UNIT 2
Obstacles to Communication in Business World
The barrier or problems may arise anytime during communication process. The barriers may be due to any of the components of the communication process - the sender, the receiver, the medium and the environment.
The various barriers to communication can broadly divided into five groups as listed below:
PHYSICAL OR ENVIRONMENTAL BARRIERS
1. Noise: It is any factor that confuses, disturbs, diminishes or interferes with communication. The noise can originate with the sender, the transmission, or the receiver. For example:
•Encoding may be defective because of use of ambiguous words.
•Transmission may be interrupted by electrical discharges in the atmosphere that interferes with radio, TV, or telephonic message.
•Decoding may be defective because the wrong meaning may be attached to symbols or words.
•A disturbance or noise in the environment (such as noise of machines in a factory, traffic noise, etc.) may hinder the development of a clear thought or listening of the message, etc.
2. Defects in Communication System: Communication gets affected if there is a defect in the communication system. For example, there can be defect in the address system, which hinders the clarity of communication, or there can be failure of electricity because of which address system becomes inoperative.
3. Time and Distance: Time and distance act as a barrier to communication. For instance, there can be a communication gap between two persons working in two different shifts or at two different places. This is possible especially when proper media or communication such as telephone facility is not available to the two persons to communicate even when they desire to communicate.
5. Wrong Selection of Medium: There can be communication problems when there is a wrong selection of the medium by the sender. The receiver of the message may not be familiar with the use of medium. For instance, workers in a factory may not be familiar with the use of charts or maps, and as such they may not understand the communication conveyed through such visual aids, unless they are taught to do so.
5. Temperature and Humidity: A high temperature and humidity can cause environmental stress on the part of both the sender and receiver of the message. For instance, a lecturer may not be able to communicate or lecture effectively to the students when there is high temperature and humidity and the students also may find it difficult to listen effectively.
SEMANTIC OR LANGUAGE BARRIERS
Semantic barriers occur due to differences in meaning attached to words or signs used in communication. The following are the semantic barriers:
1. Misinterpretation of Words: It is possible that the receiver of the message may not attach the same meaning as intended by the sender. There are number of words that can be interpreted differently by different persons. For
Instance, words like cheap, run, baby, sex, love, value, memo, taste, and so on can be interpreted with different meanings by different persons at different times and at different places. The multiplicity of meaning may lead to miscommunication. Therefore, the sender must be in a position to use simple and clear words that can have the intended meaning to the receiver.
2. Difference in Language: Different languages may have different meanings to the same word. For instance, the English word 'more can have a different meaning in Tamil language i.e., curd. There are number of such instances when certain words or phrases when translated in another meaning give a different meaning altogether.
3. Use of jargon: Jargon refers to specialized or technical language, which is limited to a group of persons doing the same work or profession. The jargon has a special meaning for the group but may have some other meaning to others. The use of jargon may confuse the receiver of the message if he/she is not familiar with such jargon. Therefore, if Jargon is used, the sender must clarify its meaning or may avoid using jargons.
4. By-passed Instructions: By-passed instructions take place when a person or groups attribute different meaning to a word or a phrase used by some other person or a group. For instance, a subordinate may attribute a different meaning to a particular word or sentence used by the superior, and as such there can be miscommunication between the two.
PERSONAL OR SOCIO PSYCHOLOGICAL BARRIERS
There are certain barriers that exist in the minds of the persons involved in the process of communication. The following are the socio-psychological barriers:
1. Different Perceptions: People have different perceptions, whichcan act as a barrier in communication. For instance, a student may sit in the classroom in a relaxed manner, which may be perceived by the teacher differently. One teacher may feel that the student is not interested in the lecture, whereas, another teacher may think that the student is quite interested in the lecture. The different perceptions occur due to level of confidence, relations between the sender and receiver of the message, past experiences, etc.
