Michael Vasquez was proud of his job as a new product manager for a technology

start-up, and he loved the challenges, risks, and tough decisions that went along with the

job. But as he sat in his office after a long day, he was troubled, struggling over what

had happened earlier that day and the information he now knows. Just before lunch,

Michaels boss had handed him a pile of private strategic documents from their closest

competitor. It was a competitive intelligence gold mine product plans, pricing strategies,

partnership agreements, and other documents, most clearly marked private and

confidential. When Michael asked where the documents came from, his boss told him

with a touch of pride that he had taken them right off the competing firms server. I got

into a private section of their intranet and downloaded everything that looked interesting,

he said.

Later, realizing Michael was suspicious, the boss would say only that he had

obtained electronic access via a colleague and had not personally broken any

passwords. Maybe not, Michael thought to himself, but this situation wouldnt pass the 60

Minutes test. If word of this acquisition of a competitors confidential data ever got out to

the press, the companys reputation would be ruined. Michael didnt feel good about

using these materials. He spent the afternoon searching for answers to his dilemma but

found no clear company policies or regulations that offered any guidance. His sense of fair

play told him that to use the information was unethical, if not downright illegal. What

bothered him, even more, was the knowledge that this kind of thing might happen

again. Using this confidential information would certainly give him and his company a

competitive advantage, but Michael wasnt sure he wanted to work for a firm that would

stoop to such tactics

question :

Based on the case study, provide four reasons why ethics is relevant to business?

kindly give me sort answer. sir .