Scenario based ethics questions

Question 1

You receive an invite to attend the Theatre with some members of your project team but they have dropped out due to illness at the last minute, would you still attend?

Answer 1

• In the first instance, assuming the invite was approved, I would ensure this was logged in my company’s gifts and hospitality register
• I would need to decline the invite due to the project team dropping out
• Since they wont be present, it would not be a genuine business event
• Consequently I would decline this hospitality at the project teams expense

Question 2

You are bidding for a project and the client advises you that if you reduce your fee by £3,000 you will be first place and win the tender, how would you advise the client?

Answer 2

• If I accepted this offer, I would not be adhering to the 5 ethical standards as I have now gained an unfair advantage over the other tenderers, and accepting this would not be acting with integrity or treating others with respect
• Undertaking business in this manner is unsustainable, it devalues the profession
• Could be interpreted as a bribe
• Decline the offer

Question 3

A client takes you out for lunch after a business meeting, where they continue to discuss business. The bill for lunch comes to £200, what should you do now?

Answer 3

• the lunch had a legitimate business purpose so it would be ok to accept the hospitality, however I would have to ensure that it was logged in my company’s gifts and hospitality register
• I would offer to reciprocate but I would ensure this is carried out in a more modest manner as the lavishness of the restaurant could be interpreted as inappropriate and disproportionate