Ethical responsibility : a case study of Telenor in Bangladesh

Abstract

“This thesis will aim at giving an ethical reflection on ethical responsibility through a case study on Telenor in Bangladesh. Telenor is the majority shareholder in the Bangladeshi phone company Grameenphone. The case will focus on the misbehaviours of several of Grameenphone’s phone pole suppliers in Bangladesh presented in Tom Heinemann’s documentary “A Tower of Promises” (2008). The documentary was shown on both NRK and NRK2 in May 2008. It reveals bad working conditions, lack of safety measures, use of child labour and environmental destruction at the suppliers’ factories. The case will be analyzed by applying ethical theories and perspectives in order to determine Telenor’s ethical responsibility. In the analysis Telenor’s knowledge and freedom in this case, “Codes of Conduct” and ethical decision making will be especially emphasized. General implications on the ethical responsibility of multinational corporations operating in developing countries will be drawn based upon the findings in the case analysis.”