2. Closed Mind: There are some people who think and believe that they know everything about a particular topic or subject and as such will close their mind to the topic being discussed, even though some new facts may be discussed. Closed mind can be a great barrier in communication. To break this barrier, people must admit to themselves that there is always a room to learn new things and as such learn to listen attentively with an open mind.
3. Poor Retention: Poor retention on the part of the recipients of the message acts as a barrier to effective communication. Quite often, a good amount of oral instructions are not retained. Therefore, there is a need to have written communication, especially in the case of important and urgent matters.
4. The Halo and Horn Effect: The listener or the receiver of the message may develop halo or horn effect towards the speaker or sender of the message. Halo effect refers to spender or glory bestowed on a famous or revered person. Horn effect is the opposite of halo effect. If the listener has halo effect towards the speaker, then he trusts the speaker and everything the speaker says appears true and vice-versa.
5. Emotions: The emotions of a person whether sender or receiver of the message affects the communication process. For instance, if the sender is angry, Worried or excited, then his thinking process will be affected and he will not be in a position to organize the message properly. Emotional disturbances also affect the receiver of the message and he may not pay proper attention to the message or he may not understand the message properly.
6. Slanting: Slant means to distort in writing or telling. The receiver may distort the message, especially when he communicates the same to some other person. He may colour the message as per his own interpretation and prejudice. For example, in a firm, the top management informed the superiors to tell the workers that lunch breaks to be strictly adhered to'. The message was slanted or distorted as 'workers should eat to their full satisfaction.
7. Filtering: In this case the sender of the message manipulates information in such a way that it appears more favourably to the receiver. Due to filtering, the receiver does not get objective or proper information. For instance, a subordinate when reporting to his superior may hold back some unfavourable
Information and convey only favourable information, which he thinks the boss may like to hear. As a result of this the superior may not get exact or correct information.
8. Wrong Assumptions: The participants in the communication process may make wrong assumptions, which can create a barrier to effective communication. There are chances that the assumption made by the sender may be different from that of the receiver. For instance, a person may make an assumption of another to be lazy because he does not shave regularly. This may not be the right assumption.
9. Impatience: Nowadays, people are impatient. They often communicate hastily or listen impatiently. The listener may react instantly even before the communication is completed. Impatience can occur on the part of the sender and/or the receiver of the message. Io avoid this barrier, the only alternative is to have patience both with the sender as well as with the receiver of the message.
10. Rambling: It refers to talk or write aimlessly, without connection of ideas. If the message is not planned properly, then there can be rambling on the part of the sender. Rambling can occur in the receiver of the message when his mind gets distracted. He may be physically reading or listening but mentally his mind may switch off.
CROSS-CULTURAL BARRIERS
The term 'Culture' is difficult to define: Research suggests that at least 164 definitions exist. For our purpose, "Culture refers to the behavioral characteristics typical of a group of people." This definition implies that communication, verbal and non-verbal, within a group also is typical of that group and is often unique.
Our country is one of the largest populated countries in the world, having so many diversities, such as languages spoken, religious beliefs, rituals and ceremonies performed, celebrations and different festivals observed, eating habits etc. In other words, within our country many individuals belong to different ethnic groups.
Though there are certain underlying principles, attitudes, ideals and values of our own culture, there exists diversity between people of different parts of the country. This cultural diversity also acts as one of the barriers to communication, as cultural generalization applicable to an entire nation is not possible. There is another aspect of cultural barrier that exists in communication. Throughout the business world the term 'globalization' is well-known.
Globalization means that for a company to survive, it must establish markets not only in its own country but also in many other countries. Thus employees/ employers who are potential international communicators must understand other cultures, in addition, to their own country's ethnic diversity, in order to communicate effectively. So there are: (i) Individual cultural variables and (ii) National cultural variables.
