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Question 20 of 22

Q.(a) What are the differences between Contract and Agreement ?

(OR)
(b) Explain the different key elements of Business Ethics.
Puducherry TnboardTamil Nadu HSC First Year (DGE) Commerce Board 2023Subjective· 5mImportance★★★★★
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(a) Contract = Agreement + Enforceability by law; every contract is an agreement but not vice versa. (b) Business ethics needs a code of conduct, legal compliance, top-management commitment, publication, ethics officers and employee involvement.

This is a Part-IV essay in the Tamil Nadu HSC Class-11 Commerce syllabus; both alternatives are answered.

(a) Differences between Contract and Agreement

BasisAgreementContract
DefinitionEvery promise and set of promises forming consideration for each other — offer + acceptance (Sec 2(e))An agreement enforceable by law (Sec 2(h))
EnforceabilityMay or may not be enforceable by lawAlways enforceable by law
Legal obligationDoes not necessarily create a legal obligationCreates a legal obligation between the parties
ScopeWider — every contract is an agreementNarrower — not every agreement is a contract
EssentialsOnly needs offer and acceptanceNeeds offer, acceptance and all other essentials (consideration, capacity, free consent, lawful object)
FormulaAgreement = Offer + AcceptanceContract = Agreement + Enforceability by law

Thus all contracts are agreements, but only those agreements which are enforceable by law become contracts.

(b) Key elements of Business Ethics

Business ethics is the application of moral principles and standards to business conduct. Its key elements are:

  1. Code of conduct — a clear written statement of the ethical values and standards the business expects.
  2. Compliance with law — obeying the laws of the land is the minimum requirement of ethical behaviour.
  3. Top-management commitment — ethical conduct must start from the top; leaders set the example. …

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