Which of the following represents a competitive intelligence practice that is both legal and ethical?
a. A firm hires a competitor's employees and asks them to share the names and addresses of business contacts from their previous company.
b. An executive attends a trade show solely to obtain a competitor's brochures, listen to sales pitches, and ask questions about the competitor's products.
c. A city council member shares information about the decision process for selecting a contractor to build a new library wing with his wife, an executive with a construction firm bidding on the contract.
d. A marketing manager at Smith-Phillips, Inc., sells confidential plans for the company's expansion into the Far East to a firm that is not a direct competitor.
Answer: An executive attends a trade show solely to obtain a competitor's brochures, listen to sales pitches, and ask questions about the competitor's products.