Mixing
Listening in in a negotiations [closed]
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Consider the following situation:
A businessman B is negotiating with a group of foreigners C who are widely (and with a reason) suspected of having an "alternative" view on business ethics. B thinks that the crooks might betray themselves by talking to each other in their language which B does not understand, so he asks his friend F (who is a native speaker of the foreign language) to listen in on the negotiations (from the next room when negotiating in person or on a second phone line when negotiating over the phone). So, C do not know that there is a third party F listening to the negotiations.
Alternatively, B records the conversation (without C's knowledge) and lets F listen to it off-line.
If this behavior unethical?
Obviously, the answer may depend on the country in question (I have the story from F who was quite proud of his role), so let us limit ourselves to USA (and the West in general).
Follow-up.
ethics
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:48
Community♦
1
asked Aug 27 '13 at 18:03
sds
1,55311418
closed as primarily opinion-based by Joe Strazzere, CincinnatiProgrammer, jcmeloni, Michael Grubey, Rhys Aug 28 '13 at 9:32
Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
Consider the following situation:
A businessman B is negotiating with a group of foreigners C who are widely (and with a reason) suspected of having an "alternative" view on business ethics. B thinks that the crooks might betray themselves by talking to each other in their language which B does not understand, so he asks his friend F (who is a native speaker of the foreign language) to listen in on the negotiations (from the next room when negotiating in person or on a second phone line when negotiating over the phone). So, C do not know that there is a third party F listening to the negotiations.
Alternatively, B records the conversation (without C's knowledge) and lets F listen to it off-line.
If this behavior unethical?
Obviously, the answer may depend on the country in question (I have the story from F who was quite proud of his role), so let us limit ourselves to USA (and the West in general).
Follow-up.
ethics
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:48
Community♦
1
asked Aug 27 '13 at 18:03
sds
1,55311418
closed as primarily opinion-based by Joe Strazzere, CincinnatiProgrammer, jcmeloni, Michael Grubey, Rhys Aug 28 '13 at 9:32
Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
1
Do B and C have Non-disclosure Agreements that may play a role here?
– JB King
Aug 27 '13 at 18:18
@JBKing: probably not - this is an initial stage.
– sds
Aug 27 '13 at 18:26
Hello sds, and welcome to the Workplace! The best questions here inspire answers that explain why and how. Right now your question only asks a yes/no question (which won't get the best answers). Would you be willing to edit your question to ask a broader question, like "What constitutes negotiating in 'good faith'?" with this specific case as an example? I think that would get you much better answers.
– jmac
Aug 27 '13 at 23:55
Sounds perfectly OK to me. The other side would be naive to speak openly in their native language with the assumption that no one understands what they're saying.
– Angelo
Aug 28 '13 at 14:24
add a comment |Â
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
up vote
6
down vote
favorite
Consider the following situation:
A businessman B is negotiating with a group of foreigners C who are widely (and with a reason) suspected of having an "alternative" view on business ethics. B thinks that the crooks might betray themselves by talking to each other in their language which B does not understand, so he asks his friend F (who is a native speaker of the foreign language) to listen in on the negotiations (from the next room when negotiating in person or on a second phone line when negotiating over the phone). So, C do not know that there is a third party F listening to the negotiations.
Alternatively, B records the conversation (without C's knowledge) and lets F listen to it off-line.
If this behavior unethical?
Obviously, the answer may depend on the country in question (I have the story from F who was quite proud of his role), so let us limit ourselves to USA (and the West in general).
Follow-up.
ethics
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:48
Community♦
1
asked Aug 27 '13 at 18:03
sds
1,55311418
Consider the following situation:
A businessman B is negotiating with a group of foreigners C who are widely (and with a reason) suspected of having an "alternative" view on business ethics. B thinks that the crooks might betray themselves by talking to each other in their language which B does not understand, so he asks his friend F (who is a native speaker of the foreign language) to listen in on the negotiations (from the next room when negotiating in person or on a second phone line when negotiating over the phone). So, C do not know that there is a third party F listening to the negotiations.
Alternatively, B records the conversation (without C's knowledge) and lets F listen to it off-line.
If this behavior unethical?
Obviously, the answer may depend on the country in question (I have the story from F who was quite proud of his role), so let us limit ourselves to USA (and the West in general).
