Final answer:
Ethics in procurement can be impacted by interaction with state-owned entities, union contract negotiations, bribery or corruption, and sole-supplier sourcing, all of which must be managed with integrity and transparency.
Step-by-step explanation:
Factors that may impact ethics in procurement include a wide range of activities. Some of these factors are:
- Interaction with state-owned entities: Dealing with government entities can be complex and may lead to potential conflicts of interest or unethical compromises.
- Union contract negotiations: These can involve ethical considerations, such as fairness in labor practices and avoiding any form of coercion or exploitation.
- Bribery or corruption: This is a clear violation of ethical standards and can lead to an unfair advantage, distortion of market competition, and legal consequences.
- Sole-supplier sourcing: While not inherently unethical, reliance on a single supplier can raise ethical issues if it is due to favoritism or if it undermines fair competition.
Each of these activities can pose ethical dilemmas and potentially harm the integrity of the procurement process, thus they must be managed with transparency and in accordance with established ethical guidelines.