ETHICAL AND SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY OF THE PURCHASING PRACTICE IN INDUSTRIES
ABSTRACT
This research project intends to explore the Ethical and social responsibilities of the Purchasing Practice in Industries in Nigeria.
I deemed it necessary since this research topic is unique to industries in Nigeria, an environmental practical research was carried on, in a brewery industry using Golden Guinea Breweries Plc Umuahia as a case study which was used to generalize the project objectives.
This research work cannot be said to be exhaustive due to changing nature of our industries, and it is not design to replace other views or subsequent research on this study objective, but has gone a long way in highlighting the ways to the much advocated efficient purchasing practice which has eluded our system.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 INTRODUCTIONÂ
Purchasing had been practiced right from ancient times. Organizational purchasing started in Nigeria Seriously after Independence. Before Independence, the Industry was mainly administrative and not manufacturing, manufacturing firm started shortly after Independence in Nigeria in earnest.
Purchasing department was developed immediately in Industries an assigned with major roles such as:
1. Finding and approving suppliers
2. Ensuring delivery at the right time
3. Warning of delays
4. Verifying invoices
5. Organizing all discussion with suppliers.
6. Speculative buying
7. Advising on prices and
8. Acting as a window on the world
These major roles cannot be achieved except purchasing principles and practice are fully employed. Many industries failed because ethical and social responsibilities of the purchasing practice for buyers in industries were ignored. The theoretical discussion of ethical and social responsibilities naturally prescribes the behaviour that is appropriate or expected of purchasers. But the pertinent or crucial question is whether in reality purchasers are adhering ethically and socially responsible? Are purchasers attaching importance to the satisfaction of industries in acquisition of material and enhancing high level of productivity? How far in reality are buyers being ethically and socially oriented in their purchasing activities? Looking at Nigerian industries, therefore, we observed the prevalent tendency among some of the purchasing officers who embezzle money in their purchasing activities as against the interest of their company’s use. This selfish attitude causes a lot of problems for the industry if they are not honest in discharging their responsibilities.
The purchasing principles are yet to be adopted or practiced by some Nigeria’s business enterprise. There are a lot of things being practices which negates the purchasing ethics. Ethical and social responsibilities of the purchasing practice in industries are desperately needed in Nigeria and should be adhered to or practiced by purchasing officers, especially in this era of grave economic and social ills prevalent in many transactions in Nigeria business. There are a lot of vices being committed by purchasing officers who do not have purchasing orientation. For instance, we have the following unethical practices in Industries.
1. OVER INVOICING: This unethical practice is similar to commercial bribery. In this case a purchasing officer asks the supplier to inflate the invoice value of the order place for his company use.
2. BRIBES, GIFTS OR KICK BACKS: In some organization purchasing officers demand bribes, gifts or kick-backs from suppliers and sales managers.
3. POOR QUALITY OF MATERIALS: In some organization purchasing officers embezzle money in their purchasing activities as against the interest of their company by buying poor quality materials for the company’s use.
All the foregoing practices constitute unethical behaviour. Unethical behaviour can be described as anything on the part of the purchasing officerswho betrays the confidence their employers and consumers repose on them. This unethical acts have anti-social affects on the products by Nigerian industries.
Unethical acts run counter to objectives of purchasing officers to abide by the codes of conduct of the organization or professional body.
The researcher therefore, focuses his study on how ethical and social responsibilities of the purchasing practice for buyers in industries can improve the level of productivity and the general standard of the industries performance and to erase the notion that purchasers are failures and further project the ethical and social conduct expected of a professional buyer in industries.
