CASE $4$ EXERCISING YOUR ETHICS: INDIVIDUAL EXERCISE PAYING HEED TO FOREIGN PRACTICES The Situation Assume that you're an up$-$and$-$coming manager in a regional U$.$S$.$ distribution company. Firms in your industry are just beginning to enter foreign markets, and you've been assigned to head up your company's new operations in a Latin American country. Because at least two of your competitors are also trying to enter this same market, your boss wants you to move as quickly as possible. You also sense that your success in this assignment will likely determine your future with the company. You have just completed meetings with local government officials, and you're pessimistic about your ability to get things moving quickly. You've learned, for examplc, that it will take $10$ months to get a building permit for a needed facility,. Moreover, once the building's up$,$ it will take another $6$ months to get utilities. Finally, the phone company says that it may take up to two years to install the phone lincs that you need for high$-$speed Internct access. The Dilemma Various officials have indicated that time frames could be considerably shortened if you were willing to pay special "fees." You realize that these "fees" are bribes, and you're well aware that the practice of paying such "fees" is both unethical and illegal in the United States. In this foreign country, however, it's not illegal and don't pay and one of your competitors does, you'll be at a major competitive disadvantage. In any case, your boss isn't likely to understand the long lead times necessary to get the operation running., Fortunately, you have access to a source of funds that you could spend without the not even considered unethical. Moreover, if you knowledge of anyone in the home office. QUESTIONS TO ADDRESS $1$ What are the key ethical issues in this situation? $2$ What do you think most managers would do in this situation? $3$ What would you do$?$