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Of Professional Interest 2
- Thread starter Ilse
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Hmmh, I know of a few places that avoiding the bribe is almost impossible as non-engineers are willing to do the work and pay the bribe. This does not mean that the job will be well done, but the company will be hired and disappear afterwards
<<A good friend will bail you out of jail, but a true friend
will be sitting beside you saying ” Damn that was fun!” - Unknown>>
<<A good friend will bail you out of jail, but a true friend
will be sitting beside you saying ” Damn that was fun!” - Unknown>>
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Like most things there are circumstances when one might want some flexibility.
Dealing abroad one has to recognise that one man's bribe is another's rice bowl.
When dealing with a Middle Eastern country where the norm is to provide some cash appreciations to helpful souls, to preach otherwise is an attempt to impose an alternative morality. If they are happy with that way of doing business then that is the way business will be done if you want to do business.
If we consider a purely domestic situation then the case is entirely different.
But I suggest that what is often presented as black and white os often a whole spectrum of greys (grays).
JMW
Dealing abroad one has to recognise that one man's bribe is another's rice bowl.
When dealing with a Middle Eastern country where the norm is to provide some cash appreciations to helpful souls, to preach otherwise is an attempt to impose an alternative morality. If they are happy with that way of doing business then that is the way business will be done if you want to do business.
If we consider a purely domestic situation then the case is entirely different.
But I suggest that what is often presented as black and white os often a whole spectrum of greys (grays).
JMW
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- #4
It'll have to be a pretty big project to eclipse the 3,000,000,000.00 trillion problem on the financing end.
"Less than 1% of the energy moving a car goes towards the driver."
Amory Lovins - The Oil End Game
"Less than 1% of the energy moving a car goes towards the driver."
Amory Lovins - The Oil End Game
MiketheEngineer
Structural
And I beleive it is a Federal violation to "bribe" for foreign contracts... and also in the US.
Now - how do you define gifts - my company is about $25 or less.
I have heard of companies pulling out of Mexico - because of the gifting "tax". Everyone has their hand out. It was cheaper to stay in the US!!!
Now - how do you define gifts - my company is about $25 or less.
I have heard of companies pulling out of Mexico - because of the gifting "tax". Everyone has their hand out. It was cheaper to stay in the US!!!
MiketheEngineer
Structural
I was talking of manufacturing companies that just couldn't afford to get all the "approvals" or ship their products in a timely manner without certain "gifts"
You mean "shipping, handling and expiditing fees"? Emphisis on handling.
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"Pumping systems account for nearly 20% of the world’s energy used by electric motors and 25% to 50% of the total electrical energy usage in certain industrial facilities." - DOE statistic
"Note: Make that 99.99% for pipeline companies" -
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"Pumping systems account for nearly 20% of the world’s energy used by electric motors and 25% to 50% of the total electrical energy usage in certain industrial facilities." - DOE statistic
"Note: Make that 99.99% for pipeline companies" -
JLSeagull,
Mexico? Manaña? No problem.
"Inshalla": Now that's kinda like "manaña", but without the emphisis on speed.
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"Pumping systems account for nearly 20% of the world’s energy used by electric motors and 25% to 50% of the total electrical energy usage in certain industrial facilities." - DOE statistic (Note: Make that 99.99% for pipeline companies)
Mexico? Manaña? No problem.
"Inshalla": Now that's kinda like "manaña", but without the emphisis on speed.
**********************
"Pumping systems account for nearly 20% of the world’s energy used by electric motors and 25% to 50% of the total electrical energy usage in certain industrial facilities." - DOE statistic (Note: Make that 99.99% for pipeline companies)
Well, in Mexico you can get the mañana or the un momentito. These will always delay the unavoidable.. you ain't getting it any time soon
<<A good friend will bail you out of jail, but a true friend
will be sitting beside you saying ” Damn that was fun!” - Unknown>>
<<A good friend will bail you out of jail, but a true friend
will be sitting beside you saying ” Damn that was fun!” - Unknown>>
Reminds me of a story about Nigeria. A relative flies executive jet all over the world, and after refueling in said country, his plane was blocked front and rear by official bandits. He reached into the cash box and paid off the bastards. It was not pocket change.
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mauricestoker
Mechanical
Having worked on Federal contracts in the Middle East and Europe, I can say that Catch-22 is routine, and requires being creative. When you operate under one regulation that states you must follow all Host Nation laws and regulations, and Host Nation law includes mandatory gratuities, creativity, and advice from lawyers and contracting specialists, was more important than getting the engineering done right. No contract, no project.
One of my favorites was going through the Anti-Mafia project screening. Trying to get project approval in communist dominated areas was also fun. Most every country had (has)their own version of bakshish. Didn't seem much different than trying to get concrete contracts done in Baltimore in the early 80's, or getting (at least by the news) a State contract in Illinois.
No bribes paid, no gratuities, but some long drawn out schedules and very tough negotiations, especially in the Middle East. Some negotiations were scheduled in months and years as opposed to hours and days.
One of my favorites was going through the Anti-Mafia project screening. Trying to get project approval in communist dominated areas was also fun. Most every country had (has)their own version of bakshish. Didn't seem much different than trying to get concrete contracts done in Baltimore in the early 80's, or getting (at least by the news) a State contract in Illinois.
No bribes paid, no gratuities, but some long drawn out schedules and very tough negotiations, especially in the Middle East. Some negotiations were scheduled in months and years as opposed to hours and days.
mauricestoker
Mechanical
Books and trade journals seemed to have worked better than anything else. Rather hit or miss, but has worked really well in foreign countries, especially when cooling your heels. I had to buy "From Beirut to Jerusalem" several times before I had a chance to read it.
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