Cross-Cultural Management Essay: Bribery and Ethical Decision-Making

This essay explores the ethical considerations of bribery within the context of cross-cultural management, using the case of Brett Jones in Tanzania as a focal point. It defines bribery and its unethical nature, contrasting it with situations where it might be considered acceptable under the utilitarian theory, which emphasizes the greatest good for the greatest number of people. The essay examines how bribery can influence decision-making, affect Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) activities, and impact a company's organizational culture. The case of Brett Jones, who adapted to Tanzanian business practices, highlights the conflict between local customs and the ethical standards of his American-based company, Hydro Generation. The essay references key academic sources to support its arguments, concluding that bribery's ethical implications are directly linked to an individual's ethical behavior and the application of ethical theories.

Running Head: CROSS CULTURAL MANAGEMENT
Cross Cultural Management
Essay
System04104
3/8/2020

CROSS CULTURAL MANAGEMENT
1
Bribery and Ethics
Bribery is common thing in business world because it is a part of corruption. Bribery can be
generally defined as the offers, which influence the decisions of a decision maker or persuade
them to take biased decisions (Browaeys, 2015). However, bribery is generally an unethical
behaviour that is against the moral behaviour of a person and influenced the person to take
the right decision and in appropriate manner but in some cases it might be essential to offer
something in favour of mass number of people.
The ‘utilitarian theory’ of ethics that is related to greatest good for the greatest number of
people’ suggests that if a person accept the offering of another person for the greater good of
the other people then it cannot be said that bribery will be unethical for the people (Sampath,
Gardberg, and Rahman, 2018). However, if bribery is against the welfare or against the will
of numbers of people then it can be said that bribery is a corruption. It has been seen that in
modern time people give bribe to other people in form of gifts, hamper, and food trick
(Cameron and Quinn, 2011). In the case of Tanzanian, where the case of Brett Jones is
described that how Jones hired a specialist having knowledge about the African culture. The
step was beneficial for the entire company. Paying extra money for an act, which is
favourable for the company is normal in Tanzania but it is against the business norms of
America. However, here the utilitarian theory of ethics said that if the giving extra money
will be beneficial for the entire company, then it would not be considered as unethical
practice.
In conclusion, as bribery directed related with ethical behaviour of person, the theories and
concept of ethics also apply on it. It has been seen that bribery also affects the CSR activities

CROSS CULTURAL MANAGEMENT
2
of a company because the authorities who are responsible for CSR accept the bribe to
unethical practice and involve in corruption.

CROSS CULTURAL MANAGEMENT
3
References
Browaeys, M. J. (2015) Understanding cross-cultural management. 3rd edition. London, UK:
Pearson education.
Cameron, K. S. and Quinn, R. E. (2011) Diagnosing and changing organizational culture:
Based on the competing values framework.3rd edition. New Jersey, United States: John Wiley
& Sons.
Sampath, V. S., Gardberg, N. A. and Rahman, N. (2018) Corporate reputation’s invisible
hand: Bribery, rational choice, and market penalties. Journal of Business Ethics, 151(3),
pp.743-760.