Page 4 - Wells Fargo Bank (C) Teaching Note

Questions
Objectives

“Power tends to corrupt and absolute power
corrupts absolutely”

Lord Acton, 1887

Objectives

Ethical behaviour is an ideal that many companies

propound in their literature and embed in their mission

and value statements. But, often this is simply

camouflage when the individual is confronted with a

decision on whether to act in an ethical manner or cheat,

lie or steal.

Actions have consequences! The small first step on the
road to unethical behaviour is often also the first in a

domino effect where the consequences become more

severe as each domino falls.

The objectives here are to examine the circumstances

that lead to the actions that were taken by, in particular,

the strategic leadership of the company and, secondly to

appreciate that mechanisms to counter unethical

behaviour are, even when entrenched in the operating

procedures of the organisation, often eroded when

unchecked, excessive power is exercised.