...HAROLD F. HOGAN, JR. Tyco International On October 6, 1995, Tyco International, a diversified U.S. conglomerate, received some very unflattering news. A respected investor monitoring organization, the Council of Institutional Investors (CII), had included the firm in its list of the 20 worst-performing S&P 500 companies. CII generated its list annually, based on a mechanical formula that calculated total shareholder returns over a five-year period.1 One commentator described the annual rankings as “the corporate equivalent of being put on the school detention list.”2 The choice of Tyco as one of the 20 culprits was quickly challenged. Tyco’s own management described the result as an artifact arising from an abnormally high share price during a narrow window at the start of CII’s measurement period. Robert Monks, head of Lens, Inc., an activist money management firm and former member of Tyco’s board of directors, also took exception to the report. In a letter of protest to the executive director of CII, Monks asserted that based on his own experience, he believed Tyco was a responsible company fully committed to enhancing shareholder value. He wrote: “On balance we conclude that this is a first-rate company successfully adding value in the difficult mode of a conglomerate. Our criteria [for evaluating] companies ultimately is—what can we, as informed and effectively involved owners, do to enhance value? Our answer in the case of Tyco is—virtually nothing. What...
Words: 11234 - Pages: 45
...Theresa Gaglia Tyco International Tyco is a multi-national corporation which grew rapidly under the leadership of CEO Dennis Kowalski. For awhile, this emerging corporate giant’s leader was admired for his management abilities of business takeovers and growth strategies which benefited many of the company’s stakeholders, as well as, himself. He was heavily compensated as one of the leading CEO’s of his time. According to Kaplan, “Along the way he amassed nearly a half-billion dollars and reveled in the toys that came with it: a $31 million Fifth Avenue apartment, a vintage yacht, a Renoir, and a Monet.” Kaplan, D. A. (2009), p.14-16. Under his guidance, this public manufacturing company’s total market share would soar from a $1.5 billion cap to more than $100 billion. So, of course, many top business publications recognized him as an emerging leader with multi-talented business management skills. Some well regarded publications, such as Business Week and Fortune Magazine, even referred to him as a genius and one of the most remarkable CEO ‘s of his time. Kaplan, D. A. (2009), p.14. Kowalski’s general message to his employees was to be very frugal and keep corporate expenses low. He cut many jobs and encouraged consolidation as much as possible to lower overall operating expenses. His top executive...
Words: 1375 - Pages: 6
...Tyco International – Epic Failure Dionne Flinn March 25, 2013 LDR/531 Thea Miller Tyco International – Epic Failure A business is successful not only if it has the right “product” that consumers want, but also if it is managed and lead by strong, ethical and invested leaders. In the past two decades unethical, corrupt, greedy and incompetent CEO’s have brought down multi-million corporations and cost thousands of American workers their jobs. One such CEO, Dennis Kozlowski of Tyco International, destroyed his company through his arrogance, greed, lack of ethics, and overall disdain for his company. An effective leader puts his own personal interests aside and works for the greater success of his company for their employees and shareholders. Tyco International experienced a boom in profits in the 1990’s through continuous acquisitions of smaller companies and financial manipulation of accounting records. This resulted in rampant greed and corruption, with managers who shared the same values as Dennis Kozlowski advancing into upper management ranks. The main charges against Kozlowski involve “using company funds to purchase millions of dollars worth of artwork as well as an $18 million apartment in Manhattan. Kozlowski used company “loans” for the purchases, allowing him to avoid paying income tax on the money used” (Kay, 2002). Kozlowski allegedly transported crates of artwork to Tyco’s operating headquarters in New Hampshire to avoid paying sales tax. Instead, the...
Words: 1140 - Pages: 5
...Full Name Menglin Yuan Student NumberT00023230 Sociology 1110 – Winter 2014 Explanatory Paper – Assignment 4 Date Requested By: Saturday 12 April 2014 How is the self (the person) constructed: How does identity formation and personality development explain this process? To put this question in a simple manner one has to answer the question of “Who am I”. The famous author of the Fifth Agreement Don Miguel Ruiz states in his novel that all of us go through a process of domestication. He also mentions in his books that culture, society, individual wisdom, experiences, and understanding also play a vital role in the formation of self. The process of self makes us realize how we define ourselves because it is important part of our everyday life and our interactions. The way sociologist thinks about the role, self, statues, and identity is a good way at looking at the subject paper. In this paper I will elaborate the process of identity formation and personality development. First I would like to define some terms that play a vital role in the formation of such factors. Status is related to the social position that a person holds in a society or to put it another way all of the positions like social worker, human resources, hockey player, sex trader etc. are part of the status1. Roles are related to the responsibilities, behaviors, rights, that can be or should be associated with the social position that we as people assume in the society. A good example...
