http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/ Knowledge@Wharton is an online resource that offers the latest business insights, information, and research from a variety of sources. Content includes analysis of current business trends, interviews with industry leaders and faculty, articles based on the most recent business research, book reviews, conference and seminar reports, and links to other websites. en-us Copyright (c) 2007 The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania Thu, 13 Jun 2013 00:00:00 EST Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:25:11 EST http://www.wharton.upenn.edu/globals/images/katw_white.gif http://Knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/category.cfm?cid=11 125 45 Knowledge@Wharton Business Ethics Research Business Ethics http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/article.cfm?articleid=4727 Philanthropy is the flavor of the month in India: Wipro chairman Azim Premji recently became the first person in the country to sign up for the Giving Pledge, a commitment by the world's richest people to dedicate the majority of their wealth to charity. P.N.C. Menon, founder of the Sobha group, has promised to devote half of his fortune to philanthropic efforts. In Mumbai, the Dasra Philanthropic Week brought together some key players to discuss the roadmap ahead for charitable giving in the nation. Among the key themes that emerged was the realization that philanthropy in India must go its own way. Thu, 21 Mar 2013 10:20:52 EST Business Ethics http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/article.cfm?articleid=4720 India has been beset by a number of big-ticket corruption cases in recent times. The scandals have so far largely involved politicians and local companies. Now several multinationals are coming under scrutiny, though the magnitude and the issues are quite different. Is it just an attempt to divert attention from the real scams or is corruption a way of doing business in India? Thu, 31 Jan 2013 09:08:56 EST Business Ethics http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/article.cfm?articleid=4711 With iconic corporate leaders like Rajat Gupta, former managing director of consulting firm McKinsey &amp; Co., being convicted of insider trading, leadership principles and corporate ethics are once again in the spotlight. In his recent book, <em>Timeless Leadership: 18 Leadership Sutras from The Bhagavad Gita, </em>Debashis Chatterjee, director of the Indian Institute of Management in Kozhikode, has tried to glean universal leadership lessons from the ancient Indian classic. Thu, 15 Nov 2012 09:58:56 EST Business Ethics http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/article.cfm?articleid=4636 The problem with corporate social responsibility (CSR) is that nobody is very clear&nbsp;about what exactly it encompasses. The Indian government has been trying to make it mandatory for companies to spend a certain percentage of their profits on CSR. Facing strong criticism,&nbsp;the government&nbsp;gave up the effort in mid-July and made the spending voluntary. But the debate continues. Tue, 02 Aug 2011 12:38:58 EST Business Ethics http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/article.cfm?articleid=4603 Over the past two decades, profound changes have taken place in one of the oldest human practices -- philanthropy. According to Jason Wingard, vice dean of executive education and adjunct professor of management at Wharton, one of the biggest factors causing this has been the growth of the Internet and social media. In an interview with India Knowledge@Wharton, Wingard talked about the evolution of philanthropy across generations and&nbsp;around the globe, and how it is likely to evolve in the future. Thu, 19 May 2011 12:45:57 EST Business Ethics http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/article.cfm?articleid=4601 In the past, religious giving was the prime form of philanthropy in India. Some say it may still be, but the available data indicate that donations to temples, churches and mosques are relatively insignificant compared to other forms of charitable giving. While a few super-rich religious institutions have stolen the limelight and absorbed charitable funds, religion has become primarily a business. The need of the hour may well be to find other, more professional vehicles for connecting donors with the needy, experts say. Thu, 19 May 2011 12:45:57 EST Business Ethics http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/article.cfm?articleid=4602 One of the most pressing needs in philanthropy today is also the most perplexing -- assessing the social impact of funds contributed. &quot;It is part of our DNA to constantly be thinking about the most effective and efficient use of funds,&quot; says Katherina Rosqueta, executive director of the Center for High Impact Philanthropy at the University of Pennsylvania. In an interview with India Knowledge@Wharton, Rosqueta talks about the importance of social impact analysis, new trends in philanthropy and different approaches to philanthropy across the world. Thu, 19 May 2011 12:45:57 EST Business Ethics http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/article.cfm?articleid=4599 With big donations coming in and opportunities to make a significant impact increasing, the social sector is attracting more and more corporate professionals. But these professionals can be impatient and insensitive to the complexities of social problems. What is required, say philanthropy experts, is a combination of passion and skills. Thu, 19 May 2011 12:45:57 EST Business Ethics http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/article.cfm?articleid=4598 In India, philanthropy has often been directed towards religious purposes. The rich have always sought their personal hotline to the gods, and well-funded temples are testimonies to their piety. But other, perhaps more significant bricks-and-mortar evidence of their philanthropy includes cities that started as corporate townships and are now home to millions; colleges and universities that are comparable to the best in India; grammar schools and much more. Thu, 19 May 2011 12:45:57 EST Business Ethics http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/article.cfm?articleid=4597 With India on a liberalized and sound economic footing, Indians are now creating wealth in diverse sectors and in non-traditional ways. Many of the new rich have their roots in middle-class values and work ethic. They are also creating wealth at a much younger age. All this is leading to new attitudes towards giving. While they are reticent about making public displays, India's new philanthropists are looking at ways to bring about deep-rooted, systemic changes. The