Policies and regulations are set at different levels of all organization to ensure proper guidance on day today activities, to give clarity, promote efficiency, safety and soundness of the firm. Policies are a set of rules that are tailored to an organization based on its business operations and they follow the local guidelines to keep the information safe and secure. These ‘policies’ will have priority over ‘profits’ Often there arises a situation where the business operations make slight adjustments to the policies to coup up with ongoing market needs. Whenever a policy gets updated it is done with a board of experts and ensures there is no personal benefit in making these updates.

Purpose

The present case narrates a real-time situation that occurred in an investment firm where the partner of the firm was involved in obtaininginformationagainst ‘policy’ that resulted in gaining personal benefit as well as loss of job. The case examines study of the fact - ‘how he was able to get the update’ even though the strict protocols were in place and come up ways to identify the gaps and protect the ‘policy’ over ‘profit’. The purpose of the case is to discuss ‘ethical’ issues during ‘conflict of interest’.

Scope

Similar situation may happen in organisations and employees. This case discussion is relevant to such situations where ‘policy’ stands first and ‘profits’ next. The result of the discussion finds a way to maintain ethical values. Such discussions will help in enlightening the organisations and employees on information security and level of ethics.

Conclusion

The discussion reveals conflict of interest in a corporate setting. There is a strong need to understand and follow the policies set within the organization at every level. This case clearly sets an example of how unethical practices show impact on the employee and business. Using any confidential information of an organization in an unintended way for personal benefits of self or family is to be strongly discouraged.

KEYWORDS: Policy Conflict, Conflict of Interest, Non-disclosure Agreement.