Words: 1389 - Pages: 6
...According to the Tyco website, Tyco originated as a Tyco Laboratories a United States government research laboratory company. Today Tyco has three independent companies: Tyco Healthcare, Tyco Electronics, and Tyco International consisting of five different business segments. Flow Control, Electrical and Metal products, Fire Protection Services, Safety Products, and ADT Worldwide are the five business segments under Tyco International’s umbrella. Tyco is a vertical structure with levels of hierarchy. The board members and top management are responsible for governing its’ mission and goals while ensuring the organization’s five principles are enforced. Tyco expects each employee to strive for excellence and work as a team. Tyco’s leadership team directs employees to be innovative, openly communicate, and continue to improve their skills. The company focuses on equality and fair treatment for employees. Management and staff are accountable for their actions and work performance. Tyco promotes safety in the workplace. Tyco protects each location by the companies anti-violence, drug and alcohol free workplace policy. Tyco promotes individual and corporate integrity, each person including leaders are to uphold the organization’s standards of integrity with each other, customers, and other stakeholders (Tyco, Peoples & Values, 2010). Vertical structure is the most common business structure; however, many organizations are restructuring their organizations. The restructuring makes...
Words: 1081 - Pages: 5
...“Forensic Accounting” is a term that you do not hear every day so let’s examine its definition. The Strayer University BUS508 textbook defines accounting as, “The process of measuring, interpreting, and communicating financial information to enable people inside and outside the firm to make informed decisions.” Merriam-Webster defines forensic as, “suitable for a court of law.” Our textbook defines forensic accounting as, “Forensic accounting is accounting performed in preparation for legal review.” The textbook also describes it as, "focus on uncovering potential fraud in a variety of organizations.” The Business Dictionary defines it as a, “Criminal investigation practice whereby investigators analyze financial documents and activities to determine if and how a crime, such as fraud, has been committed by an organization. Tactics include tax analysis, financial reporting review and banking activity oversight.” This also includes white collar crimes such as embezzlement, stock market manipulation and price fixing schemes. This can include the financial impact of marketplace events, such as intellectual property infringement, anti-trust actions, financial reporting fraud, asset impairment and business valuation (Neumann, O'Connor, 2008). It also includes matters of family law, such as matrimonial disputes. In short, "Forensic accounting is the use of accounting, auditing, and investigative skills to assist in legal matters.” They use accounting skills following the GAAP (generally...
Words: 4286 - Pages: 18
...Abstract According to the phase 2 individual project assignment instructions, each student is asked to look at two scenarios and answer the related ethical questions following each one (CTU Online, 2013). Additionally, it is asked that each student provide a discussion on the new GAAP guidelines for consolidating entities, and to provide an example of a firm that has experienced trouble for failure to comply with the GAAP guidelines. Ethical Dilemmas in Partnerships Scenario 1: In the first scenario, there are two partners in an antique business, Mr. Right and Mr. Wrong. Mr. Right manages the store, and Mr. Wrong travels and purchases antiques to add to their store inventory. The each may borrow items from the inventory on occasion for one reason or another. While Mr. Right was out of town Mr Wrong’s daughter was married and had a desire for one of the inventory items valued at $5,000. So Mr. Wrong took the item from inventory and gave it to his daughter as a wedding gift. He recorded the item as a debit from the COGS for $5,000. The question is asked what are the ethical aspects of Mr. Wrong’s actions and how should he have recorded the transaction? To begin with, they are both wrong for allowing the other to take unpaid for inventory items from the store. It should be made clear in the partnership agreement that any inventory product removed from the store for any purpose...
Words: 1368 - Pages: 6
...persistence of effort toward achieving a goal. While general motivation is related to the effort toward any goal (Robbins & Judge, 2007). This paper will describe how specific organizational-behavior theories could have predicted or explained Tyco’s International Ltd. Failure. It will compare how leadership, management and organizational structures contributed to the failure. Tyco International Ltd Tyco International Ltd. Is a diversified company that provides security products and service, fire protection and detection products and services, valves and controls, and other industrial products. Tyco operates in the Americas, Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), and Asia Pacific. It is headquartered in Schaffhausen, Switzerland and employees 102,000 people (Datamonitor 360, 2011). On 2002 three former high-level executives were accused of fraud. The three accused manger, former CEO L. Dennis Kozlowski, former Chief Financial Officer Mark Schwartz, and former general counsel Mark Belnick, have been indicted for fraud and theft by the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) as well as their former employer ("Tyco Fraud Infocenter", 2006). The "Tyco Fraud Infocenter" (2006) website stated that, “the SEC and Tyco International have indicted the former executives on charge of civil fraud and theft. They are accused of giving themselves interest-free or low interest loans for personal purchases of property, jewelry, and other frivolities. According to the SEC, these...
