The Prominent Dr. Rombach

After careful consideration of the situation described in “The Prominent Dr. Rombach” we determined the decision relates to Ethical Responsibilities. Klaus and John want Dr. Rombach as a customer. Dr. Rombach is well-known and excellent heart surgeon. To get his business would bring many more customers in; the only problem is he will only do business if they give him money for a research project. Is this considered as a bribe? Would it be ethical to invest in the research project? How will the company be seen if they do?

John is an expatriate from the U.S. and has pressure from above to sell into the international market. Being in Munich, John has realized a culture difference in the citizens in Europe. While living there, he was appointed subsidiary manager for Germany. He learned quickly that to be a good manager he needed to know their work ethic, language and to get field experience. He found Europeans have an ethnocentric attitude and would rather use nationally produced products than the U.S. products. Austrians weren’t as tough on foreigners, but they favored the German products. John and Klaus were going to see Dr. Rombach, whom which they have tried several times to sell to.

Dr. Rombach is a highly looked up to cardiovascular surgeon. He even did one of the first heart transplants and Austria, and because of that people come from everywhere wanting him to be his surgeon. He also has influence over other surgeons; if he uses the equipment many others will want to too. John and Klaus really want Dr. Rombach for a customer and Dr. Rombach knows it. Dr. Rombach thinks he can bend the rules because he is so well known and has worked very hard to get to where he is today. He even has published articles that have his very successful procedures, so that others can learn. He asks companies to give him research money and he will maybe buy their products. Dr. Rombach works in his own self-interests knowing that bribes are wrong but still...