The Challenge of Ethics in Multinational Corporations

Good behavior is not a given either for individuals or organizations. A desire to be honest may clash with a desire to be rich and famous, and some companies have maximum financial gain as their only objective.

Per Haldbo, who worked for IBM in several countries and in different business environments, will explain how one can improve one’s behavior in business, and avoid negative results due to one’s spontaneous reactions. He will also refer to maxims that will guide an individual to the most helpful behavior among possible options, and he will discuss ethical behavior at management and corporate levels as well.

His framework of recommendations for good business behavior is documented in his book: “Gold Nuggets Galore – how to behave in business”, Copenhagen Business School Press 2005.

Program:

Following the lecture, CBS Executive will be offering light refreshments.

About Per Haldbo, former Vice President IBM Denmark

Per Haldbo graduated from the Technical University of Denmark in 1962 and following 2 years in the Military, he earned a Master’s Degree from the University of California, Berkeley in 1965. He joined IBM in Oakland, California in 1964 and moved to his native Denmark in 1965, where he quickly became a manager and participated in IBM’s fantastic growth in the 60s and 70s.

He has had most of his career in Marketing where he has been responsible for customers from the Government, the Financial and the Telecommunication sector. Among his achievement has been the successful implementation of major IT systems for these customers. He worked for 2 years in the UK in Product Development, and for 5 years, he was Chairman of the Nordic Steering Committee responsible for joint projects for IBM in the Nordic Countries.

His more recent responsibilities have included Director of Human Resources IBM Denmark (responsible for company restructuring), Business Development, Communications and Organization. He then became Director of Operations IBM SEMEA (Southern Europe Middle East and Africa) with base in Milan, Italy overseeing IBM’s operations in a number of countries and working to identify new investment projects.

Per Haldbo was from 1991-94 Member of the board of the Danish IT Industry Association and the Confederation of Danish Industries, General Assembly. 1993-95 Chairman of the Board of Damgaard International.

Per Haldbo is the author of the book “Gold Nuggets Galore – how to behave in business”,

Copenhagen Business School Press, 2005. The book includes advice on management with an ethical emphasis, and gives many examples on how to support the human ambition to perform well, achieve goals and be compensated financially or otherwise. 

Guest lecturer at INSEAD 2006.