Abstract

The case describes how the US-based oil ExxonMobil acquired an oil block in Liberia, a war-torn African country, by bribing the officials. The block itself was the subject of a major controversy, as it was owned by politicians and ministers in the country. The issue was brought out by an advocacy group, leading to a probe.

Learning Objectives

The case is structured to achieve the following Learning Objectives:

• Understand the cross cultural ethical issues faced by multinational organizations
• Draw the frameworks for ethical decision making
• Discuss the ways to combat corruption in international business

Keywords

ExxonMobil; Bribery; Liberia; Ethics; Ethics in Business; Cross Cultural Ethics; Corruption in International Business; Social Responsibility