INDIVIDUAL CULTURAL BARRIERS
There are certain cultural characteristics which exist as barriers communication process both at intranational and international levels. There" is also individual cultural diversity within national cultural environment. Individuals exhibit a unique lifestyle of personal habits and ethnic diversity. "Thus, within each culture, on the micro and more personal level are differences in verbal and non-verbal cues expressed through varying concepts of time, individual speech, food, acceptable dress, manners a home and at work, decision-making patterns and other non-verbal variations"
For instance, there are individual cultural traits seen in the following matters:
1. Time: There are certain cultural perceptions of time'. There is the 'time-conscious culture and on the other hand there is culture which is less concerned with precision in time. Some people treat time mon casually than some other people. In some cultures, arriving late is socially accepted custom.
In some cultures, business people take afternoon naps, close shops in the afternoon and postpone times for business meetings.
2. Space (proxemics): Some people demand more room, a sort of a buffer space between themselves and others when speaking. But in some cultures, if a person does not stand close he seems cold and also while in some other
Cultures, those who stand close to you are considered intrusive, rude and overbearing. Concepts of office space also differ in many parts of the world. It some countries several people occupy the same office, even the same desk, but it can't be accepted and understood in most western countries.
3. Food: There is much more diversity in eating habits. Food and it style of preparation is different in every culture. How the food is offered or served and how it is eaten, whether with your own finger or with spoons and forks, or with chopsticks depend on different cultural traits.
4. Dress: The dressing style differs with every culture and so there are norms of accept ability and non-acceptability about dressing styles.
5. Manners: The manners differ with every culture, e.g. The ritual or greeting and farewell differ in every culture. Indeed, culture is reflected at the heart of every kind of manners.
6. Decision Making: Some people quickly get to the issue, as American do very fast. While in Japan, decision time is held back because, al group consensus moves towards a decision, much time is spent reaching an answer. This delay in decision making might be frustrating to many and acts as a barrier to communication.
HOW TO OVERCOME BARRIERS
To overcome physical barriers,
Maintain all instruments of communication like telephone, intercom system, telex, typewriter, microphone, etc. in a good working condition.
Plan your meetings keeping the time difference between different countries in the world in mind.
Ensure less noise during the conduct of meetings by providing soundproof rooms or calm, peaceful and pleasant surroundings.
Choose the richest media for complex messages and use multiple channels to communicate instead of relying on one channel to ensure understanding by one and all.
To overcome physical distractions, try to prepare well written documents which are clear and concise and comprehensive. When preparing oral presentation try to find a setting which permits the audience to see and hear the speaker clearly.
To overcome semantic barriers,
Use concrete and specific language.
Keeping the receivers in mind, use simple and short sentences.
Ask for feedback so that you can clarify and improve your message, if necessary.
Reduce the number of messages by thinking twice before sending one.
Pay attention to your pronunciation and accents.
Organize the ideas well.
Avoid use of jargons.
Overcome the barriers of complex messages, common keep them clear and easy to understand.
To overcome personal barriers,
Be aware of your own state of mind / emotions / attitude.
Avoid making demands on a receiver who doesn't have the time to pay Careful attention to your message.
Set aside enough time for important messages that you simply receive.
Make hidden messages visually appealing and easy to understand, and try to deliver them when your receiver has time to read them.
Convey oral messages directly and not through intermediaries or answering machine.
To overcome cultural barriers,
Avoid drawing conclusions about an entire cultural group based only on few examples or on the basis of your own culture or on the basis of your understanding of the nation of origin for even one nation may have several distinct cultures.
Management should facilitate learning about other cultures through cross-cultural training sessions in order to sensitize employees to the cultural differences across the world.
Provide adequate, relevant and useful information to avoid communication breakdown due to misunderstanding in culture.
While communicating and individual or group, use a language they are familiar with even if you possess only working knowledge of the language.
Listening is an important aid to communication. Listening involves effort and attention. As Keith Davis says; “Listening is a conscious, positive act requiring will power."
Listening, though sometimes considered as merely a passive skill, about which we can do very little, is crucial to good communication, as it is really the receiver—the listener—who communicates rather than the speaker. Unless somebody listens to the message and understands it, there is no communication; it is only a noise.
