This report explores the importance of engineering ethics to arrive at reasonable conclusions to a dilemma between two vendors. This is done so by exploring answers to the three questions of whether or not the engineer of ACME should confront the other non engineering employee from ACME, regarding his mistake, in the presence of their client, whether or not ACME's way of handling the problem be of any concern to me (in this case the Engineer of ACME) or it is basically a "management problem", (using a nine step ethical process) and if I move into management, what lessons, I might use from the situation discussed. Useful recommendations to future and present engineers, project managers and engineering companies are, never to confront an employee in the presence of a client, use an ethics based approach to solve engineering problems at all times, buy much time as possible from the client in order to verify facts and reach a reasonable conclusion, full disclosure of any issue concerning a particular vendor, not allowing employees of non engineering disciplines to release important engineering information to clients.
[...] Amongst the two companies there are three individual stakeholders who are Norm Nash and the Engineer representing ACME and Archie Hunter representing XYZ Motivations of Stakeholders Some of the common motivations of the two ACME representatives (the Engineer and Norm Nash) are to continue the business relationship with the client, maintaining ACME's professional reputation and producing non defective parts in the future. Some of the specific motivations that Norm Nash is forced in to in this situation are to preserve his individual professional reputation, and his position at ACME. Some of the specific motivations that I as the engineer of ACME would be faced with are abiding by the engineering code of ethics, informing employee Norm Nash of his misconduct in a reasonable and professional manner and to secure the company's professional reputation. [...]
[...] If they agree to continue business with ACME then it would be based on trust and the ethical principles followed by ACME that helps maintain business relationships Question III If I move in to management I would consider the case discussed here as an example in order to buy as much time as possible before dealing with the client, use an ethical approach when solving problems which would benefit personal as well as the company's professionalism and not allowing employees of different disciplines to release important engineering information to outside vendors. [...]
[...] The second proposal offers the client complimentary machinery in a way of apologizing and maintaining the business relationship which can be considered as bribery in exchange for the business relationship which is not just Assistance to Resolve Situation I as the ACME engineer, can research on the subject in order to verify that the conclusions he has reached are the most beneficial to the company and the most ethical to the world of business and engineering. Therefore I can refer to the NSPE code of ethics, verify Company Policies, and have a conversation with my superior to get his opinion on the actions that I will be taking in order to deal with one of the most important business vendors of the company Best Course of Action As discussed in sections 2.4 and I would choose the alternative where ACME goes with full disclosure of the situation to XYZ along with assurance to sell reliable parts in the future and apologizing frankly. [...]
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