Corruption Survey
This questionnaire is part of a Norwegian survey on corruption in international business transactions. It is carried out by CMI researcher Tina Søreide in cooperation with NHO. The study is part of a Ph.D. project at the Norwegian School of Economics and Business Administration (NHH) and financed by The Norwegian Research Council (NFR).
Corruption, or similar ways of making influence on decision-makers, is a challenge for those who want to enter or operate in certain markets. The objective of this survey is to examine some aspects of the problem, and particularly how Norwegian firms encounter unethical business practices when operating in foreign areas.
Information is gathered by help of questionnaires and interviews in the headquarters of Norwegian firms. This part of the project aims at complementing the study by addressing Norwegian embassies and consulates with a few questions.
The data collected will be applied for research purposes. The information obtained will be treated strictly anonymously and confidentially. Neither your name nor the name of your country of operation will be mentioned in any document related to this study. In fact, the procedures applied prevent us from obtaining identifiable information. Any questions can be directed to Tina Søreide at CMI or Jon Vea at NHO.*
Questionnaire
1 How would you categorize your area or country of operation? Developing country
Medium income country Rich country
1 2 3
2 How frequently do you think corruption is part of the business culture in your country of operation?
Please circle the answer that applies the most
Never
3 How often would you assume that Norwegian firms operating in the area are confronted with challenges related to illegitimate business practices, irregular payments and corruption?
Never
4 Will adjustment to local informal conventions in your country of operation ever imply business procedures that would be considered less acceptable in Norway?
Never
5 Is it likely that the refusal of making irregular or informal payments might reduce the opportunities for foreign firms to make business in your country of operation?
No
* tina.soreide@cmi.no or jon.vea@nho.no
6 Do you ever notice that foreign firms that operate in the area make use of business practices that most likely deviate from their own official codes of conduct?
Never Seldom Sometimes Frequently Often Always
1 2 3 4 5 6
7 Would you recommend Norwegian firms to adjust to local culture, even if it could imply business behaviour that would not be accepted in Norway?
No Seldom Maybe Sometimes Usually Yes
1 2 3 4 5 6
8 Given that a Norwegian firm has lost an important contract due to corruption, would you be willing to mention the issue to local authorities?
No Probably not Probably Certainly I do not know
1 2 3 4 5
9 Have you ever reacted against corruption by raising the issue at a higher political level?
No It has happened Several times
1 2 3 We would appreciate any thoughts you might like to add related to your responses or to the topic in general. (Please add a sheet if the space here is too limited)
Thank you for your contribution!
Summary
This report presents a study of corruption in international markets by exploring the perspectives of Norwegian firms, their challenges, their experiences and their preferred strategies. The study consists of three parts, (i) interviews at executive level in seven large firms, (ii) a business-survey, where 82 firms with a headquarter in Norway responded to a questionnaire, and (iii) a survey of Norwegian embassies outside the OECD-region.
Six issues have motivated the study: (1) The choices firms make when experiencing a business climate that is worse than expected prior to entry; (2) the reluctance to speak out on corruption; (3) the link between corruption and market power; (4) the impact of improved procurement procedures;
(5) the grey zones of facilitation payments, marketing strategies and political pressure; and (6) business strategies versus their expressed attitudes and codes of conduct.
The study is conducted in collaboration with NHO, The Confederation of Norwegian Business and Industry.
ISSN 0805-505X ISBN82-8062-093-1
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