Good listening and intense concentration is required at college and at work hen information is being transmitted to produce a response. As a student you cannot expect to progress satisfactorily unless you listen with maximum efficiency during classes. At work, slack listening means that you do not fully understand the instructions given to you or the information you have requested. So a very high standard of listening efficiency is necessary whenever you are receiving information that you either want or must have if you are to be able to do your job properly.
Business organisation, where it is essential to have effective upward and downward communication systems and smooth flow of horizontal communication, listening takes prime position. In conferences, committee s and in group discussions, listening is very important. Good on such occasions will yield better results of discussions and as of the people. Good listening will save time and enhance mutual understanding which will be beneficial to the organization.
TIPS FOR EFFECTIVE LISTENING
Listening is a skill that can be developed. The following are the guidelines for developing good listening skills:
1. Be Interested: Show good interest and desire to listen. This will help you to avoid distractions, and pay proper attention to the speaker's address or message.
2. Be Prepared: The listener must be well prepared for the talk or discussion. The listener must do a good homework, if need be. Arrive in time for the talk. Sit at a comfortable place and distance. Make proper arrangements to take down notes, if need be.
3. Stop Talking: The most important guideline to effective listening is to stop talking with others near you. It not only distracts other listeners, but may also put the speaker in discomfort.
4. Concentrate: A good listener must exercise mental discipline over himself. Concentrate on what the speaker says. Do not get distracted by the physical appearance of the speaker or some other disturbance. Only when you concentrate properly, you can listen well.
5. Avoid Distractions: Do not create distractions such as fiddling with pen, notebook, tapping the floor, looking out of window, etc. Do not crack jokes at the speaker, or participate in such cheap acts.
6. Put the Speaker at Ease: The listener should make the speaker comfortable. Through the use of body language such as positive nodding of head, eye contact with the speaker, positive facial expression, or such other positive signs would put the speaker at ease. This would enable the speaker to express his views, ideas, an opinion more clearly and convincingly.
7. Open-minded: Be in a positive frame of mind. Avoid preconceived notions about the topic and of the speaker. Don't let your prejudices beliefs, attitudes, ideas and values feel threatened and insulted, S that you close your mind to what the speaker has to say. Try to respect the viewpoint of those with whom you disagree. You have to keep in mind that you may be wrong.
8. Avoid Contradictions: You should avoid contradictions of what th speaker has to say. Avoid saying words like " This makes no sense "This is utterly rubbish", "I think you are wrong". Such contradiction may put the speaker in discomfort and may discourage him from speaking effectively.
9. Avoid Interruptions: You should avoid unnecessary interruption You may interrupt only when it is really necessary. For instance, the speaker may go off the track, i.e., he may keep the main topic sideways and divert to some other topic, or there may be too much emphasis on certain point, or there may be a need for an example for clarity, then the listener may interrupt the speaker.
10. Empathize with the Speaker: The listener should try to empathize with the speaker. The listener should place himself in the position g the speaker,
And try to share, the emotions, feelings, and thoughts the speaker. This would make the speaker to be more comfortable and he would be in a better position to express his views and ideas.
When ethics is applied to the field of business, we may term it as business ethics. The definition for business ethics varies in every company. The challenge in defining the term lies in the fact that right and wrong are very relative. It is true that we have laws to punish offences that are necessarily wrong. But, one can be morally wrong and yet, there are very often no laws to punish them. Hence the onus lies with the individual or the company to take its own stand on what it feels is right and what is wrong.
There are two ways that companies can approach and implement the concept of business ethics: shareholder-focused and stakeholder-focused. While the shareholder-focused stance prioritizes the interest of the owners, the stakeholder-focused approach puts premium on corporate social responsibility and on the interest of the stakeholders.
IMPORTANCE OF BUSINESS ETHICS IN BUSINESS
Social responsibility becomes an integral part of the wealth creation process which if managed properly should enhance the competitiveness of business and maximize the value of wealth creation to society. So the advantages of business ethics cannot be denied.
