In: Operations Management
You and a close friend are taking a math class together. Three hours before an important test, your friend (who is close to failing and needs this class) texts you that she has a copy of the test (she says she got it from someone who found it in the copy room), but doesn’t know how to work the problems. She wants you to meet her and help her work through the problems. In answering, remember that this is your class also and that this is a close friend. Do you help her? What are your considerations in deciding what to do?
Question 1) Do you help her?
Answer1) No, I will not help her to cheat and clear the test.
Question 2) What are your considerations in deciding what to do?
Answer 2) The considerations in deciding not to help her are as below:
a) Test Objective: The objective of any test is to give honest feedback to the student about his/her performance against the efforts to understand the subject. Student gets to know about their weak areas to focus and improve with their continuous efforts. So, this test is not going to be the last test. There can be many more tests in the future to help students assess their performance. Even if my friend somehow clears the test by using unfair means then what will she do in future tests? If I will help her now then she will always look towards me for similar favors. I would rather help her with understanding the subject than cheating to clear the test.
b) Kantian vs. Utilitarian Ethics: Ethics are the moral principles that guide us when we are in a state of flux. Kantian ethics give emphasis to the means used to achieve the outcome while utilitarian ethics gives emphasis to achieve the outcome which gives maximum benefit. I believe that Kantian ethics can give good results that are sustainable in long-term. If I reject to help my friend because the means used are wrong but at the same time offer to help her understand the subject for future tests then she might understand the reason and benefit in the long-term.
c) Unfair: My friends in the class along with me are studying and putting efforts to clear the test. Helping my one friend to cheat in the test is unfair to the efforts of my hard-working friends and my own efforts.