Suzanne Searles, TransPort's manager of marketing, is traveling on business in a foreign country. She is negotiating a large contract with the ministry of agriculture, and the minister's deputy is asking for a "facilitation fee" of $250 USD to relax certain contractual requirements. At this point, Suzanne should
A) pay the deputy because the value of the contract is significant.
B) accuse the deputy of unethical behavior and immediately return home.
C) counter with a smaller amount, for example, $225 USD.
D) comply with TransPort's ethics program, telephoning her firm's ethics officer or legal counsel as needed.
E) contact law enforcement authorities in the foreign country.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Suzanne should comply with TransPort's ethics program and contact her firm's ethics officer or legal counsel for guidance. TransPort likely has policies and procedures in place for dealing with situations like this, and Suzanne should follow those guidelines to ensure that the company is not violating any laws or engaging in unethical behavior. This also protects Suzanne and the company from potential legal and reputational risks. It is not advisable to pay the facilitation fee or accuse the deputy of unethical behavior without proper guidance and support from the company. Contacting law enforcement authorities in a foreign country without specific knowledge of the laws and procedures could also lead to additional legal and safety risks for Suzanne and the company.

Suzanne Searles, TransPort's Manager of Marketing, Is Traveling on Business