Some of the ways in which business ethics are important may be listed as follows:
1. Creates Customer Loyalty and Maximizes Profit: People often think that more profits can be made when they can remain totally away from emotions. But, they are not aware that ethical businesses tend to make much more profits than the others. The reason for this is that customers of businesses which follow ethics are loyal and satisfied with the services and product offerings of such businesses.
2. Efficient Utilization of Business Resources: In an organization, people working at the junior levels often emulate the ethics of the ones working at the top. So, if the management or seniors of an organization follow ethical
Business practices, i.e., they do not bribe to get their way or they do not cheat the customers, investors suppliers, etc., the employees will follow suit. The employees too will refrain from using the office property or resources for personal benefits. This will result in better and efficient utilization of the business resources.
3. Creates Goodwill in the Market: For a company to grow, reputation is one of the most important possessions a company should have in order to stand in the market amongst its competitors. If the core management of the company is ethical based, it sends out a strong message in the markets as well.
4. Helps Enhance Productivity: The ethics in an organization helps to bring out superior employee performance in terms of productivity and establishing cordial relationships amongst the employees and the management. Ethics help built in morals amongst the employees of a company. Ethical education in an organization brings in for International regulatory developments, which provides for strong financial and legal incentives for bigger corporations to grow and develop their business.
5. Helps Promote High Standards: The issue of business ethics is fundamental to corporate governance, of course, not least because corporate governance is often itself defined as business ethics. Good corporate governance lies in the eye of the stakeholder, and needs to recognize that different individuals and stakeholder groups define business ethics differently. The business ethics help the investors and customers of the company to practice themselves the ethical values practised in the companies they partner with. Thus, high standards are promoted amidst them. It helps them achieve a common business goal.
PERSONAL INTEGRITY AT THE WORKPLACE
Integrity is not necessarily a natural act. Working with integrity creates a positive work environment by building trust among co-workers and doing away with insecurities and the need for micromanagement.
Here are some traits that define integrity at workplace:
- Display honesty in all that you do: Always work hard, on the task that you have taken up and see it through to its logical end. If you commit to a task, see that you utilize your office time judiciously for the purpose
And not for personal work. Be a good team player. Let not just how much you work define your competency, but also how you accomplish the work. Be dependable in your work dealings and unfailing in deliverance to deadlines.
2. Commit mistakes, but do not evade responsibility for them: It is said that failure is the stepping stone to success. So, it is not necessary that any mistake made by you will spell doom for you. On the contrary it you own up, you project a positive trait that you take responsibility for your work. Openly discussing problems that have arisen in a project that you are handling will enable you to learn new and better ways of tackling the issue from experienced peers and superiors.
3. Choose your words carefully: Good communication skills include not just being able to convey what you have to say and lending a patient ear to others, it also refers to the ability to filter harmless office conversations from malicious gossip. Words are a powerful entity that can make or break work relationships. Remember, what you choose to say reflects a lot about the person that you are.
4. Lead by setting precedent of fairness: If you have people who work under you, always remember to give credit where it is due, be fair in delegating and assessing work, and open minded to the views of your team members. Such leaders who set the right precedent are broadly appreciated.
CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Corporate Social Responsibility is about building sustainable businesses, which need healthy economies, markets and communities. It involves operating a business in a manner that meets or exceeds the ethical, legal commercial and public expectations that society has of business. According to Johnson & Scholes, "The ethical stance is the extent to which an organisation will exceed its minimum obligation to stakeholders."
The key drivers for CSR are:
- Enlightened self-interest: Creating a synergy of ethics, a cohesive society and a sustainable global economy where markets, labour and communities are able to function well together.
2. Social investment: Contributing to physical infrastructure and social capital is increasingly seen as a necessary part of doing business.
3. Transparency and trust: Business has low ratings of trust in public perception. There is increasing expectation that companies will be more open, more accountable and be prepared to report publicly on their performance in social and environmental arenas.
