Enforcement methods and influential factors of competitive intelligence ethics adoption: a case of South African ICT industry

The defining characteristic of CI practice is the implementation and strict adherence to ethical principles. While there is evidence of ongoing CI practices by corporations, critics argue that there is a dearth of scientific research on the implementation and enforcement of CI ethics. Critics contend that the absence of ethical adoption and enforcement of competitive intelligence (CI) principles has created a nebulous zone that blurs the distinction between CI and industrial espionage. The adoption and implementation of competitive intelligence (CI) ethics guarantees that companies engage in ethical and legal CI practices. It improves the standing of companies and reduces the cost of having to restore a damaged reputation. The aim of this study was to determine the level of acceptance of corporate integrity ethics in the ICT industry in South Africa. Furthermore, the objective is to evaluate the strategies employed for enforcing ethical practices and the various elements that impact the adoption of corporate integrity ethics in the ICT industry in South Africa. The research employed a quantitative approach, utilizing a web-based questionnaire to gather data from professionals working in the South African ICT business. The study discovered that South African ICT companies fully embraced CI ethics. Furthermore, the study identified seven elements that have an impact on the adoption of CI ethics, as well as multiple approaches for enforcing ethical practices. As a result, South African ICT enterprises are able to save money that would otherwise be spent on repairing their reputation after being accused of industrial espionage. Furthermore, companies should enhance and diminish aspects that have a positive and negative impact on the adoption of CI ethics, respectively