Gift-giving and gift-taking in industrial companies

Abstract

Practicing purchasing managers representing 344 manufacturing firms were asked about their firms' policies on buyers accepting gifts from vendors. These question were asked in face-to-face group meetings held throughout the United States. The purchasing managers were also quizzed on their attitudes about gift-giving and gift-taking in the industrial setting. The results from this study clearly indicate that most manufacturing firms with over 200 employees have made a formal attempt to address the vexing problems of gift-giving. However, evidence was found that company-wide enforcement of gift policies is a strong irritant to purchasing managers.