Business world is not without its share of heroes although they do not make as much noise as the villains. It was recently reported that some Coke employees propositioned Pepsi to buy its rival Coke’s world famous secret ingredient that they had stolen.
Had Pepsi decided to take up on the offer, it would have given them a big strategic advantage over Coke, but Pepsi decided to do the right thing. It promptly notified Coke who in turn notified FBI and the suspects were successfully apprehended.
Needless to say, since it did not bleed, it did not lead in the news although it did make it to fourth or fifth pages. This was a very commendable decision made by the executives at Pepsi. It is reassuring to know that making ethical decision even when there is no direct enforcement from external forces is not a strange concept in board rooms.
Although an age old rival and a fierce competitor, Pepsi executives’ decision to treat their rival and their rivalry with respect and honesty is a breath of fresh air. Pepsi probably does not mind the good publicity and goodwill they generated from this incident either.
Actions like these in business world could use more publicity considering the wave of negative publicity it has received in the past few years. The organization(s) and folks involved should be given due notice and credit. It reinforces the fact that although dishonesty or embellishments may be beneficial in a short run, honesty is the best policy in the long run for any business be it a mom and pop store or an international conglomerate. Furthermore, it also establishes the fact good management knows the importance of good competition because it drives businesses to innovate, renovate and stay sharp – traits that keep businesses keep going for a long haul.
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