As the chief executive officer of a Silicon Valley software company, you become

Question

As the chief executive officer of a Silicon Valley software company, you become aware that your chief competitor is working on a new computer program that will revolutionize interactive voice-based applications. You know that if you can find out about several key functions relating to your competitor’s program, your own programmers can duplicate the function of the program without actually copying its code.

Answer each of the follwoing questions in depth with your thoughts and opinion.

Is it ethical for you to hire away from your competitor a secretary who may have overheard something that will be useful to you?

Is it ethical for you to send an attractive employee to a bar where your competitor’s programmers hang out in the hope of getting the information you want?

Is it ethical for you to have someone hunt up and read everything published by your competitor’s programmers in case they may have let slip something that will help you?

The Legal and Regulatory Environment of Business (Page 59).

Explanation / Answer

1.) According to me this is not ethical to hire a secretary from the competitor just only to get some information from her. Making use of her talent, skills and knowledge is different thing but one should not hire someone to extract information only.

2.) No, this is also not ethical. As again this is done again with the only motive of extracting the information.

3.) There is nothing wrong in doing so, as you are not using any illegal ways to know about the product

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