Follow-up.
ethics
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:48
Community♦
1
asked Aug 27 '13 at 18:03
sds
1,55311418
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:48
Community♦
1
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:48
Community♦
1
edited Apr 13 '17 at 12:48
Community♦
1
1
asked Aug 27 '13 at 18:03
sds
1,55311418
asked Aug 27 '13 at 18:03
sds
1,55311418
asked Aug 27 '13 at 18:03
sds
1,55311418
1,55311418
closed as primarily opinion-based by Joe Strazzere, CincinnatiProgrammer, jcmeloni, Michael Grubey, Rhys Aug 28 '13 at 9:32
Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
closed as primarily opinion-based by Joe Strazzere, CincinnatiProgrammer, jcmeloni, Michael Grubey, Rhys Aug 28 '13 at 9:32
Many good questions generate some degree of opinion based on expert experience, but answers to this question will tend to be almost entirely based on opinions, rather than facts, references, or specific expertise. If this question can be reworded to fit the rules in the help center, please edit the question.
1
Do B and C have Non-disclosure Agreements that may play a role here?
– JB King
Aug 27 '13 at 18:18
@JBKing: probably not - this is an initial stage.
– sds
Aug 27 '13 at 18:26
Hello sds, and welcome to the Workplace! The best questions here inspire answers that explain why and how. Right now your question only asks a yes/no question (which won't get the best answers). Would you be willing to edit your question to ask a broader question, like "What constitutes negotiating in 'good faith'?" with this specific case as an example? I think that would get you much better answers.
– jmac
Aug 27 '13 at 23:55
Sounds perfectly OK to me. The other side would be naive to speak openly in their native language with the assumption that no one understands what they're saying.
– Angelo
Aug 28 '13 at 14:24
add a comment |Â
1
Do B and C have Non-disclosure Agreements that may play a role here?
– JB King
Aug 27 '13 at 18:18
@JBKing: probably not - this is an initial stage.
– sds
Aug 27 '13 at 18:26
Hello sds, and welcome to the Workplace! The best questions here inspire answers that explain why and how. Right now your question only asks a yes/no question (which won't get the best answers). Would you be willing to edit your question to ask a broader question, like "What constitutes negotiating in 'good faith'?" with this specific case as an example? I think that would get you much better answers.
– jmac
Aug 27 '13 at 23:55
Sounds perfectly OK to me. The other side would be naive to speak openly in their native language with the assumption that no one understands what they're saying.
– Angelo
Aug 28 '13 at 14:24
1
1
Do B and C have Non-disclosure Agreements that may play a role here?
– JB King
Aug 27 '13 at 18:18
Do B and C have Non-disclosure Agreements that may play a role here?
– JB King
Aug 27 '13 at 18:18
@JBKing: probably not - this is an initial stage.
– sds
Aug 27 '13 at 18:26
@JBKing: probably not - this is an initial stage.
– sds
Aug 27 '13 at 18:26
Hello sds, and welcome to the Workplace! The best questions here inspire answers that explain why and how. Right now your question only asks a yes/no question (which won't get the best answers). Would you be willing to edit your question to ask a broader question, like "What constitutes negotiating in 'good faith'?" with this specific case as an example? I think that would get you much better answers.
– jmac
Aug 27 '13 at 23:55
Hello sds, and welcome to the Workplace! The best questions here inspire answers that explain why and how. Right now your question only asks a yes/no question (which won't get the best answers). Would you be willing to edit your question to ask a broader question, like "What constitutes negotiating in 'good faith'?" with this specific case as an example? I think that would get you much better answers.
– jmac
Aug 27 '13 at 23:55
Sounds perfectly OK to me. The other side would be naive to speak openly in their native language with the assumption that no one understands what they're saying.
– Angelo
Aug 28 '13 at 14:24
Sounds perfectly OK to me. The other side would be naive to speak openly in their native language with the assumption that no one understands what they're saying.
– Angelo
Aug 28 '13 at 14:24
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
accepted
I'm not sure why you're negotiating with people you think aren't ethical.
I'm assuming the result of this negotiation will be a contract. What value will that contract have? It's very expensive to go to court and force someone to do something against their will.
Even worse if the foreigners discuss their intention to do something and then later do it, you have to acknowledge in court that you were warned in advance.
