Managing in the Gray

Who Are We?

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committed to “open access to information and communica-

tion on a global basis.” The company was also committed to

“providing individuals with easy access to information and

opportunities to openly communicate and exchange views

and opinions.” Another of its values was recognizing that

“each country enacts its own laws in accordance with its own

local norms and mores, and we must comply with applicable

laws.”

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Most companies around the world have a similar

range of fundamental commitments, beliefs, and values.

Some are stated, some are implicit. All are typically import-

ant but, quite often, particularly in gray area cases, some of

these values and commitments contradict others.

The third practical challenge is that basic val ...