Answer to Question 1
Confidential information is spoken or written information that is private or secret and should be
released only to people with a proven need to know. Confidentiality is another important
aspect of ethics. Right-to-privacy laws have been passed to legislate confidentiality in certain
instances. Information that should be kept confidential includes medical, financial, and court
records because confidentiality laws protect these types of information. Information about new
products and technologies must be kept confidential so that it does not become available to
competitors.
Answer to Question 2
When working with people from different cultural, religious, and ethnic groups, keep in mind
these guidelines:
a) Research the customs of the communities in which you do business.
b) Keep track of significant religious holidays that affect a company's employees and clients.
c) Do not make comments or jokes based on cultural or religious practices.
d) Do not imitate cultural language expressions or accents in an attempt to be friendly.
It is also critical that you know the business protocol in a country where you and your company
do business. It is important to be aware of regional differences and U.S. time zones.