Journal of Accounting and Management Information Systems (JAMIS)


Conflicts of interest in business: A review of the concept

Vol. 16, No. 4/2017 ,   p472..489

Author(s):  
Voicu D. Dragomir


Keywords:   codes of ethics, conflicts of interest, corruption, corporate conduct

Abstract:   All companies admit in their codes of conduct that conflicts of interest (CIs) are a threat to their efficiency, integrity and reputation. Except for insider trading, definitions of CIs are strictly particular to each business and publicly expressed through their codes of ethics. I propose an interpretative analysis of what is understood by conflict of interest in the codes of ethics of the world’s ten largest companies, along with a comprehensive review of CIs in several sections: employment, contracting, corporate assets, insider trading and personal investments, competitors, and corporate image. The present paper offers solutions to avoid or resolve CIs in a business context, by combining economic preference with the psychological cognitivist view of self-interest. The conclusion is that a code of ethics and relevant training are protective measures for a company wishing to convince its employees that they are better off not entering CIs.

Download:   http://online-cig.ase.ro/jcig/art/16_4_3.pdf

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