As the co-founder of a small outdoor clothing start-up, you have just received an attractive proposal from a business in Tanzania that wants to manufacture cotton textiles for your warm-up suits. Accepting the offer from the Tanzanian firm would allow for substantial cost savings compared to your current domestic supplier. At this point in your firm's life, every dollar you save really helps. The proposal is now being considered in a meeting that includes you and others in the executive group. Someone mentions that she had recently read reports that some companies in Tanzania use child labor. Her comment immediately broadens the discussion to issues of ethics and business opportunity. Everyone agrees that research on the Tanzanian firm is necessary before any decision can be made on the proposal. You agree and point out that now is a good time to consider not only what course of action is best in this case, but also what policy should be set for dealing with future situations involving how global suppliers treat their workforces. You stand up and say, "Let's assume the firm can meet all of our delivery times and quality standards," and then write these options on the whiteboard: (1) Accept the proposal. (2) Reject the proposal. (3) Reject the proposal if any laws in Tanzania are being violated. (4) Accept the proposal only if the head of the Tanzanian firm agrees not to employ children.

Questions Does this list include all possible action alternatives? What others, if any, would you add? What alternative do you support and why? How could you defend your preference in the executive group meeting using concepts and ideas from this chapter?