Technology Problem Analysis & Design II

262 CHAPTER 10 EVALUATION

2. You are the project manager. Discuss your options. Define YOUR position and
defend it.

Note: Ethics are personal interpretations of the proper course of professional con-
duct in a given situation. While there are “norms” for ethical decisions, they are
very much influenced by individual perceptions and therefore can justifiably show
significant variations.

You will be graded on your analysis and defense of your ethical positions on the
above issue, not on the positions themselves.

10.3. Nick is chief engineer in a phosphate fertilizer plant that generates more than

one million tons per year of gypsum, a waste collected in a nearby pile. Over many
years, the pile has grown into a mountain containing 40 million tons of waste.
There is little room at the present site for any more waste, so a new gypsum pile is
planned.

Current environmental regulations call for the elimination of acidic water seepage
and groundwater contamination by phosphates and fluorides. Nick’s design for the
new pile, which has been approved, incorporates the latest technology and complies
with U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and state regulations. However, he also
knows that the old pile-although exempt from the current regulations-presents a
major public hazard. When it rains, acidic water seeps through the pile, carrying
phosphates into the groundwater.

In a confidential report to management, Nick recommends measures that will pre-
vent the seepage from happening. His company turns down his proposal, stating
that, at present, no law or regulation demands such remedy. Use the four virtues,
four-component model, evaluation checklist, ethics checklist, and five P’s to help
you analyze the situation.
Problem adapted from Chemical Engineering, p. 40, March 2, 1987.

10.4. The environmental and safety control group in a circuit-board etching and plating

plant has just completed a program to improve the measurement of toxic releases
into the atmosphere in response to stricter regulations recently issued by the state
health and environmental commission.

Small amounts of a toxic material are detected for the first time by means of a new
instrument purchased and installed at the suggestion of Joan, the group leader. The
detection method specified by the state does not reveal any trace of chemical.

A search through books and magazines shows that this material is not dangerous in
the low concentrations detected, although the state agency says it is, basing its
claim on the extrapolation of published data. Use one or more of the following
heuristics-four-component model, evaluation checklist, ethics checklist, and/or
five P’s-to help you address this situation.
Problem adapted from Chemical Engineering, p. 40, March 2, 1987.

264 CHAPTER 10 EVALUATION

10.7. Jay’s boss is an acknowledged expert in the field of data analysis. Jay is the leader of
a group that has been charged with developing a new catalyst system. So far the
group has narrowed the candidates to two possibilities: catalyst A and catalyst B.

The boss is certain that the best choice is A, but he directs that the tests be run on
both catalysts “just for the record.” Owing to the fact that inexperienced employees
run the tests, the tests take longer than expected, and the results show that B is the
preferred material. The engineers question the validity of the tests, but because of
the project’s timetable, there is no time to repeat the series. The boss directs Jay to
work the math backward and come up with phony data to justify the choice of
catalyst A-a choice that all the engineers in the group, including Jay, fully agree
with. Jay writes the report.

What would you do?

A. Write the report as directed by the boss?

B. Refuse to write the report, because to do so would be unethical?

C. Write the report, but also write a memo to the boss stating that what is being done is
unethical-to cover you in case you are found out?

D. Write the report as directed, but refuse to have your name on it as the author?

E. Go over your boss’s head and report that you have been asked to falsify records?

F. Do something else? (If so, what?)

Use one or more of the following heuristics-the four virtues, four-component
model, evaluation checklist, ethics checklist, and/or the five P’s-to help you ana-
lyze each of these options.
Problem adapted from Chemical Engineering, p. 132, September 1980.

10.8. In Exercise 10.7, Jay decided to write the report to suit his boss, and the company

went ahead with an ambitious commercialization program for catalyst A. Jay has
been put in charge of the pilot plant where development work is being done on the
project. To allay his doubts, he personally runs some clandestine tests on the two
catalysts. To his astonishment and dismay, the tests determine that while catalyst A
works better under most conditions (as everyone expected), at the operating conditions
specified in the firm’s process design, catalyst B is, indeed, considerably superior.

If you were Jay, what would you do?

A. Since no one knows that you’ve done the tests, keep quiet about the results because
the process will run acceptably with catalyst A, although not nearly as well as it
would run with catalyst B?

B. Tell your former boss (the catalyst expert) about the clandestine tests and let him
decide what to do next?

C. Make a clean breast of the whole affair to upper management, knowing that it could
get you and a number of colleagues fired or, at least, discredited professionally?

D. Do something else? (If so, what?)

TECH 331 – Technology Problem

Analysis & Design II

Homework 9

Assignment:

Choose one of the following numbered problems from our textbook, “Strategies for Creative Problem
Solving”: 10.3 (on page 262), 10.4 (on pages 262), or 10.7 (on page 264). For your selected problem
choice, use these three methods: the Four Classical virtues, Ethics Checklist, and the Five P’s to help
you analyze the problem. Then write at least one paragraph (Short Essay Format, not List Format) for
each of the three methods.

Formatting:

– Use black text only.

– Text size needs to be 12 point size.

– Margins on the document should be 1’’ on all sides.

– The following name block should appear in the upper right of your document:

Your Name

TECH 331 –Technology Problem Analysis II

December 2, 2013

– Title of your document is “Homework 9.”

– Please spell check and proofread your work.

– Please add page numbers to your document.

Content:

Opinion: When a question asks for your opinion, its answer is exactly that-your opinion. Feel free to
use your own opinion.

Cite Examples: For this class, you may use a citation right after the answer to a question, or you may list
your references at the end of the project. It is not required to have a separate reference page for this
class.

Stating the Question before Answering It: While some reports require that you state the question
before your answer, in this class it is not required to do this.

Saving/Naming Your File:

When you save your file, make sure that your name and the project number are included in it.

Example: YourName331HW9

Due Date: December 2, 2013.

• homework 9 9999
• TECH 331-homework9