4. Increased public expectations of business: Globally companies are expected to do more than merely provide jobs and contribute to the economy through taxes and employment.
Organisations who show corporate social responsibility essentially take care of certain internal and external aspects, some of these are as follows:
Internal Aspects:
Taking interest in employee welfare by providing medical care, assistance with mortgages, extended sickness leaves, assistance for dependants, etc.
Creating conducive working conditions by enhancing the working surroundings aesthetically, creating social and sports clubs, taking steps for workers safety that are above minimum safety standards, etc.
Designing jobs to the increased satisfaction of workers rather than for economic efficiency.
External Aspects:
Taking responsibility for Green issues by attempting to reduce pollution below legal standards even if competitors are not doing so.
Taking steps towards energy conservation.
Giving impetus to those products which will not endanger the environment in spite of indiscriminate use by consumers.
Taking conscious decision to maintain ethical advertising standards and refusing to sell in markets where adverse effect of the product may be expected.
Selecting suppliers who work on' fair' terms of trade while blacklisting those who don't.
Generating employment, showing positive discrimination in favour of minorities and maintaining jobs.
Indulging in community activity by sponsoring local events and supporting local good works.
SOME BURNING ISSUES
Surrogate Advertising
Surrogate advertising is a form of advertising which is used to promote banned products, like cigarettes and alcohol, in the disguise of another product. This is done due to various reasons. Primary reason is to circumvent the ban on advertising for a particular type of product(s). For example, advertising for alcoholic beverages and cigarettes are banned in India. However, such brands advertise through other products like mineral water or music. Surrogate advertising may also be used in cases where the useof a product is linked to a service. In such cases, the service is advertised widely, and the service provider uses only the product in question. However, brand extension is an act of bypassing the advertisement ban.
Intellectual Property
Intellectual property (IP) refers to creations of the mind, such as inventions literary and artistic works; designs; and symbols, names and images used in commerce.
IP is protected in law by, for example, patents, copyright and trademarks, which enable people to earn recognition or financial benefit from what they invent or create. By striking the right balance between the interests of innovators and the wider public interest, the IP system aims to foster an environment in which creativity and innovation can flourish.
Types of IP:
Copyright is a legal term used to describe the rights that creators have over their literary and artistic works. Works covered by copyright range from books, music, paintings, sculpture and films, to computer programs databases, advertisements, maps and technical drawings.
A patent is an exclusive right granted for an invention. Generally speaking, a patent provides the patent owner with the right to decide how-or whether the invention can be used by others. In exchange for this right, the patent owner makes technical information about the invention publicly available in the published patent document.
A trademark is a sign capable of distinguishing the goods or services of one enterprise from those of other enterprises. Trademarks date back to ancient times when craftsmen used to put their signature or "mark" on their products.
An industrial design constitutes the ornamental or aesthetic aspect of an article. A design may consist of three-dimensional features, such as the shape or surface of an article, or of two-dimensional features, such as patterns, lines or color.
Geographical indications and appellations of origin are signs used on goods that have a specific geographical origin and possess qualities, a reputation or characteristics that are essentially attributable to that place of origin. Most commonly, a geographical indication includes the name of the place of origin of the goods.
Dumping of Medical/ E-Waste
Electronic waste or e-waste is the term used to describe old, end-of-life electronic appliances such as computers, laptops, IVs, DVD players, mobile phones, mp3 players, etc., which have beendisposed by their original users.
E-waste has been categorized into three main categories, i.e., Large Household Appliances, IT and Telecom and Consumer Equipment. Refrigerator and washing machine represent large household appliances PC, monitor and laptop represent II and Telecom, while TV represents Consumer Equipment.
Electronic waste affects nearly every system in the human body because they contain a plethora of toxic components including Mercury, Lead, Cadmium, Polybrominated Flame Retardants, Barium and Lithium. Even the plastic casings of electronics products contain Polvvinyl Chloride. The health effects of these toxins on humans include birth defects, brain, heart, liver, kidney and skeletal system damage. They will also significantly affect the nervous and reproductive systems of the human body.