overall numbers may still be small, but the energy is unmistakable. Thu, 19 May 2011 12:45:57 EST Business Ethics http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/article.cfm?articleid=4600 G.M. Rao is the newest noted philanthropist in India. Chairman of the GMR Group, which operates in the infrastructure space, Rao recently pledged to use his entire personal share of the business for social good. In an interview with India Knowledge@Wharton, Rao said his decision has nothing to do with the Giving Pledge -- a global initiative spearheaded by Bill Gates and Warren Buffett calling on billionaires to donate the majority of their wealth to charity. &quot;More than money, it is essential that we give people a good education and the skills to earn an honorable livelihood,&quot; he says. Thu, 19 May 2011 12:45:57 EST Business Ethics http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/article.cfm?articleid=4596 On April 28, Silicon Valley venture capitalist Vinod Khosla and his wife pledged half of their US$1.4 billion net worth to charity. They joined at least&nbsp;68 other individuals and&nbsp;families who have signed up for the Giving Pledge, a global philanthropic initiative by Warren Buffett and Bill Gates. The Khoslas, who have been in the U.S. for three decades, are the first Indians to join the campaign. But when Buffett and Gates visited India and China recently, they didn't find a single donor. Philanthropy is changing all over the world, and Western models may not succeed in non-Western environments, experts tell India Knowledge@Wharton. Thu, 19 May 2011 12:45:57 EST Business Ethics http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/article.cfm?articleid=4547 Corruption is a global phenomenon -- it afflicts mature economies as well as emerging ones. According to Philip M. Nichols, a professor of legal studies and business ethics at Wharton who has done research on corruption in Europe as well as Asia, corruption distorts economies as well as people who occupy positions of power. The solution, he suggests, is to take measures that increase the psychic, social and transaction costs of being corrupt. If that can be done, corruption can be controlled, if not eliminated. Thu, 02 Dec 2010 14:38:55 EST Business Ethics http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/article.cfm?articleid=4548 A large number of business and political scandals have recently surfaced in India. While many believe that the country's culture of corruption runs so deep there is no solution, others say the fact that so many scams are being exposed is reason for hope. Experts agree that corruption in India has its roots in history, but complacency and a lack of social penalties encourage its continued growth. Thu, 02 Dec 2010 14:38:55 EST Business Ethics http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/article.cfm?articleid=4445 How can you distinguish a business entrepreneur from a social entrepreneur? The answer is not as straightforward as it once was, says Abraham George, founder of The George Foundation, an NGO focused on poverty alleviation in southern India. While social entrepreneurs target their efforts at the poorest members of society, it's increasingly unclear who the poorest are, says George in this opinion piece. In some cases, even well-intentioned social entrepreneurs are misleading investors and the general public -- and more importantly, letting down the billions of people living in poverty. Thu, 28 Jan 2010 15:13:26 EST Business Ethics http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/article.cfm?articleid=4422 According to Ignatius Chithelen, managing partner of New York City investment firm Banyan Tree Capital Management, recent news of illegal insider trading charges against Raj Rajaratnam of Galleon Group, a US$3.7 billion hedge fund, has inspired a round of gallows humor on Wall Street. But the charges against Rajaratnam and five others also raise fundamental questions about the relationship between character and success, and why investors need to take notice of any potential red flags, Chithelen argues in this opinion piece. Thu, 22 Oct 2009 15:11:49 EST Business Ethics http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/article.cfm?articleid=4214 Now that India is playing an ever larger role in the world economy, the issue of corruption, in both the private and public sectors, is coming into sharper focus. Two scenarios are possible: As India's multinational corporations develop both economic and political muscle, they may act as a broom, sweeping corruption from the economic sphere. On the other hand, entrenched practices may prove the stronger force and corruption could end up being a significant brake on India's economic rise. Wed, 08 Aug 2007 15:38:17 EST Business Ethics http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/article.cfm?articleid=4125 How should India realize its dreams of becoming an economic powerhouse? Rajat Gupta, former worldwide managing director of consulting firm McKinsey &amp; Company, addressed this theme at the annual Wharton India Economic Forum, held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on November 11. In his keynote address, Gupta made the case that India should press forward with its reforms in order to achieve its goals and laid out both economic and social priorities that need to be addressed. Thu, 30 Nov 2006 17:02:10 EST Business Ethics http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/article.cfm?articleid=4112 India's social sector has in recent years seen a surge in funding and other support from global nonprofits, venture funds and individuals; it has also proliferated, rapidly expanding in depth and reach. The upshot has been a dramatic increase in the induction of professional management practices, creative networking between donors, other intermediaries and beneficiaries, and a greater rigor in the viability and performance appraisal of funded projects. These efforts are paying off and getting NGOs (non-governmental organizations) away from their traditional model of sustaining themselves solely through charitable contributions. Tue, 31 Oct 2006 21:13:07 EST Business Ethics http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/india/article.cfm?articleid=4114 Abraham George is the founder of The George Foundation, an NGO engaged in humanitarian work in India, and the author of <em>India Untouched: The Forgotten Face of Rural Poverty</em>. In this contrarian essay, he explores why the current strategies that governments and development agencies are employing to reduce poverty are not working the way they should. Among his arguments: Microcredit programs, as they are now practiced in India, do little to help the poor. Tue, 31 Oct 2006 21:13:04 EST