theory.
OR
2 State the difficulties involved in ethical decision making. Bring out the guidelines which help ethical
decision making.

3 Discuss the types of harmful impact that marketing practices can have on competition and the associated
problems.
OR
4 Provide two examples of workplace behavior that would probably be unethical but legal and three that
would probably be illegal but ethical.

5 What do you mean by insider trading? Explain the role of SEBI in controlling insider trading.
OR
6 Identify and describe the main issues that the internet and digital content have brought to the wider
concerns of protecting intellectual property.

7 What are the objectives of corporate governance? Explain the emergence of corporate governance in
India.
OR
8 What is the philosophy behind the term corporate governance? Elaborate.

9 In achieving the goal of corporate transparency, write notes on the role of: (i) Stakeholders. (ii) The board
of directors.
OR
10 How are corporate governance and corporate social responsibility related to each other? Discuss with
particular reference to Indian companies.

PART – B
(Compulsory question, 01 X 10 = 10 Marks)
11 Case Study:
Is it possible for a retailer to become too large and powerful? This is a question some people have been
asking about Wal-Mart, the world’s largest retail company and about Tesco in the UK. Wal-Mart has
aggressively pursued its low-price mantra, bringing better value to consumers and forcing suppliers to
innovate. A possible concern is that Wal-Mart has become so big that it can do virtually anything it wants in
some areas. Obviously this kind of power has enormous ethical and social implications. Some suppliers
suggest that Wal-Mart is able to dictate every aspect of its operations, from product design to pricing, in its
efforts to maximize savings for customers. Some suppliers claim they have been forced to reduce staff
numbers and even locate to lower-cost regions, in order to meet the biggest retailer’s margin demands.
Their fear is that if they hesitate to comply, they risk losing their most lucrative outlet and will find their
products quickly replaced by a competitor’s on Wal-Mart’s shelves. For the customer, seeking keen prices
and great choice, there are obvious benefits to Wal-Mart’s approach, but perhaps there is also a cost.
Questions:
(a) What are some of the ethical and social implications of the power Wal-Mart and other huge retailers are
able to exert?
(b) What action can a company like Wal-Mart take to manage these issues?
*****
Code: 14E00301

MBA III Semester Supplementary Examinations May 2017

BUSINESS ETHICS & CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
(For students admitted in 2014 & 2015 only)
Time: 3 hours Max. Marks: 60
All questions carry equal marks
*****
SECTION – A
Answer the following: (05 X 10 = 50 Marks)
1 What do you understand by the term business ethics? What are the factors that lead to unethical
practices?
OR
2 Briefly explain the social contract theory and legitimacy theory.

3 Discuss the framework for protecting the interests of the investors in India.
OR
4 What are the sources of unethical practices in the application of computer technology in organizations?
Suggest measures to introduce ethical practices in computer application and management.

5 Explain the appointment, duties and responsibilities of directors of a company.

OR
6 What do you understand by intellectual property? What are the ethical issues related to intellectual
property?

7 Discuss the unethical practices in the different functional areas of business.

OR
8 Explain financial implications of corporate social responsibility.

9 How does corporate social responsibility contribute towards social development? Take Indian corporate as
case and explain.
OR
10 Discuss philosophies and theories of corporate governance.

SECTION – B
(Compulsory Question) 01 X 10 = 10 Marks
11 Case study:
Radha hails from an-educated family. She has a postgraduate degree and well-trained in a dress-making
company. She had undergone training in the US for about six months in designing cloths. Styles is a large
dress-making company in Bhopal and Radha has joined this company as a chief designer.
Radha has to direct the activities of 12 designers. The job of the designers requires a certain amount of
training so as to develop attractive designs. The chief designer has to approve the designs of the
designers.
Radha’s group is composed of all females ranging from 20 to 50 years of age. Most of them have high
school education with a certificate in dress-designing. Radha will be replacing a long time employee
Vatsala who is retiring after 28 years with styles. Radha expected no problems from her employees expect
possibly from Mrs. Vimala who is in her fifties and is known as the ‘grand old lady’. Radha understood that
without Vimals’s support, her job would be difficult.
Questions:
(a) Suggest strategies for Radha to pursue.
(b) What should Radha do if Vimal revolts along with her colleagues?
*****
Code: 14E00301

MBA III Semester Regular & Supplementary Examinations November/December 2016

BUSINESS ETHICS & CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
(For students admitted in 2014 & 2015 only)
Time: 3 hours Max. Marks: 60
PART – A
(Answer the following: (05 X 10 = 50 Marks)
*****
1 Define business ethics and discuss the major ethical issues that the business facing Now a days
with suitable examples.
OR
2 Explain the steps in social audit and various obstacles in implementing social audit.