It seems to me that you're voluntarily walking into pain for yourself.
answered Aug 27 '13 at 22:27
dcaswell
673313
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
I'm not sure the language piece is an issue. I guess they could type their communications if they really didn't want you to hear. Hacking their IM/chat would be unethical. Recording and having unknown listeners isn't any better.
Why can't you bring another person in on the deal. You don't have to disclose he/she speaks their language. It's rude to talk about someone in another language in front of them and especially in a business negotiation. They deserve to lose whatever advantage they think they are gaining.
add a comment |Â
up vote
-3
down vote
If it is purely a business transaction, I don't see how this is unethical. C wouldn't be speaking in a native language if C was being 100% ethical. This is just gaining an entrepreneurial edge, in my opinion.
As stated by others already, in the US nothing legal can be annotated to information thus obtained.
answered Aug 27 '13 at 19:02
happybuddha
4,31152752
2
Speaking in a native language is not necessarily unethical. If group C contains any employees who are required to be included in the process, but who don't speak the language, then a translation would be necessary and not unethical.
– Adam V
Aug 27 '13 at 19:04
What is a non-no-profit business transaction?
– MrFox
Aug 27 '13 at 19:07
1
@AdamV Agreed. If they let the other party know what was being discussed in the native language, it wouldn't necessarily be unethical. But then again, the other party would never know if that is true
– happybuddha
Aug 27 '13 at 19:09
@MrFox I meant a business-for-profit transaction versus a non-profit business (Government NGOs.).
– happybuddha
Aug 27 '13 at 19:14
Downvoters -personal grudge ? If not, care to explain why this gets your downvote
– happybuddha
Aug 28 '13 at 12:54
add a comment |Â
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
3 Answers
3
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
active
oldest
votes
up vote
4
down vote
accepted
I'm not sure why you're negotiating with people you think aren't ethical.
I'm assuming the result of this negotiation will be a contract. What value will that contract have? It's very expensive to go to court and force someone to do something against their will.
Even worse if the foreigners discuss their intention to do something and then later do it, you have to acknowledge in court that you were warned in advance.
It seems to me that you're voluntarily walking into pain for yourself.
answered Aug 27 '13 at 22:27
dcaswell
673313
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
accepted
I'm not sure why you're negotiating with people you think aren't ethical.
I'm assuming the result of this negotiation will be a contract. What value will that contract have? It's very expensive to go to court and force someone to do something against their will.
Even worse if the foreigners discuss their intention to do something and then later do it, you have to acknowledge in court that you were warned in advance.
It seems to me that you're voluntarily walking into pain for yourself.
answered Aug 27 '13 at 22:27
dcaswell
673313
add a comment |Â
up vote
4
down vote
accepted
up vote
4
down vote
accepted
I'm not sure why you're negotiating with people you think aren't ethical.
I'm assuming the result of this negotiation will be a contract. What value will that contract have? It's very expensive to go to court and force someone to do something against their will.
Even worse if the foreigners discuss their intention to do something and then later do it, you have to acknowledge in court that you were warned in advance.
It seems to me that you're voluntarily walking into pain for yourself.
answered Aug 27 '13 at 22:27
dcaswell
673313
I'm not sure why you're negotiating with people you think aren't ethical.
I'm assuming the result of this negotiation will be a contract. What value will that contract have? It's very expensive to go to court and force someone to do something against their will.
Even worse if the foreigners discuss their intention to do something and then later do it, you have to acknowledge in court that you were warned in advance.
It seems to me that you're voluntarily walking into pain for yourself.
answered Aug 27 '13 at 22:27
dcaswell
673313
answered Aug 27 '13 at 22:27
dcaswell
673313
answered Aug 27 '13 at 22:27
dcaswell
673313
answered Aug 27 '13 at 22:27
dcaswell
673313
673313
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
I'm not sure the language piece is an issue. I guess they could type their communications if they really didn't want you to hear. Hacking their IM/chat would be unethical. Recording and having unknown listeners isn't any better.
Why can't you bring another person in on the deal. You don't have to disclose he/she speaks their language. It's rude to talk about someone in another language in front of them and especially in a business negotiation. They deserve to lose whatever advantage they think they are gaining.