Words: 919 - Pages: 4
...Enron, Tyco International caught the public eye. One must first have an understanding of what it is to be ethical and moral. Once there is an understanding of these two terms, one may gain an appreciation of the occurrences in the corporate business world in the early 2000’s. One occurrence in particular is Tyco International. Tyco International will be evaluated. This evaluation will include the historical aspects, the corporate spending and the loans obtained, the outcome of events, and the punishments imposed. Further, the question of is it difficult to see ethical breaches that we may commit will be discussed. Ethics and morality are interconnected and thus integrity is also linked. According to Stephens, one cannot be defined without the other being in the definition. Stephens states many definitions of ethics have morals within the definition. One may differ with Stephens. While both ethics and morals relate to right and wrong, ethics is set rules of conduct that spells out how things are based on the rules for a specified group or action and morals are based on a person’s habits or principles and ideals as to their conduct. Integrity is a rigid adherence to a code of behavior. Ethics is society driven and is flexible to a point. Morals and integrity are internalized within self and are found to be fairly consistent unless a person changes their belief. Now with the understanding of ethics, morals, and integrity, we can focus on the history of Tyco International...
Words: 1675 - Pages: 7
...Tyco International Ltd. was started by Arthur Rosenburg in 1960 and became owned publicly in 1964. Within 1973 to 2001, Tyco International Ltd. Grew swiftly amid the acquisitions of different companies with “annual revenues of more than $500 million and a net worth of nearly $149 million (Tyco, 2004-2009). The New York Stock Exchange depicts Tyco International Ltd. as a “diversified global provider of security products and services, fire protection and detection products and services, valves and controls, and other industrial products” (NYSE, 2009).” As a diversified company Tyco International Ltd. Comprise of five sections: ADT Worldwide, Electrical and Metal Products, Fire Protection Services, Flow Control, and Safety Products” (NYSE, 2009). Though the company got enormous earnings from their acquisitions, the Securities Exchange ran an enquiry on Tyco International Ltd. ensuing in the resignation of then CEO Dennis Kozlowski in the wake of the allegation of misusing millions of company funds for private use. Furthermore the then CFO Mark Swartz was also charged with the distortion of fiscal report to inflate stock prices and subsequently trading the stock for more $500 million dollars. With the resignation of Kolzowski, Ed Breen became the new CEO; he promptly restructured the board of directors and the senior level executives of Tyco International Ltd. Organizational behavior theories such as administrative misdeeds and the absence of managerial responsibility may perhaps...
Words: 1083 - Pages: 5
...According to the Tyco website, Tyco originated as a Tyco Laboratories a United States government research laboratory company. Today Tyco has three independent companies: Tyco Healthcare, Tyco Electronics, and Tyco International consisting of five different business segments. Flow Control, Electrical and Metal products, Fire Protection Services, Safety Products, and ADT Worldwide are the five business segments under Tyco International’s umbrella. Tyco is a vertical structure with levels of hierarchy. The board members and top management are responsible for governing its’ mission and goals while ensuring the organization’s five principles are enforced. Tyco expects each employee to strive for excellence and work as a team. Tyco’s leadership team directs employees to be innovative, openly communicate, and continue to improve their skills. The company focuses on equality and fair treatment for employees. Management and staff are accountable for their actions and work performance. Tyco promotes safety in the workplace. Tyco protects each location by the companies anti-violence, drug and alcohol free workplace policy. Tyco promotes individual and corporate integrity, each person including leaders are to uphold the organization’s standards of integrity with each other, customers, and other stakeholders (Tyco, Peoples & Values, 2010). Vertical structure is the most common business structure; however, many organizations are restructuring their organizations. The restructuring makes...
