(Engineering Ethics): Fish and Beer: a problem solving example II [ The setup is
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Question
(Engineering Ethics):
Fish and Beer: a problem solving example II
[ The setup is the same as Fish and Beer I. The scenario carries on here . . . ]
B’s supervisor P gives B the task of carrying out some measurements on a sam- ple of the cardboard which the brewery uses. The detector of the fish-sexer is essentially one LED and a photoreceptor, placed on opposite sides of the object. The sensitivity of the receptor and the strength of the LED can be set by exchang- ing various resistors. P wants B to run a series of tests with a bunch of different resistors, on a sample of plain cardboard, and a sample of cardboard + plastic strip, while recording the current through the photoreceptor. The “trick” is to find the right combination of brightness (of the LED) and sensitivity (of the receptor) such that a strong discrimination can be made between whether plain cardboard is present or cardboard + plastic.
B has a different idea. He knows of a device in a lab at school used for scanning materials at a range of wavelengths and intensities and measuring how much elec- tromagnetic energy passes through. His idea is to just take a sample, run it through the machine, get a kind of image, and then calculate the optimal configuration of resistors. He mentions this, over a morning coffee, to T in marketing, but still sets about preparing to perform the tests P has asked for.
At a (pretty small) meeting of the engineering and marketing teams that afternoon, T brings up the issue of testing the cardboard, specifically mentioning B’s idea, and very, very strongly urges P to get the lab test done. T has been convinced (on the basis of what B has said) that this will take less time, and the window on the opportunity for selling to the brewery might be closing. P resists, and disagrees that it will be quicker.
Discussion
Discuss problem and problem-solving in this scenario. Whose problem-solving approach is best and why? Does it depend on which problem you’re talking about?
What about the ethics of the situation? Has B done anything unethical? Anything unprofessional? Why or why not? Can you come up with a rule or principle he has violated? Or, alternatively, one he has followed? Does it matter what B’s intentions were?
Give a 3 sentence short-answer explaining why B did, or did not do, something unethical.
Explanation / Answer
B 's problem solving approach is best.His idea is to just take a sample, run it through the machine, get a kind of image, and then calculate the optimal configuration of resistors.This is better than series testing with different resistors.B is not unethical.He is implementing the ideas based on ethical values.
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