Pay to Play
You open your email to see a message from Belinda. She asks you to review what she calls the Pay to Play case.
Thomas believes that Phone and Build is the most competitive bidder with a quality product, but he knows that there is little chance Phone and Build will win the government contract or get equipment into Growastan to carry out operations without approval from the deputy minister of communications. Thomas decides to call Belinda Lee to get some advice about how to proceed. Belinda has asked you to write a memo that addresses the issues Phone and Build needs to consider as it decides how to handle this situation.
You may need to review the following topics as you work to meet Belinda's request: International Business Ethics, Laws, and Regulations and Cross-Cultural Ethical Business Decision Making.
Belinda has asked you to include the following information in your memo. As you think about your answers to each of the following questions, take notes and create an outline for your memo:
Analyze the issues under the Foreign Corrupt Practices Act of 1977, as amended, 15 U.S.C. §§ 78dd-1, et seq. (the FCPA). What is the legality of each of the following payments under the FCPA?
the US$100,000 payment to the deputy minister
the purchase of the sports car to pick up the contract
the donation to the political campaign
the expedited service fee
What are the possible criminal and/or civil penalties that Phone and Build and/or its directors and employees might be subjected to for violating the FCPA?
What defenses might Phone and Build have if prosecuted for FCPA violations? What are the specific defenses that could be used for each of the payments proposed by the deputy minister of communications?
Since Phone and Build also has operations in the United Kingdom, you need to analyze the scenarios under the the United Kingdom's Bribery Act of 2010. What is the legality of each of the following payments?
the US$100,000 payment to the deputy minister
the purchase of the sports car to pick up the contract
the donation to the political campaign
the expedited service government fee
In the next step, you will write your memo.