You are the cofounder and president of a new venture, manufacturing products for the recreational market. Five months after launching the business, one of your suppliers informs you it can no longer supply you with a critical raw material because you are not a large-quantity user. Without the raw material, the business cannot continue. What would you do?

(a) I would grossly overstate my requirements to another supplier to make the supplier think I am a much larger potential customer to secure the raw material from that supplier, even though this would mean the supplier will no longer be able to supply another, noncompeting small manufacturer who may thus be forced out of business.

(b) I would steal raw material from another firm (non-competing) where I am aware of a sizable stockpile.

(c) I would pay off the supplier, because I have reason to believe that the supplier could be “persuaded” to meet my needs with a sizable “under the table” pay-off that my company could afford.

(d) I would declare voluntary bankruptcy.