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
I'm not sure the language piece is an issue. I guess they could type their communications if they really didn't want you to hear. Hacking their IM/chat would be unethical. Recording and having unknown listeners isn't any better.
Why can't you bring another person in on the deal. You don't have to disclose he/she speaks their language. It's rude to talk about someone in another language in front of them and especially in a business negotiation. They deserve to lose whatever advantage they think they are gaining.
add a comment |Â
up vote
0
down vote
up vote
0
down vote
I'm not sure the language piece is an issue. I guess they could type their communications if they really didn't want you to hear. Hacking their IM/chat would be unethical. Recording and having unknown listeners isn't any better.
Why can't you bring another person in on the deal. You don't have to disclose he/she speaks their language. It's rude to talk about someone in another language in front of them and especially in a business negotiation. They deserve to lose whatever advantage they think they are gaining.
I'm not sure the language piece is an issue. I guess they could type their communications if they really didn't want you to hear. Hacking their IM/chat would be unethical. Recording and having unknown listeners isn't any better.
Why can't you bring another person in on the deal. You don't have to disclose he/she speaks their language. It's rude to talk about someone in another language in front of them and especially in a business negotiation. They deserve to lose whatever advantage they think they are gaining.
answered Aug 27 '13 at 21:11
user8365
add a comment |Â
add a comment |Â
up vote
-3
down vote
If it is purely a business transaction, I don't see how this is unethical. C wouldn't be speaking in a native language if C was being 100% ethical. This is just gaining an entrepreneurial edge, in my opinion.
As stated by others already, in the US nothing legal can be annotated to information thus obtained.
answered Aug 27 '13 at 19:02
happybuddha
4,31152752
2
Speaking in a native language is not necessarily unethical. If group C contains any employees who are required to be included in the process, but who don't speak the language, then a translation would be necessary and not unethical.
– Adam V
Aug 27 '13 at 19:04
What is a non-no-profit business transaction?
– MrFox
Aug 27 '13 at 19:07
1
@AdamV Agreed. If they let the other party know what was being discussed in the native language, it wouldn't necessarily be unethical. But then again, the other party would never know if that is true
– happybuddha
Aug 27 '13 at 19:09
@MrFox I meant a business-for-profit transaction versus a non-profit business (Government NGOs.).
– happybuddha
Aug 27 '13 at 19:14
Downvoters -personal grudge ? If not, care to explain why this gets your downvote
– happybuddha
Aug 28 '13 at 12:54
add a comment |Â
up vote
-3
down vote
If it is purely a business transaction, I don't see how this is unethical. C wouldn't be speaking in a native language if C was being 100% ethical. This is just gaining an entrepreneurial edge, in my opinion.
As stated by others already, in the US nothing legal can be annotated to information thus obtained.
answered Aug 27 '13 at 19:02
happybuddha
4,31152752
2
Speaking in a native language is not necessarily unethical. If group C contains any employees who are required to be included in the process, but who don't speak the language, then a translation would be necessary and not unethical.
– Adam V
Aug 27 '13 at 19:04
What is a non-no-profit business transaction?
– MrFox
Aug 27 '13 at 19:07
1
@AdamV Agreed. If they let the other party know what was being discussed in the native language, it wouldn't necessarily be unethical. But then again, the other party would never know if that is true
– happybuddha
Aug 27 '13 at 19:09
@MrFox I meant a business-for-profit transaction versus a non-profit business (Government NGOs.).
– happybuddha
Aug 27 '13 at 19:14
Downvoters -personal grudge ? If not, care to explain why this gets your downvote
– happybuddha
Aug 28 '13 at 12:54
add a comment |Â
up vote
-3
down vote
up vote
-3
down vote
If it is purely a business transaction, I don't see how this is unethical. C wouldn't be speaking in a native language if C was being 100% ethical. This is just gaining an entrepreneurial edge, in my opinion.
As stated by others already, in the US nothing legal can be annotated to information thus obtained.
answered Aug 27 '13 at 19:02
happybuddha
4,31152752
If it is purely a business transaction, I don't see how this is unethical. C wouldn't be speaking in a native language if C was being 100% ethical. This is just gaining an entrepreneurial edge, in my opinion.
