Cases of Official and Unofficial Business Practices: Examples from Australia, Germany, UK, South Africa, Russia and Pakistan

2015 ◽  
pp. 127-148
Author(s):  
Andrew Kakabadse ◽  
Nada Korac-Kakabadse ◽  
Nadeem Khan
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Business Practices

scholarly journals Seven year overview (2007—2013) of ethical transgressions by registered healthcare professionals in South Africa

2016 ◽  
Vol 21 ◽  
pp. 46-53
Author(s):  
Nico Nortje ◽  
Willem Hoffmann
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Health Care ◽  
Health Care Providers ◽  
Health Care Professionals ◽  
Primary Objective ◽  
Regulatory Body ◽  
Research Approach ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Care Providers ◽  
Dental Practitioners

A move has taken place internationally in the delivery and “consumption” of health care where if clients and patients (health care consumers) hold the opinion that the health care professionals/providers' behaviour has had a negative effect, impact or outcome on them, they may lodge a complaint with the relevant health professional regulatory body. Ethical transgressions of health care providers can generally be clustered into the following three categories: a) Competence and conduct with clients (e.g. abandonment, sexual intimacies, dishonesty, disclosure of information); b) Business practices (e.g. billing, reports, documentation); and c) Professional practice (e.g. referral upon termination, obtaining appropriate potential employment opportunities, nonprofessional relationships).The primary objective of this study was to analyse the ethical transgressions of registered members of the twelve professional boards in the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA) in the period 2007 to 2013. A mixed methods approach was followed in this study which specifically focused on a historical research approach. The results indicate that the boards with the highest number of transgressions per the registered practitioners were firstly the Medical and Dental practitioners, closely followed by the Optometry and Dispensing Opticians Board. The predominantly complaint made against members of both these boards was for fraudulent conduct (collectively totalling to 85% of all fraudulent cases during the period) and included actions such as charging for non-rendered services, issuing false statements and submitting fraudulent medical aid claims. Cognisance needs to be taken that the South African public will increasingly demand better services and that since they are being better informed via the media of their rights and have access to a broader database of knowledge (rightly or wrongly so the internet) practitioners' opinions will not necessarily be accepted outright and that they (the public) will challenge it accordingly. This raises the concern that practitioners need to take on the responsibility to communicate with their patients/clients in order to educate them and keep them informed. 

scholarly journals The Implications of Consumer Protection Legislation for Hotels and Guests in South Africa

2017 ◽  
Vol 9 (2(J)) ◽  
pp. 33-45
Author(s):  
Raeesah Mohamed ◽  
Karunanidhi Reddy ◽  
P. M. Naidoo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Consumer Protection ◽  
Race And Ethnicity ◽  
Standard Form ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Open Market ◽  
Low Literacy ◽  
Ethical Business ◽  
Bargaining Position ◽  
Unfair Terms

During the apartheid era, consumers in South Africa, based on their race and ethnicity, were restricted when concluding contracts, as there was no open market trade. As consumers, hotel guests could also be victims of unfair business practices. Hotels use standard form contracts that may include unfair terms that favour the business and which are over-protective of business interests. A significant percentage of the population have low literacy levels, which severely disadvantage them when it comes to understanding the content and consequence of contracts. The Consumer Protection Act (CPA) introduces wide-ranging legal measures to protect consumers, including hotel guests, from exploitation and abuse in the marketplace and sets out comprehensive obligations for hotels. This article provides a descriptive critique based on literature and describes the challenges faced by hotel guests and discusses the implications of the Act for hotels and guests. It concludes that not only does the CPA advocate ethical business practices that are mandatory for hotels, but it also introduces a range of rights and protection for guests as consumers. The CPA has introduced a shift in contract law from a standpoint which allowed the parties the freedom to choose the content of the contract to one where fairness and transparency is imperative, as protection in terms of legislation compensates for the weaker bargaining position of the consumer.

scholarly journals Fundamental Consumer Rights Under the Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008: A Critical Overview and Analysis

2017 ◽  
Vol 13 (3) ◽  
pp. 301
Author(s):  
Wenette Jacobs ◽  
Philip N Stoop ◽  
René Van Niekerk
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Consumer Protection ◽  
Common Law ◽  
Fair Value ◽  
Wide Field ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Consumer Protection Act ◽  
Consumer Rights ◽  
The Common ◽  
The Government

South Africa was in need of a comprehensive framework of legislation, policies and government authorities to regulate consumer-supplier interaction. The Consumer Protection Act 68 of 2008, which was signed by the President of the Republic of South Africa on 29 April 2009 and published in the Government Gazette on 29 April 2009, now provides an extensive framework for consumer protection and aims to develop, enhance and protect the rights of consumers and to eliminate unethical suppliers and improper business practices. Certain areas of the common law regarding consumer rights have been codified by the Act and certain unfair business practices that were previously unregulated are now governed by the Act. The Act has a wide field of application. It applies to every transaction occurring within South Africa for the supply of goods or services or the promotion of goods or services and the goods or services themselves, unless the transaction is exempted from the application of the Act. The Act also specifically regulates aspects of franchise agreements. In terms of the Act, consumers obtain several new rights and some existing rights are broadened and reinforced. These rights are: the right to equality in the consumer market; privacy; choice; disclosure and information; fair and responsible marketing; fair and honest dealing; fair, just and reasonable terms and conditions; and fair value, good quality and safety. The last right in terms of the Act deals with a supplier's accountability to consumers. The authors critically analyse and discuss these rights. It is clear that the Act is written in favour of the consumer. Various provisions of the Act make inroads into the common-law position to strengthen the position of the consumer vis-à-vis the supplier and suppliers are undoubtedly facing an onerous task to prepare to comply, and eventually attempt to comply, with the Act. Although the Act has its own interpretation clause, which provides that it must be interpreted in a manner that gives effect to the purposes of the Act, the Act poses many uncertainties and interpretational and practical challenges. Many questions are therefore raised, some of which remain unanswered. These questions illustrate some of the uncertainties concerning the scope and possible interpretation of the fundamental consumer rights.

