Clarissa Is a Sales Representative for a Large Pharmaceutical Firm

question 54

Multiple Choice

Clarissa is a sales representative for a large pharmaceutical firm. While calling on one of her major clients, the purchasing director of a hospital, the client told her confidential information that a sales representative from a competing firm had passed on to him. The information completely contradicts Clarissa's firm's understanding of the competitor's business strategy and would allow Clarissa's employer to gain many of the competitor's clients. What ethical implications may result from this situation?

• A) There is no ethical or legal concern here for Clarissa.
• B) The ethical dilemma is not Clarissa's but her client's, since he passed on confidential information to her voluntarily.
• C) The ethical dilemma here is the right of competitors not to reveal certain information.
• D) This is an example of ethical competitor intelligence obtained as eavesdropping.