Avoiding Conflicts of Interest
Some conflicts of interest are ethically unacceptable, such as bidding on work for which you decide who is awarded the contract, but you can avoid other types of conflict of interest with transparency. When a conflict of interest arises because of factors beyond your control, such as your company considering a contract with a supplier in which a member of your family has an interest, you have to address the issue publicly. Ideally, you declare the conflict and refrain from participating in the relevant decisions, possibly asking the family member to do the same.