As a procurement officer for a large organisation, a supplier approaches you on social media offering to take you out for dinner to discuss a recent open opportunity and mentions a financial reward if you help them win the business. You accept the invite. Was this the right thing to do?

Accepting this invitation is a serious ethical breach. The core principles of ethical procurement, as outlined in the CIPS Code of Conduct, demand fairness, integrity, and transparency. Discussing an open tender with one supplier provides them with an unfair advantage, undermining the competitive process. Furthermore, the offer of a "financial reward" is an explicit attempt at bribery, which is illegal and a fireable offense. A procurement professional must decline any such offers immediately and report the incident to their management and/or ethics officer.

A. Yes, you are free to do what you like outside of business hours: This is false. Professional codes of conduct and ethical responsibilities extend beyond official working hours, especially when actions directly relate to professional duties.
C. Yes, you are keen to see what is on offer...: This demonstrates a clear intent to engage in corrupt activity, which is unethical, unprofessional, and illegal. Personal financial need does not justify unethical behaviour.
D. No, but you will go for the dinner and see what they offer...: Attending the dinner creates a conflict of interest and the appearance of impropriety, even if the bribe is ultimately rejected. It compromises the professional's and the organisation's integrity.

1. CIPS. (2021). CIPS Code of Conduct. Section 1: 'Enhance and protect the standing of the profession', and Section 3: 'Reject any improper business practice'. It explicitly requires members to ensure fairness and transparency and to reject bribery.

2. CIPS. (2018). Ethical Procurement and Supply. Profex Publishing Limited. L4M4, Chapter 1, pp. 14-20. (Discusses conflicts of interest, bribery, and the importance of treating all suppliers fairly and equally).

3. The Bribery Act 2010 (UK legislation). Section 2, 'Offences relating to being bribed', makes it a criminal offence to accept a financial or other advantage in return for performing a relevant function improperly.