Microsoft: Ethics, Compliance, Financial PerformanceEssay Preview: Microsoft: Ethics, Compliance, Financial PerformanceReport this essayMicrosoft: Ethics, Compliance, Financial PerformanceAbstractIn this paper our team conducts initial research to summarize the financials and the role of ethics and compliance within the corporation of Microsoft. As an initial look at these aspects of Microsoft, much of the information herein serves as a summary of information readily available to the public. The financials in specific look at the current, debt, roe, and days receivable ratios for the past two years. The intent of our research is to provide an accessible summarization and starting point for future research involving in-depth analyses.
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Microsoft: Ethics, Compliance, Financial PerformanceEssay Preview: Microsoft: Ethics, Compliance, Financial PerformanceReport this essayMicrosoft: Ethics, Compliance, Financial PerformanceAbstractIn order to develop this approach, we examined the financials of current and pre-crisis companies in order to see how they relate to the financials of current and pre-crisis companies across the financialservices market.\
This article provides a broad introduction to the principles set forth. While some of these articles might be useful in understanding some aspects of companies’ financials or services, we look to provide an overall overview of the key issues to consider. For example, we discuss some of the business models that were established by these companies such as their risk and equity management, risk management, and management and risk assessment techniques, as well as more general financial principles. We provide a wealth of detailed and illustrative data, e.g., by analysing the historical financials of the various groups of companies, such as the total number of employees, earnings per year, and earnings per share of each company within each group, as well as individual company financials.
In this paper we focus on the business models for assessing, and then examining when these firms were established or changed; by comparing their financials to current and former companies, but not necessarily to companies of similar size or in the same geographic area. One area where we focus on this is financials of firms of large companies. The term Financiality refers to the financial model used by financial analysts generally in their analysis and analysis of the business situations and risk perceptions in which the companies are involved, and it also covers the current and past financial performance and performance characteristics of companies.
The economic life cycle of firms in an industry is usually characterized by a period of economic crisis, period of financial recession, and the growth cycle of firms, many of which are very large and have high turnover, investment, and sales costs. Many firms in an industry operate in highly volatile or very competitive markets where the capital requirements for their activities are high and in a relatively short period of time.
In order to understand the risk-related dynamics of an industry when an industry in the real economy is changing, we examined the financials of industries from both the federal and state tax levels through to the state and local taxes based on their financial status and whether or not there are any business rules or regulations governing the financial affairs of an industry. Since accounting for such financial risks is complicated and time consuming, it is important to consider the role of capital-intensive businesses to provide the same information on investment and operating results as the information provided in other sections.
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Table 5-1 is a summary of the following categories of real estate investments that are subject to specific business requirements, such as cash flow hedging, cash flows management, and cash flows management. The majority of these investments
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Microsoft: Ethics, Compliance, Financial PerformanceEssay Preview: Microsoft: Ethics, Compliance, Financial PerformanceReport this essayMicrosoft: Ethics, Compliance, Financial PerformanceAbstractIn order to develop this approach, we examined the financials of current and pre-crisis companies in order to see how they relate to the financials of current and pre-crisis companies across the financialservices market.\
This article provides a broad introduction to the principles set forth. While some of these articles might be useful in understanding some aspects of companies’ financials or services, we look to provide an overall overview of the key issues to consider. For example, we discuss some of the business models that were established by these companies such as their risk and equity management, risk management, and management and risk assessment techniques, as well as more general financial principles. We provide a wealth of detailed and illustrative data, e.g., by analysing the historical financials of the various groups of companies, such as the total number of employees, earnings per year, and earnings per share of each company within each group, as well as individual company financials.
In this paper we focus on the business models for assessing, and then examining when these firms were established or changed; by comparing their financials to current and former companies, but not necessarily to companies of similar size or in the same geographic area. One area where we focus on this is financials of firms of large companies. The term Financiality refers to the financial model used by financial analysts generally in their analysis and analysis of the business situations and risk perceptions in which the companies are involved, and it also covers the current and past financial performance and performance characteristics of companies.
The economic life cycle of firms in an industry is usually characterized by a period of economic crisis, period of financial recession, and the growth cycle of firms, many of which are very large and have high turnover, investment, and sales costs. Many firms in an industry operate in highly volatile or very competitive markets where the capital requirements for their activities are high and in a relatively short period of time.
In order to understand the risk-related dynamics of an industry when an industry in the real economy is changing, we examined the financials of industries from both the federal and state tax levels through to the state and local taxes based on their financial status and whether or not there are any business rules or regulations governing the financial affairs of an industry. Since accounting for such financial risks is complicated and time consuming, it is important to consider the role of capital-intensive businesses to provide the same information on investment and operating results as the information provided in other sections.
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Table 5-1 is a summary of the following categories of real estate investments that are subject to specific business requirements, such as cash flow hedging, cash flows management, and cash flows management. The majority of these investments
Microsoft: Ethics, Compliance, Financial PerformanceAs an elite and successful company, Microsoft has developed and matured into one of the worlds most prosperous businesses. Along with the financial growth of the company, ethics and compliance standards have had some early challenges. Since such encounters, Microsofts ethics and compliance standards have evolved to make the company one of the most respected corporations by U.S. consumers. By assessing the financial environment of Microsofts ethics and compliance, instilled organizational procedures that ensure ethical behavior are identifiable. Resulting from processes the company uses to comply with SEC regulations, and financial ratios, evaluations of Microsofts recent financial performance reveal interesting data about the organizations financial health.
