After graduation, you obtain a position as a purchasing agent in a technology company's procurement office. The company purchases large amounts of computer equipment. You come to work on Monday morning, and your boss, Harry, proudly announces that he's worked out a great long-term deal on new computers with Jacobs Data. This surprises you. The company was pleased with the supplier it had worked with for the past 5 years, and when you analyzed alternative procurement sources Jacobs Data had slightly higher prices for the same equipment. Harry has been with the company for 10 years and is successful and well-respected by upper management. You do not have a close relationship with him because Harry gets defensive and verbally abusive when challenged by subordinates, and you will need him as a reference for your next upward or lateral move in the company, where you enjoy working. Later in the week Harry is on the speakerphone when you walk into his office to discuss a vendor problem. Harry gestures at a nearby chair for you to sit in and wait. "Yep, Maggie and I have decided to move into a bigger home," he tells his friend. "It costs a lot more money at $800,000, but I got a fantastic offer for our current home. Bill Jacobs made a ridiculous offer I couldn't refuse. A real estate market analyst valued our home at $549,900. Bill comes out of the blue and offers $989,500 with no contingency clauses. I made the deal then and there, and we're now sitting on a bundle of cash." You realize that Bill Jacobs is your new vendor and wonder if the home purchase represents a conflict of interest or maybe even a kickback. You find the company's code of conduct "conflict of interest" clause on the Internet. It's a lot of legal jargon and says nothing directly about this situation. Trying to understand what is or isn't a kickback is equally confusing. The company has an anonymous ethics hotline, but you know it'll be obvious that you are the one calling about Harry. Critical Thinking Questions 1. What could you do? 2. What would you do? a. Speak with your boss Harry about your concerns b. Speak ivith HR about your concerns c. Report your concerns to the ethics hotline d. Nothing, you don't have all the information, and who are you to raise questions about your successful boss's personal life? e. Something else (if so, what?) 3. Why is this the right option to choose? 4. What are the ethics underlying your decision