I'd be surprised if every company in every country came by this maxim, "Even on small scales, deceit and conspiracy are rare." Some business cultures are more and less willing to accept collusion and espionage against their suppliers and competitors to make more money.
I can say that in many cultures both in the US, Germany, Korea, Russia, and China (in what order?) such deceit is expected and considered normal business practice. If you sit and talk with both engineers and business leaders they will be fairly open about it (and concerned about their comoetitors). It may not be long term efficient, but it is definitely short term profitable. Conspiracies based on profit (like the Apple, Google, Intel, Adobe hiring collusion) are not more rare than CEOs getting caught discussing them on email.
A counter quote from Upton Sinclair, "It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it!"
I can say that in many cultures both in the US, Germany, Korea, Russia, and China (in what order?) such deceit is expected and considered normal business practice. If you sit and talk with both engineers and business leaders they will be fairly open about it (and concerned about their comoetitors). It may not be long term efficient, but it is definitely short term profitable. Conspiracies based on profit (like the Apple, Google, Intel, Adobe hiring collusion) are not more rare than CEOs getting caught discussing them on email.
A counter quote from Upton Sinclair, "It is difficult to get a man to understand something, when his salary depends upon his not understanding it!"