Market Potential S.A. is engaged in business activities that at times will bring you into contact with commercially sensitive or secret information. These directives, or the spirit thereof, should serve as your guide in all your affairs:
Competing for business
Market Potential will always compete vigorously for business. If you are endeavoring to win any business opportunity, Market Potential expects you to compete effectively, but lawfully and ethically also. (Please see also: Market Potential, Code of Ethics)
Avoiding unfair or misleading statements about competitors
Market Potential will always offer services and products on merit. False, rumoured or unverified statements about the competition, invite disrespect from clients and complaints from competitors.
Information - the acquiring and use of
It is not unusual in the business arena to obtain information concerning others and also about competitors. Market Potential actively seeks to acquire business data through normal business channels. There are however limits as to how information is obtained and how it is used. Improper solicitation of a company’s representatives in order to obtain confidential information is wrong. Market Potential will not tolerate the use of improper or illegal methods of obtaining information.
If you receive information that by nature could be construed as confidential, you should proceed with caution to prevent any accusations that Market Potential did misappropriate or misuse the information.
Information - obtained whilst performing business development services
All such information should be entered in the private, secure company database and correspond to the nature of the data as declared by Market Potential to the national data protection agency. If this information is obtained whilst under contract to a client of Market Potential, then it may be liable to further protection as outlined in the standard agreement during a time period defined as the ‘data integrity & protection period’. Extreme care should be taken not to expose commercially sensitive information destined for a client of Market Potential to anyone else and in particular, to any of his competitors.
Information - respecting confidentiality
At all times be careful not discuss any of the following details pertaining to our clients, prospects or partners:
pricing policy, contract terms, costs, marketing and product plans, market surveys and studies, production plans and capabilities,
and, of course, any other proprietary or confidential information. If anyone raises questions on one of these points, do not hesitate to stop the conversation immediately and tell the person concerned that you will not discuss these matters. Report any such occurrence to your manager.
Failure to act in accord with these directives could bring the company and the employee into disrepute and liable to legal action.
Services rendered concurrently
Given the nature of the markets we work in, it is envisaged that Market Potential may be providing similar services, simultaneously, to clients who themselves are in competition with one another. Such situations call for extra sensitivity to security, confidentiality and conflicts of interest. Where possible and where practicable, the daily logistical tasks associated with competitive accounts will be assigned to separate individuals within the company. Whatever the case and irrespective of financial commitments, you must continue treat the clients’ services with your utmost diligence and professionalism and respect Market Potential code of ethics.