3 What are the ethical issues involved in selection process?

OR
4 “Corporate governance is of vital significance for the success of any organization”. Comment on
the statement.

5 What are the major issues involved in false advertising?

OR
6 Elaborate on financial frauds and measures to overcome them.

7 Explain the threats faced by intellectual property rights. How do you suggest ways to protect them?
OR
8 Explain what role do the director play in safeguarding the interest of stakeholders.

9 Discuss the theories of corporate governance.

OR
10 Discuss the ethical issues involved in training and appraising the employees in an organization.

PART – B
(Compulsory question, 01 X 10 = 10 Marks)

11 Case study:
Kamala knew that something was wrong when Jagan got back at his desk. Jagan had been with
Akash & Akash for twenty years. He was sincere, hardworking and also a strong supporter of the
company. Kamala joined this accounting firm one year ago, after passing her C.A. exam.
One morning, Jagan was moody and upset. When Kamala was wishing him a good morning, Jagan
said: “Look here, Kamala, I have been denied a senior position. I am working 60 hours per week for
the last 20 years. This company wants me to wait for some more time”. Kamala asked him, “What
are you going to do?”. Jagan replied, “I don’t know”.
Later on, Jagan began behaving in different way. He used to come late and go early. On a Sunday,
when Kamala went to office to collect some papers, she noticed Jagan was copying some software
used on auditing and consulting. Jagan began to do some consulting work for small firms. He also
said that long-term service was not recognized in that company. Kamala was disturbed by this even.
Questions:
(a) What are the ethical issues in this case?
(b) Do you have some suggestions for this company?

*****
Code: 14E00301

MBA III Semester Regular Examinations January 2016

BUSINESS ETHICS & CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
(For students admitted in 2014 only)

Time: 3 hours Max. Marks: 60

All questions carry equal marks
*****
SECTION – A
Answer the following: (05 X 10 = 50 Marks)
1 Define business ethics. Explain its basic concept and ground rules.
OR
2 What is meant by ethical dilemma? Explain various steps to overcome ethical dilemma.

3 Explain about ethical issues in advertising with examples.

OR
4 Explain role and importance of ethics in performance appraisal.

5 What is meant by cyber crime? How is it in India? Explain by taking recent issues.
OR
6 What is meant by combating frauds? Explain various steps to overcome it through ethics.

7 What is corporate governance? Explain its purpose and importance in Stakeholder’s point of view.
OR
8 Explain theories and philosophies in corporate governance.

9 Define independence director. Explain their duties and responsibilities.

OR
10 Explain the role of audit committee and who are the members in it?

SECTION – B
(Compulsory Question) 01 X 10 = 10 Marks
11 Case study:
A few years ago the US department of defense charged that national semi conductor has sold the
department computer parts without testing them properly and then had falsified its records in order to hide the
fraud. The computer parts were installed in chips, planes, weapons and nuclear bombs around the world and
so, could no longer be tracked down. An official of the department of defense was quoted as saying that if a
component was defective and malfunctioned, we’re talking about lives. You could have a missile that would
end up in Cleveland instead of the intended target.
Although national semi conductor was indicated and find for the crime as a corporation, no individuals
within the company were ever charged with any crimes in the case. The department of defense objected that
since ‘a corporation acts only through its employees and officers’, the employees and managers who make
up the company and who participated in the crime should have been hold responsible for it. National sent
conductor’s chairman felt differently “we totally disagree with the defense department proposal who have
repeatedly stated that we accept responsibility as a company (only) and we steadfastly continue to stand by
that statement”. According to the chairman the corporation and not its members was responsible for these
criminal acts.
Questions:
(a) Who is right in this dispute, explain your answer?
(b) What are the practical consequences of accepting the position of the department of defense? In light of these
practical consequences which position do you think the society should adopt.

*****