Proctor And Gamble Goes Dumpster Diving Essay
Case 5.3 Proctor and Gamble Goes Dumpster Diving
By Anne Marie Dutkovic
Business Ethics – BUS 290-013016
February 5, 2010
The case of Proctor & Gamble and Unilever provides a perfect example of the controversial method of using dumpster diving to obtain confidential information on a corporate rival. Dumpster diving is when you shift through rubbish to collect confidential information. (Hils-Cosgrove, 2001) This method is becoming increasingly popular in corporate America as a way of gaining competitive intelligence on the opponent. However many business analysts argue whether this method is morally or ethically correct. Dumpster diving is not an ethical way of acquiring information from a competitor. Legally, if someone is caught dumpster diving on private property they could be arrested for trespassing. However, if the dumpster is found on …show more content…
P&G brought the situation to Unilever’s attention before any action had been taken with the confidential information that was obtained. Marketing plans or developmental hair care formulas were unaffected by the incident and Unilever would have not even realized the information had fallen into their competitor’s hands had P&G not come clean. When compensation is paid to the owner of an automobile after an accident, it is based on proven damage done to the car and documented medical injuries. Unilever had no disruptions to sales or development of products. There business had been relatively unaffected. P&G had already provided retributive justice by punishing the wrong doers in the situation, which were the three executives involved with hiring the contractor that executed the dumpster diving operation to obtain confidential information. To agree to all of Unilever’s compensation requests would discourage others in the business world from be so honest and coming
By Anne Marie Dutkovic
Business Ethics – BUS 290-013016
February 5, 2010
The case of Proctor & Gamble and Unilever provides a perfect example of the controversial method of using dumpster diving to obtain confidential information on a corporate rival. Dumpster diving is when you shift through rubbish to collect confidential information. (Hils-Cosgrove, 2001) This method is becoming increasingly popular in corporate America as a way of gaining competitive intelligence on the opponent. However many business analysts argue whether this method is morally or ethically correct. Dumpster diving is not an ethical way of acquiring information from a competitor. Legally, if someone is caught dumpster diving on private property they could be arrested for trespassing. However, if the dumpster is found on …show more content…
P&G brought the situation to Unilever’s attention before any action had been taken with the confidential information that was obtained. Marketing plans or developmental hair care formulas were unaffected by the incident and Unilever would have not even realized the information had fallen into their competitor’s hands had P&G not come clean. When compensation is paid to the owner of an automobile after an accident, it is based on proven damage done to the car and documented medical injuries. Unilever had no disruptions to sales or development of products. There business had been relatively unaffected. P&G had already provided retributive justice by punishing the wrong doers in the situation, which were the three executives involved with hiring the contractor that executed the dumpster diving operation to obtain confidential information. To agree to all of Unilever’s compensation requests would discourage others in the business world from be so honest and coming