Topic: Business Ethics

Case study : Branscombe Co

Branscombe Co has been supplying and fitting premium bathrooms and kitchen in hotel chains throughout Effland for the past 20 years. The company started as a small family business, but because of the rapid growth it experienced and an associated need for additional capital, it was recently listed on the national stock exchange via an initial public offering.

To remain fully compliant with the Effland corporate governance code, the board established audit, remuneration and nomination committees which were solely populated by independent non-executive directors. However, it did not consider it necessary to create a separate risk committee because the board believed that the remit of the audit committee include all aspects of risk management policy. This explanation was formally submitted to the shareholders at Branscombe Cos first general meeting, and the shareholders agreed with the boards proposal.

As part of its expansion strategy, the board of Branscombe Co decided it needed to enter overseas markets, and in particular the developing country of Geeland. The reason that Geeland was selected as a suitable market was because it had experienced rapid economic growth and domestic prosperity following the discovery of rich, offshore mineral deposits. Unfortunately, this small island nation has never enjoyed stable democratic environment and is notorious for corrupt business practices, with customs officials regularly demanding bribes from both importers and exporters. As a result, Geeland has a poor international credit rating. In order to attract both domestic and foreign inward investment, the government of Geeland operates with very low levels of indirect tax, which has stimulated the islands tourist industry and led in turn to a significant increase in hotel buildings.

Following a successful tendering exercise, Branscombe Co was awarded the contract to supply all of the bathroom equipment for a 200-room hotel, currently under construction in a remote area of the island. The total value of the supply contract amounted to 1,800,000 Geeland dollars and it was to be paid in three equal instalments as the bathrooms were delivered to the hotel. The contract assigns responsibility of shipping the goods the 3,000Kms from Effland to the island solely with Branscombe Co, and no payment will be made until an agreed volume of goods clears Geeland customs. A further problem is that the Geeland dollar is quite volatile, but recently it has been weakening against the Effland dollar. As all contract payments are to be made in Geeland currency, Branscombe Co is exposed to foreign exchange risks.

The many contract-related issues amount to significant risks to Branscombe Co, requiring effective management if the supply contract is to be a success and contribute to the companys ambitious growth targets.

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Question: As a board member of Branscombe Co, IN OWN WORDS, describe what would you identify as the key challenges for the company to fulfil 200-bathrooms hotel contracts on time? What strategies would you recommend to mitigate the risks arising from each of the above-mentioned contractual agreement?

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WORD LIMIT: 400 WORDS.