Foreign influences

While undertaking a series of corporate trainings and consultancies, I began to take note of certain changes in the business community that has slowly become the rule rather than the exception.

- CITO BELTRAN

A number of these can be traced to rules and decisions put into practice by foreign companies and eventually adopted by local companies as well.

Some of the "influences" I picked up on were concerned with ethical conduct, business practice and adjustments on local practices. Some might think that foreign executives are "cheapskates" or stingy, but in reality, they are bound by real rules that they follow or else get fired or recalled.

Unbeknownst to many Filipinos, foreign firms must and do abide by three different codes or laws pertaining to ethical conduct and corrupt practices depending on the region or continent they are based. There is one for the US, another for EU and another for Canada.

In the Philippines, we have an anti-corruption law, but it does not go down to the nitty-gritty of what activities are allowed or disallowed, not specific on actual cost or prices on food for plate and requirements for reporting activities that may be in conflict with the law. The laws and rules on ethical conduct are, in fact, more of the exception rather than the rule.

In reality, some Filipino companies operate totally in contradiction to such ethical and legal restraints, while foreign competitors enter the business arena already "with their hands tied behind their back." But fortunately, both legislators and local CEOs are learning the benefits of such rules.