Like E-waste, bio-medical waste is another problem that needs to be taken seriously. It means "any solid and/or liquid waste including its container and any intermediate product, which is generated during the diagnosis treatment or immunization of human beings or animals.
Biomedical waste poses hazard due to two principal reasons- the first is infectivity and other toxicity. Bio Medical waste consists of human anatomical waste like tissues, organs and body parts, animal wastes generated during research from veterinary hospitals, microbiology and biotechnology wastes, waste sharps like hypodermic needles, syringes scalpels and broken glass, discarded medicines and cytotoxic drugs, soiled waste such as dressing, bandages, plaster casts, material contaminated with blood, tubes and catheters, liquid waste from any of the infected areas and incineration ash and other chemical wastes.
Different countries exhibit different traits of Human Rights Violation and discrimination. This could consider any aspect such as gender, race, caste religion, appearance and sexual orientation.
In neoclassical economics theory, labor market discrimination is defined as the different treatment of two equally qualified individuals on account of their gender, race, age, disability, religion, etc. Discrimination is harmful since it affects the economic outcomes of equally productive workers directly and indirectly through feedback effects. Differences in outcomes (such as earnings, job placement) that cannot be attributed to worker qualifications are attributed to discriminatory treatm
In the non-neoclassical view, discrimination is the main source of inequality in the labor market and is seen in the persistent gender and racial earnings disparity in the U.S. Non-neoclassical economists defines discrimination more broadly than neoclassical economists. Gender norms are embedded in labor markets and shape employer preferences as well worker preferences; therefore, it is not easy to separate discrimination from productivity-related inequality.
Piracy is done in many ways like video piracy, cable piracy, and DVD/C piracy. Video piracy takes place when a film is produced in the form of videocassette without proper authorization from the right holder i.e.th producer. Often, film producers sell video rights to another party (general after six weeks or more of release in theatres), which makes video cassette for sale for home viewing only. But, those indulging in video piracy dot same much before this, without any permission.
Cable piracy refers unauthorized transmission of films through cable network. Very often films, especially the new releases, are shown through cable without permission from the rights holder. Fortunately, piracy is a rare phenomenon in satellite channels because these are organised and generally do not show films without buying proper rights.
Music piracy refers to the unauthorized replication of music cassettes that flood the market as soon as the launch of a new release. Music companies’ revenues are hit hard by the deluge of pirated compact discs and cassettes, as these are available at substantially lower prices compared to those at stores.
DVD/VCD piracy of Indian films happens in the international markets. The prints sent for overseas screening of the film are pirated, very often, at some of the Middle East country airports.
Insurance policies, a contract between the policyholder and the insurance company, are of different types depending on the risk they mitigate. Broad categories include lite, health, motor, travel, home, rural, commercial and business insurance.
Ethical Responsibilities of the Insurance Agent
To the Insurer
He should act in accordance with agency contract.
He should not embezzle money.
He should disclose pertinent information about underwriting and risk selection to the insurer.
He should ensure that the application is correctly and completely filled by the insurer.
Finally, the insurance producer has a responsibility to deliver the insurance policy to the insured and collect any premium that might be due at the time of delivery.
The insurance agent must be prepared to provide the insured with an explanation of some of the policy's principal benefits and provisions.
To Insured/Policy Owner
He should not defame, coerce or intimidate any person into buying insurance.
He must be able to explain the important features of these policies to the insured.
He must recognize the importance of dealing with the general public's financial needs and problems and offer solutions to these problems through the purchase of insurance products.
As a fiduciary, the insurance producer must collect and account for any premiums collected as part of the insurance transaction.
As a fiduciary, the insurance producer has an obligation to act in the best interest of the insured (policy owner).
