A common information system used by many organizations, particularly in the sales department, is a customer relationship management system. These systems store a great deal of information about customer contacts. They aggregate customer information gathered from the company's website, social media, email, phone contacts, and through direct relationships with the sales team. Many of these applications, such as Salesforce.com have applications for sales teams that allow users to sync information between the CRM system and the contacts on their cell phone.

One example of borderline conduct involves an employee taking their business contacts with them when they leave a job. While customer lists are a commonly cited example of industrial espionage targets, it is not uncommon when salespeople or executives are recruited for an individual's professional network to be an asset that sets them apart from other potential employees.

Where do you think the line falls between your company's proprietary information and your professional network? What factors would you consider to determine whether it is innocent or espionage? What concerns would you have if you were leaving a company? What concerns would you have if you were a hiring manager?