Futuretek sells high-tech computer chips and software to smartphone manufacturer
ID: 419534 • Letter: F
Question
Futuretek sells high-tech computer chips and software to smartphone manufacturers worldwide. Futuretek maintains two software databases: one containing Futuretek's customer list with nonpublic contact information for key personnel, and the other containing customer purchasing trends. The information in the two databases is available for employees to view and use in connection with their job duties.
Dana is a computer programmer for Futuretek. Dana plans to run her own company one day and design and sell her own computer chips to smartphone companies. As an employee, she has access to the two databases containing Futuretek's key purchaser and purchasing trends information.
Dana decides to leave Futuretek and start her own computer chip business. Before she leaves, she makes a copy of the two databases on a portable hard drive. Dana uses the information to contact Futuretek's customers and offer them cheaper, but comparable, computer chips manufactured by Dana's new company, SmartChip.
Futuretek becomes aware of Dana's actions and asks you, the chief operations officer, for advice and recommendations on what to do.
Assume Futuretek sues SmartChip, and Futuretek wins the lawsuit. Recommend ethical policies that SmartChip can put into place to prevent future legal claims and litigation against the company.? (The question says recomment ethical polices that SmartChip can put in place). My question is why would the COO of Futuretek, care about policies for SmartChip, SmartChip will be out of buisness once Futuretek gets done with the criminal charges against SmartChip... Please advise.
Explanation / Answer
Elements of ethical policies to prevent the future legal claims and litigations against the company.
(a) Non violation of patent laws. i.e. claiming the products with someone else's copyright / patent as own.
(b) Understanding of the laws of the land and ensure the compliance.
(c) Establishing a system of checks and balances.
(d) Monitoring of the ongoing activities.
(e) Establishing standards for employee conduct and performance.
(f) Established systems for handling and responding to employee grievances.
(g) Protocols for protecting confidential information.
(h) Well documented disaster recovery / emergency management plan.
(i) Organisation wide communication strategy.
The COO needs inputs regarding the ethical policies for Smartchip, because he also runs the similar company and the issues faced by both companies are common in nature. By developing such policy, he is safeguarding the intersts of his organisation.
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