Case Study. Read the paragraph and answer the questions given below. Sadiqa stared at the code of ethics she received when she first began to consult with Pakwan Copy Products (PCP ). Right there, under the heading Competition, it stated, PCP strongly believes in the competitive process. While we are dedicated to selling the best products, we have a strong commitment toward competing fairly and honestly. Sadiqa wondered if there was any way to do her assignment without going against this core value. Sadiqa s first consulting assignment after graduating from LUMS was to work with Tariq , an engineer at PCP. Their assignment was to help develop a new copy machine from South Korea, that PCP had imported last year with a new technology. This would allow them to have a copy machine with a copy quality far superior to anything else on the market. Sadiqa and Tariq are both sure they have a winning product. I am especially excited about this. My kids are going to be so proud, said Tariq . Ive been promised a promotion and a doubling of my salary if the new product launch is successful. Several months went by, and one morning Tariq came in, panic stricken. Have you read the news? Tariq asked Sadiqa . The industry reporter says that our competitor Kayo plans to launch a new high quality copier machine within the next month! If the Kayo machine is as good as this article says, Im done for, said Tariq . What do we do? asked Sadiqa . Tariq thought for a while and then replied, Sadiqa , we have to do this quickly before they bring out their machine. We have to be sure ours is better. I want you to pretend to be a potential customer and call Kayo. Tell him youll meet at the Hilton in a conference room. After the salesperson starts off, make sure you ask about copy quality, get samples, and learn as much as possible about novel product features, pricing, advertising strategy, etc. If we can get this information this week, we can help the operations people modify our machine so that it can beat Kayo Sadiqa replied, Tariq , Im not comfortable with pretending to be a buyer. What if Kayo finds out? What about me wasting the time of this salesperson? I don't want the firm to get a reputation for this sort of thing. Tariq replied, This isnt a big deal. It's not illegal because were not stealing trade secrets. If the salesperson is telling clients about the product, then it cant be illegal. Getting competitive product information takes place all the time, and it's Kayo 's responsibility to develop security procedures to prevent information from slipping out before the product hits the market. As far as the sales representatives time, you know that many of them have nonproductive sales calls. We cant afford to wait, Sadiqa! As Sadiqa left the office, she decided to ask Omar, their boss, about Tariq s proposal. As she discussed the information with Omar, he replied: Unofficially, Id say unless you can come up with some valid reasons to reject Tariq's plan, you should call Kayo . Officially, I would say that PCP does not condone such practices and considers them unethical according to our code of ethics. Finally, unofficially, you need to know, Sadiqa, that if Tariq doesnt pull this one out of the fire, he wont be here for very long. Have you ever done something like this, Omar? asked Sadiqa. I know this type of thing happens frequently, and I know some of the justifications for it. For example, its common to state that the person had no choice or try to deny responsibility. Or they have a family to support, or everyone else does it. Those are the justifications I hear the most. However you want to justify it, it happens. Sometimes people get caught and sometimes they dont. You didnt answer my question, Omar. Have you ever done something like this? Sadiqa , I just answered your question. With those words, Omar excused himself and left. That was Tuesday. Now Sadiqa was sitting at her desk two days later staring at the code of conduct. She did not know what to do. It seemed like Tariq s job hung on the line. She heard footsteps and looked up as Tariq approached her: Have you set up the appointment? Tariq asked. CASE QUESTIONS

1. Discuss whether Tariq s proposal would violate PCP s code of ethics.

2. Identify the organizational pressures that Sadiqa is facing to call Kayo ?

3. Do you think the corporate culture at PCP supports or hinders ethical decision making? Discuss

4. How should Sadiqa handle the situation?

5. Would the categorical imperative apply here? Why or why not?