John has heard that some of his customers are likely to cut back on order sizes in the next quarter. The company which employs him in the sales department has been reducing its sales force in response to falling demand. John worries that he could be the next one laid-off if his sales begin to fall off. Believing that he may be able to convince his customers not to cut back on orders, he turns in an optimistic forecast for his next quarter sales to his manager.
What are the pros and cons of the action by John?