As stated by others already, in the US nothing legal can be annotated to information thus obtained.
answered Aug 27 '13 at 19:02
happybuddha
4,31152752
edited Aug 28 '13 at 13:33
answered Aug 27 '13 at 19:02
happybuddha
4,31152752
answered Aug 27 '13 at 19:02
happybuddha
4,31152752
answered Aug 27 '13 at 19:02
happybuddha
4,31152752
4,31152752
2
Speaking in a native language is not necessarily unethical. If group C contains any employees who are required to be included in the process, but who don't speak the language, then a translation would be necessary and not unethical.
– Adam V
Aug 27 '13 at 19:04
What is a non-no-profit business transaction?
– MrFox
Aug 27 '13 at 19:07
1
@AdamV Agreed. If they let the other party know what was being discussed in the native language, it wouldn't necessarily be unethical. But then again, the other party would never know if that is true
– happybuddha
Aug 27 '13 at 19:09
@MrFox I meant a business-for-profit transaction versus a non-profit business (Government NGOs.).
– happybuddha
Aug 27 '13 at 19:14
Downvoters -personal grudge ? If not, care to explain why this gets your downvote
– happybuddha
Aug 28 '13 at 12:54
add a comment |Â
2
Speaking in a native language is not necessarily unethical. If group C contains any employees who are required to be included in the process, but who don't speak the language, then a translation would be necessary and not unethical.
– Adam V
Aug 27 '13 at 19:04
What is a non-no-profit business transaction?
– MrFox
Aug 27 '13 at 19:07
1
@AdamV Agreed. If they let the other party know what was being discussed in the native language, it wouldn't necessarily be unethical. But then again, the other party would never know if that is true
– happybuddha
Aug 27 '13 at 19:09
@MrFox I meant a business-for-profit transaction versus a non-profit business (Government NGOs.).
– happybuddha
Aug 27 '13 at 19:14
Downvoters -personal grudge ? If not, care to explain why this gets your downvote
– happybuddha
Aug 28 '13 at 12:54
2
2
Speaking in a native language is not necessarily unethical. If group C contains any employees who are required to be included in the process, but who don't speak the language, then a translation would be necessary and not unethical.
– Adam V
Aug 27 '13 at 19:04
Speaking in a native language is not necessarily unethical. If group C contains any employees who are required to be included in the process, but who don't speak the language, then a translation would be necessary and not unethical.
– Adam V
Aug 27 '13 at 19:04
What is a non-no-profit business transaction?
– MrFox
Aug 27 '13 at 19:07
What is a non-no-profit business transaction?
– MrFox
Aug 27 '13 at 19:07
1
1
@AdamV Agreed. If they let the other party know what was being discussed in the native language, it wouldn't necessarily be unethical. But then again, the other party would never know if that is true
– happybuddha
Aug 27 '13 at 19:09
@AdamV Agreed. If they let the other party know what was being discussed in the native language, it wouldn't necessarily be unethical. But then again, the other party would never know if that is true
– happybuddha
Aug 27 '13 at 19:09
@MrFox I meant a business-for-profit transaction versus a non-profit business (Government NGOs.).
– happybuddha
Aug 27 '13 at 19:14
@MrFox I meant a business-for-profit transaction versus a non-profit business (Government NGOs.).
– happybuddha
Aug 27 '13 at 19:14
Downvoters -personal grudge ? If not, care to explain why this gets your downvote
– happybuddha
Aug 28 '13 at 12:54
Downvoters -personal grudge ? If not, care to explain why this gets your downvote
– happybuddha
Aug 28 '13 at 12:54
add a comment |Â
1
Do B and C have Non-disclosure Agreements that may play a role here?
– JB King
Aug 27 '13 at 18:18
@JBKing: probably not - this is an initial stage.
– sds
Aug 27 '13 at 18:26
Hello sds, and welcome to the Workplace! The best questions here inspire answers that explain why and how. Right now your question only asks a yes/no question (which won't get the best answers). Would you be willing to edit your question to ask a broader question, like "What constitutes negotiating in 'good faith'?" with this specific case as an example? I think that would get you much better answers.
– jmac
Aug 27 '13 at 23:55
Sounds perfectly OK to me. The other side would be naive to speak openly in their native language with the assumption that no one understands what they're saying.
– Angelo
Aug 28 '13 at 14:24