Re: Bribing Corporate Clients; was Billing Problems...

[Andrew Plato <aplato -at- EASYSTREET -dot- COM>]

Yikes, by no means did I intend to suggest any form of bribery.  I was
merely pointing out that often corporate rules are not written in stone.
Senior level people can and do bend their company rules often.  This is a
natural part of business.  Contracting rules are often treated as guidelines
to keep things ethical -- not unwavering commandments handed down from God.

I also meant to suggest that the people in the decision-making positions
often have the authority to get you around all the paperwork.  Don't be
afraid ask them upfront to wave you through because you're a small company
and cannot afford all the insurance, temp agency fees, etc.  Lots of times,
if they like you, they are more than willing to negotiate a beneficial
relationship that can save you lots of money.

This one executive I "befriended" likes my work, and he knows how tough it
is for small companies, like mine, to get jobs and make money.  Therefore,
he gives me a break.  He contracts with me and does not make me go through a
temp agency or have an outlandish amount of insurance.  I still have to sign
all the NDAs and such, but I get the jobs without having a lot of
middle-men.  He dislikes the bureaucracy as much as I do, so it is a
beneficial relationship.

-----Original Message-----
From: Tom Johnson <johnsont -at- freeway -dot- net>
Newsgroups: bit.listserv.techwr-l
Date: Thursday, January 08, 1998 12:53 PM
Subject: Bribing Corporate Clients; was Billing Problems...


>Andrew Plato wrote in part:
>>
>> The other key is to befriend the money-man.  The money-man is that
>> semi-upper management person that signs the contracts and approves the
>> money.  That person actual has quite a bit of pull in most organizations.
>> And if they like you, they'll fudge the rules for you.  This is how I get
>> around the insurance crap at one client.  The money-man likes me and my
work
>> and vouches for me to the corporate pukes.
>>
>
>The befriending "key" makes me squirm. Getting to be friends with
>someone in a power position can lead to temptations that may not be
>beneficial in the long run. Some companies get touchy when it comes to
>nuzzling up to people who can do you favors.
>
>Andrew didn't say he was suggesting bribery and I want to make it clear
>that I don't mean to imply that he was.
>
>The fact is, there are people who resort to doing favors for, or
>scratching the backs of, people in power positions. I read a policy
>written by a CEO of one of the biggest corporations in the USA. His goal
>was to run the business so there would be no chance anyone could accuse
>his company of an unethical or unfair practice between vendors and his
>corporation. It flatly denounced any exchange of gifts or favors between
>the corporation and vendors. The CEO clearly stated that the
>corporation's employees should not do anything that could be construed
>as favortism or accepting bribes. As punishment, employees could be
>dismissed for accepting fishing trips, dinners, tickets to sporting
>events or any other "gratuity." Employees were to inform any vendor that
>"offered" such benefits that these benefits were unacceptable and
>further approaches could result in a cessation of business with the
>vendor.
>
>How well they enforce that, I'm not sure. But it makes a lot of sense
>for a company to implement a policy like that. How can a corporation
>trust a vendor who is willing to resort to bribery to get his foot in
>the door? If I were a CEO, I would have serious doubts about any
>relationship built on anything dishonest.
>
>--
>Tom Johnson
>Technical Writer
>