Finance

Ethics and Compliance Paper: Dell

Corporate America transformed itself many times over regarding the concept of ethics. Corporate accountability and responsibility are the focal point of many annual reports. Dell, a computer company founded by Michael Dell, is one such company immersing itself in the conformity of the laws of the land. Corporate meltdowns to the likes of Enron and WorldCom, caused by company leadership intentionally mishandling funds resulted in the consumers and government demanding more accountability from corporations across America. Stock markets, such as the New York Stock Exchange and the NASDAQ, are adversely affected by the dishonesty of these actions. The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) monitors and regulates transactions by companies traded on the stock exchanges. The following discussion will identify the role of ethics and compliance within Dell, describe the procedures in Dell to ensure ethical behavior, identify processes used to comply with SEC regulations, and examine the company’s financial report filings and ratios to determine the financial health of the organization.

Role of Ethics and Compliance: Winning with Integrity

Dell prides itself in adhering to stringent standards of ethical behavior in every facet of its elaborate business structure. Known throughout the organization as the Soul of Dell, their shared global culture is built on a foundation of personal and professional integrity (Dell, 2010). Furthermore, conducting business the Dell way – Winning with Integrity – is ingrained in the organization’s training and development program, as well as its financial processes. The characteristics that underpin the soul of Dell include trust, integrity, honesty, judgment, respect, courage and responsibility (Dell, 2010). As these characteristics imply, Dell places great priority on honoring its commitment of excellence to one another as well as its many stakeholders. Furthermore, Dell strives to be transparent in...