Rene Brown is a professional engineer who has recently been appointed president of a ´ medium-sized dredging company. Executives of three competing dredging companies approach him. He is asked to cooperate in competitive bidding on dredging contracts advertised by the federal government. If he submits high bids on the next three contracts, then the other companies will submit high bids on the fourth contract and he will be assured of getting it. This proposal sounds good to Brown, since he will be able to plan more effectively if he is assured of receiving the fourth contract.
Is it ethical for Brown to agree to this suggestion? If not, what action should be taken?
If Brown agrees to this suggestion, does he run any greater risk than the other executives, assuming that only Brown is a professional engineer?
