Ethics in business

The R&D department of your US company has slightly changed one of the products. Your marketing manager stated the following: “It's not really ‘new and improved’, but you know that sales will increase if this is claimed on the packaging and in advertising.”

• You put 'new and improved!' on the packaging and in the advertisement

• You don't adjust the packaging and advertising

You are considering hiring a product manager who has just left the competitor. He wants to tell you about the competitor’s strategic plan for the coming years.

• You hire the manager

• You don't hire the manager

You can bring in a large new customer based in Brazil, with a huge sales potential for you and your company. The buyer suggests implicitly that a gift would influence the decision in a positive way. Your assistant advises you to have a beautiful flat screen television delivered to the potential customer's home.

• You send the customer a television

• You don't send the customer a television

You've heard that the competitor has added new features to their product that will increase their sales. The director of the competition will demonstrate these characteristics during a private dealer meeting. You can easily send a spy to this meeting.

• You send a spy.

• You don't send a spy.

One of your best dealers in Italy has been having problems at home lately and his sales are declining. It will probably take a while before those problems are solved. In the meantime, you miss out on sales. Based on his performance, you could end his franchise and replace him.

• You replace the dealer.

• You continue to work with this dealer.

You have a job interview with a capable female applicant. She's better qualified than the men you've just had a conversation with. Still, you know that some of your most important customers would rather deal with a man, and that you'll lose sales by taking her on.

• Hire the woman.

• Hire the man.