Words: 1142 - Pages: 5
...Group Paper 1-Tyco Company TYCO - Starting with a Clean Slate In 2002, Tyco International Ltd. was involved in one of the top ten largest accounting scandals in US history. CEO Dennis Kozlowski and CFO Mark Swartz were found guilty of siphoning money through unapproved loans and fraudulent stock sales. Not only did the SEC find questionable accounting practices but during the investigation there were findings of abnormally large executive bonuses and grand lavish parties paid for on the company’s dime. The former CEO and CFO were sentenced to 8 to 25 years in prison both of whom have since been released. Right after that news scandal broke, Tyco replaced its CEO with former Motorola CEO Ed Breen. In a move never done before, Ed Breen’s first move was to get rid of the entire board of directors. The message the new CEO wanted to send was that the entire corporate management and structure needed to be changed to put trust back in the company (1). In the next year Ed Breen would hire over 60 new senior executives to try and turn the company around (1). He hired top rate talent who were mostly former employees of other fortune 500 companies. According to the outside world, this made it clear that Ed Breen was interested in establishing new systems and setting a new strategic direction. With the new team assembled, Tyco’s first goal was to see were they went wrong. They performed several phases of exhausting audit reviews from the financial, operational and accounting departments...
Words: 858 - Pages: 4
...The Traitorous Tyco Scandal: Sentencing of L. Dennis Kozlowski and Mark Swartz Business Law 447-A Written By: Lindsey Proffitt White collar crime is not a victimless crime, and affects many people. These crimes can devastate a company, force investors to lose billions of dollars, and destroy people’s life savings. Through L. Dennis Kozlowski’s and Mark Swartz’s scandal reported in 2002, the Tyco Company lost over $28 billion dollars in debt. However, the biggest lash came to its shareholders who lost over $90 billion. The Tyco two were tried and found guilty in 2005, and are currently serving a 25- year- sentence. Crime never pays and it is only a matter of time before one is caught. The damage done affects all people involved including the innocent families of the victims and criminals. These two may not have ruined the company, but they ruined themselves. The question is was it worth it? Partners in Crime: The Tyco Threesome When people think of criminals; they tend to stereotype this to involve thugs and the lower class. However, this is not always the case. Participants of the privileged society are also capable of criminal behavior, but usually in a more complex manner. One of the more popular high society crimes involves business scandals and is termed “white-collar.” These crimes stem from greedy business and government professionals who become financially motivated to commit a nonviolent work related crime that usually includes hoarding large amounts of money...
Words: 3453 - Pages: 14
...Management Planning Paper Tyco International Ltd is a diversified, global company that provides vital products and services to customers in more than 60 countries. With more than 100,000 employees worldwide, Tyco is a leading provider of security products and services, fire protection and detection products and services, valves and controls, and other industrial products. Tyco vision is to be the customers’ first choice in every market they serve by exceeding commitments, providing new technology solutions, leveraging their diverse brands, driving operational excellence, and committing to the highest standards of business practices. Tyco strive to adhere to the highest standards of corporate governance by establishing processes and practices that promote and ensure integrity compliance and accountability. They understand and exceed their customers’ needs, wants and preference to provide greater value to their customers. Tyco focus on strategies to achieve organic growth targets and deploy cash for growth and creation. They build on the company reputation and image internally and externally while driving initiatives to ensure Tyco remains an employer of choice. Operational excellence implement best in class operating practices and leverage companywide opportunities and best practices. The financial strength and flexibility, ensures that revenue, earnings per share, cash and return on invested capital objectives are met. Tyco International was founded in 1960 by Arthur...
Words: 1188 - Pages: 5
...readers with a history of Tyco International Ltd. while evaluating the planning function of the organization. We will be identifying the social responsibilities which impact what they have on the management planning function. This paper will also review the three factors which influence the company’s strategic, tactical, operational and contingency planning. In conclusion, the reader will be more aware of Tyco and how the planning functions made this company what it is today. Tyco is a name many consumers recognize with quality, excellence, and trust. Management Planning Paper With more than 100,000employees worldwide and serving customers in over 60 countries, Tyco International Ltd is a well diversified company. Founded in 1960 by Arthur J. Rosenburg, Ph.D.. Arthur started a research laboratory while conducting research for the government. In 1962, Tyco Laboratories was incorporated and its focus was on high-end materials and energy producing products for the commercial sector. Today Tyco is composed of five business segments: ADT Worldwide, Fire Protection Services, Safety Products, Flow Control, and Electrical and Metal Products. With these five business segments, Tyco wants to be the first choice for it’s customers in every market. With exceeding commitments, technology solutions, diverse brands, driving operational excellence and committed to offering its customers the highest standards in business practices. All of these will drive Tyco to long-term growth and...
Words: 1098 - Pages: 5
