preview

What Is Conflict Of Interest

Better Essays

Conflict of interest and the Principal-Agent relationship
Conflict of interest is defined in Walton and Henderson (2005) as circumstances in which some interest of a person has an inclination to be at odds with the consistent exercise of his discernment in another’s interest. The idea of conflict of interest in that perception touches on positions of decision-making with a practical importance such as a company management’s discussion and acceptance of a decision and determinations of a board of directors of a business establishment. Hence, the conflict is a psychological one resulting from within a human or organization that is authorized to make decisions (p.4-7).
Fiduciary Obligations
The most common fiduciary duties are the requirements to act in the principal’s interest and the duty of honesty. For example, most company codes of conduct requires the board of directors and the management to carry out their duties with all necessary care and be truthful to the interests of the business establishment. This requirement goes line in line with the corporation law that terms this as interest of the company. The company’s interest, in that legal set up is all interests that the management has to consider when performing its duties on behalf of the …show more content…

There are several ways through which conflicts of interest can be averted. One is by exhaustively researching potential employees, potential customers and business partners. Two, business establishments avert conflict of interest involving personal interests and the company by establishing a code of ethics and or company policies that disallows extraprofessional dealings within the company. Prohibiting such dealings or relationships greatly cuts down the possibility of conflict of interest arising (Tricker, 2012, p.29-33). The company codes of conduct cover the issues indicated in the illustration

Get Access