Bribery: Giving Valuables to Influence Actions for Individual Gain - Essay Sample

Introduction

Bribery is a common phenomenon that refers to the act of giving, receiving, or even soliciting valuable items either directly or indirectly to negatively influence a person's actions for individual gain. Bribery involves the transfer of valuables such as money, privilege, fits, and sometimes individual favor (Schwartz, 1979). From the definition, Bill gifts are not presented as a bribe. The relationship between Bill and Joe only started from the case of wine for Bill's wife party. It is then that Bill requested to be visited often by Joe and his family at his yacht. The visits were made even before the two started working together. At some point, Joe offers a discount to beat his competitor by giving Bill a $5 off of every piece of uniform bought. The discount is not a form of bribery to influence Bill's actions but just a business practice. In the real world, business competitors tend to underbid their opponents to win the deal or contract easily. This is evident in gas prices at different competing stations.

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Save 25%

Which ethical theory supports your view? Why?

Various ethical theories can be used to describe an ethical dilemma. In this case, the Care Ethical Theory can primarily be used to explain the relationship between Joe and Bill before they became business partners. According to the Care Ethical Theory, moral action is found to center on interpersonal relationships (Robinson, 1997). Caring is perceived as the most important ethical issue in relationships. It is a practice, an activity, and even an emotional state that demands one to meet the needs of another person. From the theory, one cannot care for their selves (Robinson, 1997). In the business practice, Joe could factor in Bill and their relationship before making a deal. While Bill and Joe could maintain a great friendship even in business practice, they could still understand each other in terms of business. This would make them have prior decisions of each other's standpoint. As a result, they could compromise on business decisions as they would want to succeed together. The Care Ethical Theory looks into the factors of structure, reinforcement, and preservation of relationships such as that of Bill and Joe.

What might other ethical issues be associated with the relationship between Bill and Joe?

In case the relationship between Bill and Joe is compromised, there could arise various problems, especially in business. Their business demands their attentiveness, competence, responsibility, and responsiveness (Visse, Abma, & Widdershoven, 2015). If any of them were broken, their relationship, as well as a business, would be ruined easily. Maintaining the components of the relationship would compromise the prevailing virtue or motive. Relationships are a basic requirement to humanity, and the parties' can realize their identity by looking at the relationship behind them. Neglecting any of them would lead to ignorance or inattentiveness to a situation. For instance, the two couples could forget their significant others and become flirtatious or intimate at the backs of their partners. As soon as Bill and Joe realize what happened behind their conscience and as well confront each other, they would destroy the business. The next thing would be Bill having a business association with Joe's competitors to see his business rise more. This would be the result of having learned the tricks of the trade that could have been making Joe's business yield more than his competitors. Ignorance and inattentiveness to the relationship as it relates to the business would have ruined the business. In the long run, Joe's brand would be affected.

References

Robinson, F. (1997). Globalizing Care: Ethics, feminist theory, and international relations. Alternatives, 22(1), 113-133.

Schwartz, C. A. (1979). Corruption and Political Development in the USSR. Comparative Politics, 11(4), 425-443.

Visse, M., Abma, T., & Widdershoven, G. (2015). Practicing political care ethics: Can responsive evaluation foster democratic care?. Ethics and Social Welfare, 9(2), 164-182.