He must not indulge in Unfair Marketing Practices. For instance, he must
Not make a misrepresentation during a sales presentation in his over-enthusiasm of "selling the policy. Similarly, he must refrain from providing vague or elusive responses.
He should not resort to twisting, which is the act of inducing insurer to terminate an existing insurance product in order to sell another.
He must not commit fraud by intentionally misrepresenting any information in an insurance transaction.
He should never alter applications to get a more favorable premium rate, or to switch the type of coverage applied for, or to add additional zeroes to the amount of coverage applied for.
He should not fail to turn over the premium money of the insured.
He should not indulge in false or misleading advertising.
Besides the above, the insurance company must not resort to unfair Claims Practices as follows:
Misrepresenting pertinent facts or insurance policy provisions relating to coverage at the time of issue.
Failure to acknowledge and act reasonably and promptly upon communications with respect to claims arising under insurance policies.
Failing to adopt and implement reasonable standards for the prompt investigation of claims arising under insurance policies.
Refusing to pay claims without conducting a reasonable investigation based upon all available information.
Failing to affirm or deny coverage of claims within a reasonable time after proof of loss statements has been completed.
Not attempting in good faith to effectuate prompt, fair, and equitable settlements of claims in which liability has become reasonably clear.
Compelling insured’s to institute litigation to recover amounts due
Under an insurance policy by offering substantially less than the amounts ultimately recovered in actions brought by such insured’s.
Attempting to settle a claim for less than the amount to which a reasonable person would have believed he or she was entitled by reference to written or principal advertising material accompanying.
Making claims payments to insured’s or beneficiaries not accompanied by statements setting forth the coverage under which the payments are being made.
Making known to insured’s or claimants a policy. Of appealing from arbitration awards in favor of insured’s or claimants for the purpose of compelling them to accept settlements or compromises less than the amount awarded in arbitration.
Delaying the investigation or payment of claim by requiring an insured, claimant, or the physician of either, to submit a preliminary claim report and then requiring the subsequent submission of formal proof of loss forms, both of which submissions contain substantially the same information.
Child labour refers to the employment of children in any work that deprives children of their childhood, interferes with their ability to attend regular school, and that is mentally, physically, socially or morally dangerous and harmful. This practice is considered exploitative by many international organisations.
Legislation across the world prohibit child labour. These laws do not consider all work by children as child labour; exceptions include work by child artists, family duties, supervised training, certain categories of work such as those by Amish children, some forms of child work common among indigenous American children, and others..
Child labour is one of the very pressing issues currently confronting India with many other South Asian countries. The types of child labour have changed in recent years due to enforcement of legislation, awareness amongst buyers about child exploitation, and international pressure.
Child labour is now more invisible because the location of the work has changed from the more formal setting of factories, to business owners' homes. There has also been an increasing involvement of children in the home-based and informal sectors.
Very often, these occupations prove to be hazardous as they bring the child worker into contact with harmful substances like chemicals, fire, wool dust and fluff that damage the lungs. As the children working in such conditions are in process of growing these occupations have an adverse effect on their physical development. Besides, the environment in which the children live and work denies them the opportunity for education.
They spend their lives performing unskilled jobs without any prospects of a better future Even their social development is stunted as they do not learn to behave in accordance with social expectations. Children's attitudes toward people and social experiences depend on how well they connect with other people. It depends largely on their learning experiences during the early, formative years of life.
Children are engaged in manual work, in domestic work in family home in rural labour in the agricultural sector including cotton growing, at glass, match box and brass and lock-making factories, in embroidery, rag picking beedi-rolling, in the carpet-making industry, in mining and stone quarrying brick kilns and tea gardens amongst others.
Work is often gender-specific, with girls performing more domestic and home-based work, while boys are more often employed in wage labour. In general, the workload and duration of the working hour’s increases as children grow older. Getting accurate, detailed information about children working in different sectors is a major challenge because, in many cases children work in informal sectors such as agriculture, and in urban settings in restaurants, motor repair workshops and in home-based industries.
