Hewlett Packard Pretexting Case

Case Synopsis

In 2006 HP admitted it had hired outside investigators to spy on members of its board of directors and journalists to uncover the source of several leaks of confidential board deliberations.

The investigators used methods, including "pretexting" (using an assumed identity to access others' phone records) which were possibly illegal and certainly unethical.

Learning Objectives

Identify and analyze problems in the functioning of a public company board of directors

Apply theories of ethical reasoning to an analysis of steps taken to address problems in corporate governance

Analyze the chairman's decision process and identify possible errors of judgment

Proposed actions that management can take to strengthen corporate governance and ethical decision-making

Assignment Questions

What was the problem or problems facing HP's board of directors?

Strategic direction of the company

Appropriate role of the Board of Directors

Lack of consensus on appropriate behavior for board members

Lack of group trust and cohesion

Ineffective processes for resolving conflicts constructively

Failure to adapt to changing public expectations

Failure to adapt to changing governmental expectations

Lack of training for directors

Put yourself in the role of Mark Hurd, as of the date of the congressional hearing of Sept 28, 2006. What actions would you take now, with respect to (a) Ethics and (b) Legal compliance?

Additional issues associated with Managing HP

Manage Day to day issues at HP

Integration of Compaq - go ahead or not

Operational policies have to be revised - at least for pretexting

HP needs to re-examine its code of conduct

Compliance with current investigation and litigation, restore the HP way not only in word but in spirit

Paper Guidance

All of the Project Write Up questions must be answered in your narrative

All of the Assignment questions must be answered and included within your narrative ( they are there to help guide you through the narrative)

Although it is not necessary, you may use the internet for research, however if you do, you must attribute the correct citations

Most questions have some small part questions. Each question must be answered completely

- For each question place a # representing your answer.

- Do not write the question out on your paper and waste valuable space. Don't keep a line except you go to next question.

Your responses should be three and half pages long with no error of grammar and plagiarism.

Attachment:- hewlett packard case.pdf