Ethics in Action

     According to the text( Exploring Management by Schermerhorn), Ethical dilemma is a situation that , although offering potential benefit or gain, is also unenthical.  Not long ago, bribery was still accepted in an advance economy and could be claim in a tax return.  Ethics is very broad and assume different meaning as we move across cultures.  For that reason, it is sometimes a complex and complicated issue to comprehend.  In that light, the conduct of Mr. Jayaswal and Mr. Dadra was not an isolated practice but a practice that overtime has become accepted in the society as a way of doing business.  It is referred to in the article as crony capitalism.
     Crony capitalism is a system were elected officials in the government skew government contracts to benefit their cronies, it might be friends, relatives or business associates.  Ironically, these cronies most times are not the best fit to execute the contract.  Crony capitalism in general is unethical because it encourages a system whereby some members of the citizenry are excluded from the process.  In such a system where government picks winners and losers is said to be against the principles of free market that encourages competition and open system.  free market in the long run straightens the fundamentals of an economy because badly position organizations eventually die off leaving the well postioned and visionary organizations that are ready to take risk and innovate.  On the other hand, a system that do not encourage competition tend to corrode and weaken the economy overtime.  But sometimes, individuals or businesses engage in this practices in other to operate.  It is an ethical dilemma, because you are doom if you do and you are doom if you do not.
     But most times these individuals or businesses engage in such unethical practices base purely on individual interest and self gain ( individualism).  Interest motivated by greed and a quest for riches.  According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary,Individualism is define as the conception that all values, rights, and duties originate in individuals.  The means to the end may not be justified, as long as the end is achieved is the basis of this reasoning.  It is obvious that the gains from such acts of Mr. Jayaswal is short-term and self-fulfilling.  Conversely, it destroys the spirit of free market that promote growth, investment and innovation.
     Corruption is widespread in most part of the world.  However it is so entrench in some system that is has become an acceptable practice.  As I mention in my opening paragraph that bribery was once accepted by a developed economy does not make it ethical.  I have the confidence that corruption can be reduce in India.  According to Chetan Agrawal in his paper titled Right to Information: A tool for Combating Corruption In India, found that that the Right To Information Act passed by the India parliament in 2005 is a step in the right direction in combating corruption in India.  And also has succeeded in exposing corruption.

Agrawal C. Right to Information: A Tool for Combating Corruption in India. Journal Of Management & Public Policy [serial online]. June 2012;3(2):26-38. Available from: Business Source Complete, Ipswich, MA. Accessed September 30, 2012.

Zara International: Fashion at the Speed of Light

   The apparel industry is among the top most competitive industry.  The reason being that for companies to survive, it should be ready to be constantly aware of new trend in the industry.  Also, to be able to attract investors, companies should be able to prove that they can cut cost and maximize profit.
   Zara became a leader in the industry through its cutting edge strategy and innovative business model.  Through aggressive adaptation to new trend and understanding of the customers perception, Zara has been able to position itself above it's competitor like Gap and H&M in gaining more market share in the industry.In an article in the Canadian business, by Bryan Borzykowski, wrote that according to Don Huber, lead manager on the Franklin world Growth Fund, that the reason for Zara success lies in it's unique business model.  He added that the company does several things other retailers  don't do.
   Through the years,  it is evident in the success of the company that it has been able to mobilize and motivate highly competent employees and these employees has the responsibility of keeping up with the latest fashion trend.  Also these professionals are responsible that products get to the customers in the shortest amount of time.  The recruitement of highly skilled workers and in combination of having total control from the procurement of raw materials, design, production, distribution and retail which is a form of classical management approach, has given Zara competetive edge in this volitile industry.
   The genius behind Zara business model is not to be involve in the generic way of doing business, but rather to try new approaches or combination of approaches that will best give optimal customer service.  Subsequently, Zara has employ methods from inducing artificial scarcity of their product, thereby having more sells to using advance technology which help to monitor inventory in all their stores all over the world, which in turn help to avoid oversupply or undersupply of their product.
   Given the success of Zara in the apparel industry, it is undoubtedly obvious that they have build into their model an extensive contigency and analytic approach in the running of the business.  In a New York Times article titled A Rival to Gap That Operates Like Dell, David Oliver, a principal at Kurt Salmon Associates, a retailing-industry consulting firm, said of Zara '' The question going forward is: how durable is the model as it gets bigger and goes internationa?''