You Make the Call - Situation 2

question 30

Essay

You Make the Call - Situation 2
Software piracy is a serious problem in Ukraine. While the latest version of Microsoft's Windows normally sells for more than $100 when purchased through a legitimate vendor, the same package can be picked up on the black market in Kiev for around $2, and it is usually bundled with additional software as a bonus! Brad, a project manager working in the Ukrainian office of an American consulting services firm, ponders the question of whether or not to buy 325 copies of pirated software through a local source for $1.85 per copy, versus purchasing them through an authorized vendor. The cost saving from this one decision would be nearly $32,000, and Brad knows that annual bonuses are tied to any cost savings. To complicate matters further, Brad's office is up against strong rivals in the same market, and they usually purchase pirated software to control costs. The competition is so fierce and margins are so thin that Brad's company is thinking about pulling out of the market. Having to pay full price for legitimate software might be "the straw that broke the camel's back"-that is, it might be all it takes to convince management in the U.S. to close the office down. The movie to Ukraine was hard on Brad's wife and their twin daughters. After 14 months of settling in, everyone is finally getting comfortable with their new life in Kiev. Brad really doesn't want to move them again, at least not now. And furthermore, it is well known that social standards in Ukraine do not emphasize proprietary property rights anyway. Microsoft is so big that one lost order would hardly be noticed, and it won't even get the order if the company decides to close the Kiev office down.

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Definitions:

Human Response Cycle

A model describing the stages of physiological responses in sexual function, traditionally including excitement, plateau, orgasm, and resolution phases.

Excitement

A state or feeling of great enthusiasm and eagerness, characterized by increased physiological activity.

Excitement Stage

A phase of the human sexual response cycle characterized by increased arousal and physical changes, such as erection and lubrication.