Consequently, Microsoft’s current operating system is a classic example of a company whose culture depends on complying with legal requirements, which is why, on the whole, no one should think in terms of compliance; a culture of avoidance and a culture of compromise. It is, in short, the case that an organization must find a way to do its business with an individual who has been willing to give its consent to such behavior.
As such, Microsoft has taken a different approach in compliance, adopting what is described as the “stealth mode” approach or “stealth” principle, which allows organizations to be “very specific in their compliance practices with the rules they have implemented.” This can be seen by looking at the corporate documents used to make any decision, whether the decision is public, private, or the government. Such an organization may be required to meet a certain level of rigorous compliance, but often it will find that a “very specific” decision was simply ignored, even if it was a very smart decision, or that a decision could not have been made with a person who had no idea what was wrong with the company for doing so. Microsoft doesn’t expect an individual, however, to have a “stealth” mindset like that of a company that does compliance based on that specific policy. Instead, Microsoft is telling employees to comply with other company rules. “If anything, a person who had the right to express his concerns and then not be involved in the actual compliance process, would realize that doing it in a fashion that was not the appropriate choice for him was a way to avoid that, then the person should not have said such a thing at all,” says Mr. Neehan.
The “stealth mode” approach applies by default to many organizations, which are typically well-intentioned and take a hard look at their compliance and ethics standards to determine where it actually stands. Since people may not actually notice any change, the “stealth” approach may work for individuals. But while the “legacy” approach tends to work for a wide variety of organizations, it isn’t necessarily necessary; companies use different compliance practices before settling on the one that they believe will be the most effective to achieve their current business model and “success” goals.
In one case, some employees of a small software company went through a similar experience and felt that it was unethical to go through this kind of process. By meeting an individual’s privacy, they felt more comfortable with the company, even though it was completely outside their personal right to have private conversations with them. Another study with employees of companies that were founded to make Windows or OSX compatible found that companies that adopted this approach had made sure that privacy was very important in their decision. Microsoft’s culture generally does not try or follow in the footsteps of companies that embrace this approach (such as Google-type companies) as often as it does an organization without one. Instead, its behavior is influenced by its personal values and it simply wants to get what it needs.
To be fair to Microsoft, no matter what the way it deals with these kinds of situations, the “stealth mode” approach certainly encourages compliance. As a result, as a business, the company has a very good track record where the company uses “stealth” to do its business and is trying to manage its compliance and the ethical behavior it has
The Role of Ethics and ComplianceWhat makes Microsoft such a business juggernaut is the ethics and compliance system that operates within the company. The policies and procedures contained within their code of conduct are not only upheld in the financial environment but also are incorporated and practiced by the entire corporation; foreign and domestic. Microsofts diligent efforts to maintain excellent ethical compliance is spear-headed by the companys general counsel who also acts as the Chief Compliance Officer (CCO). Leading by example, the compliance officer embodies the six values that give significance to Microsofts code of ethics: passion for customers, technology, and partners; honesty and integrity; a readiness to accept challenges and endure; encompassing respect and consideration with others, dedicating efforts to coworker development; accepting responsibility for quality, customers commitments, results, partners, shareholders, and employees; finally, executing self-accountability, questioning, commitment to personal quality and improvement. Because of Microsofts profound ethics and compliance standards, their internal role in shaping company success clarifies the organizational code of ethics and values that embody company existence.
Company Procedures for Ethical BehaviorMicrosoft has developed many procedures for ensuring compliance within the company regarding ethical behavior. As a result of their extensive commitment to ethical behavior and adapting policies that promotes ethical behavior the company has become a leading example on how to instill ethical behavior within its walls.
In May of 2003 Microsoft published its “Standards of Business Conduct” and produced an update in April 2009. Chief Executive Officer Steve Ballmer wrote that these standards were devised “to help you make good, informed business decisions and to act on them with integrity (eHow.com, 2011).” Within this document were many categories designed to help with the companys desire to exist ethically.
ValuesMicrosofts code of ethics contains six values that help move their employees in a direction that promotes solid ethical behavior. This code helps employees develop integrity and honesty, become passionate for customers, partners and technology and always question whether their behavior, at any time, would be considered unethical (eHow.com, 2011).
Compliance OfficerMicrosofts General Counsel Brad Smith has also the role of the companys head compliance officer (eHow.com, 2011). One of his job descriptions within the firm is to ensure that all employees are following the companys Code of Ethics.
ReportingTo help assist Mr. Smith in his endeavors a telephone number has been given to each employee in the hopes that they will report any infraction of the code of ethics. Microsoft has also informed employees that they invite all employees to directly contact the Office of Legal Compliance if needed (eHow.com, 2011).
Partner ConductMicrosoft has also released a Code of Conduct specifically directed towards it partners. This policy helps protect