An Interview with an Official at Nestle Korea Co.

``As individuals, Koreans seem to be more ethical. They are very compassionate and thoughtful toward their coworkers. However, when we`re talking about businesses, it is a different story,`` according to Jungpyo Hong, general manager, and Bangbok Lee, deputy general manager, of Nestle Korea Co.

Hong and Lee both stated that, From their experience, ``people do not decide a company`s ethics, but well-constructed systems and principles.`` Hong is staying in Boube for business training, and Lee is there for a company project. In the headquarter of Boube, employees form more than 40 countries are being trained to operate their businesses.

Manager Hong discovered the reason for Nestle`s ethical management which they draw from the process of industrialization of two hundred years. Experience has taught the company how corruption occurs in corporate situations.

``Compared to foreign companies, there are too many loopholes and opportunities for corruption in Korean businesses. In the Western business world, however, protocol exist for every occasion and everybody follows them, so if one does something out of the guideline, it would be revealed at once,`` said Hong.

Lee emphasized thorough business management and post evaluation. ``If they decide to do so, they can even track down the original producer (of an original material) and this can be replicated anywhere in the world. They also regularly check up the original material and product in their laboratories established in more than 20 countries. Therefore, if a problem arises, it is instantly revealed. Of course, bidding process is transparent from the very beginning.`` said Lee.

Hong said ``One impressive thing concerning Nestle`s business is the atmosphere in which a total commitment of employees is induced. In this system, every business matter is progressed through brainstorm meetings and mutual concurrence. It is like adopting democracy in business. As a result, increase in productivity is foreseeable since they gain a sense of ownership in the creative process of decision making.``

He also said that he was surprised to see how the democratic method impacts business. ``Through the brainstorming process which helps voluntary progression of business, people naturally gain business-related knowledge and by repeating this process, they earn an immense amount of accumulated knowledge. In the end, the company and its employees both embody competitiveness.`` he added.

Moon Kwon-Mo africa7@donga.com