You are the person responsible for awarding printing contracts for your company. Your friend owns his own printing company, has a good reputation, and would like your company's business. Would you award your friend any of the contracts your company awards? Why or why not? What process would you go through to weigh this decision?

Answer 1

Students should discuss:
a). The conflict of interest -- Are you awarding this contract because he is your friend or because he will do a good job? Are you awarding all the work to him or will you use several different printers? Do you stand to gain anything personally?

b.) Will you ask for competitive bids? If so, will you automatically choose the lowest bidder or will cost be only part of the decision?

c). The perception awarding the contract to your friend would create. Does your boss or supervisor know of your relationship to your friend? Does he/she approve of you awarding business to your friend?

d.) Special circumstances -- Does your friend have special capabilities that your company would benefit from?

Process: Should have competitive bids, should have supervisor approval, should have clear understanding of the expectations of the contract.