Ethics in Accounting and Finance

2021 ◽  
pp. 30-41
Author(s):  
Vannie Naidoo
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Corporate Governance ◽  
Ethical Dilemmas ◽  
Public Enterprise ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Business Sector ◽  
Fair Share ◽  
Accounting Profession ◽  
The World ◽  
The Many

Ethics forms the cornerstone of business and commerce today. It is the lifeblood of every institution be it private or public enterprise. Organisations have to develop and implement a properly structured policy on ethics outlaying proper governance within the institution. Accounting and finance services are crucial in managing a company's finances and wealth. In the accounting profession, in order for there to be transparency and trust, ethics is a crucial area that needs to be present. The many scandals and ethical dilemmas faced by countries organisations throughout the world has made us pause and take stock of what is happening in industry and has prompted action in law and governance towards ethics and corporate governance. South Africa too, has had its fair share of scandal that has had its legal fraternity, government, and business sector develop the Kings I, Kings II, Kings III, and Kings IV laws that stipulate corporate governance and ethics. Organisations have to be honest, professional, and transparent in their business practices.

scholarly journals An analysis of opinions from veterinarians in South Africa regarding business management skills

2004 ◽  
Vol 75 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
R.C. Krecek ◽  
P. Tobin
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Financial Management ◽  
Business Management ◽  
Global Market ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Management Skills ◽  
Management Ethics ◽  
Challenges And Opportunities ◽  
Urban Rural ◽  
Day To Day Operations

The changing role of veterinarians in the global market is a current topic of debate and discussion. Few countries including South Africa have formally examined the changing dynamics of this profession. Therefore, the present study addressed 2 objectives. The 1st was to examine basic information about veterinarians in South Africa including their age, gender and distribution across provinces, the percentage whose practice was urban, rural or periurban, the numbers working with specific animal species, and the extent of business management and skills previously gained. The 2nd objective was to obtain opinions and insights from veterinarians in South Africa about the challenges and opportunities facing their business practices to better understand what they considered important dynamics to their businesses today. Several areas of business on which they were questioned and which were included in this study were: marketing, vision,humanresources, leadership, financial management, ethics, competition, day-to-day operations, interpersonal skills and information management. This is the 1st known survey to employ a questionnaire to gain insights and opinions from veterinarians about business management skills.

Indicators of sustainable business practices: Woolworths in South Africa

2013 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria A.O. Dos Santos ◽  
Göran Svensson ◽  
Carmen Padin
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Sustainable Business

scholarly journals Topics to be included in a meaningful and informative undergraduate business ethics course for accountancy students: A South African perspective. Part 2.

2015 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 1335-1345
Author(s):  
Nandi Lubbe ◽  
Dave Lubbe
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Business Ethics ◽  
South African ◽  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Business Education ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Ethics Course ◽  
African Perspective

Unethical business practices in South Africa, as in many other countries, is at the order of the day. As a result there is increasing pressure on the auditing and accounting professions to devote sufficient attention to business education during the training of prospective auditors and accountants. This is the second in a series of two articles regarding topics that should be included in a meaningful and informative business ethics course for undergraduate students in the fields of accounting and auditing.

scholarly journals Exploring supply chain business bullying of small and medium-sized business suppliers by dominant buyers in the apparel retail sector in Gauteng

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sumayah Goolam Nabee ◽  
Elana Swanepoel
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Supply Chain ◽  
Supply Chains ◽  
Retail Sector ◽  
Business Practices ◽  
Primary Research ◽  
Depth Interviews ◽  
Chain Business

Background: Issues relating to dominant behaviour and bullying practices in supply chains are mostly not reported. Some evidence exists of unfair business practices in the apparel retail sector, but the extent and nature of such practices in South Africa, as well as the business implications for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), have not been researched. The reason could be the sensitive nature of these issues and possible adverse implications for the SMEs supplying apparel to the retailers in Gauteng.Aim: The primary research objective is to determine the incidence and type of supply chain dominance experienced by SMEs in the retail apparel sector in Gauteng, as well as the business implications of such dominant behaviour and how SMEs cope with it.Setting: The setting for this study was the business premises of SME apparel suppliers in Gauteng.Methods: Qualitative semi-structured in-depth interviews were conducted with seven SMEs that were apparel suppliers to the large retailers in Gauteng, to obtain the supplier perspective.Results: Six of the seven SMEs had experienced some form of bullying behaviour by large retailers in the apparel sector, such as late payments and long payment terms. For some of these SMEs, it had serious financial implications. Meaningful insight is provided into this supplier–buyer relationship between SMEs and large retailers in the apparel sector in Gauteng.Conclusion: This is the first study in South Africa investigating supply chain dominance, in particular supply chain bullying of SME suppliers through unfair business practices by dominant buyers in the apparel sector.

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