Question

Tom is a civil engineer and working in a large construction project. Tom was assigned by his manager to look for steel suppliers for the project. Tom placed a newspaper advertisement for potential suppliers to bid. A potential supplier approached Tom, indirectly requested Tom to buy steel from his company. Then he invited Tom to an expensive dinner and a boat tour. Tom was planning to accept the dinner invitation and boat tour. (a) Identify the ethical situation in this case (if any) (b) Explain what Tom should do (c) Mention the relevant Rule of Practice or Professional Obligation (if any)

Nathan and Bill are electrical engineers. They are colleagues and working for a reputed private firm. One day Nathan saw that his colleague Bill is accepting a new laptop as a gift from a material supplier. Next day, Nathan talked with Bill about this and told him that this is not appropriate. Bill did not care. After a couple of months later, Nathan got to know that the same supplier has arranged a vacation (i.e., air ticket, hotel etc.) in Hawaii for Bill. (d) Identify the ethical situation in this case (if any) (e) Explain what Nathan should do (f) Mention the relevant Rule of Practice or Professional Obligation (if any)

Answer 1

Answer(a) Tom is in a respected position, who is being offered by the supplier. The supplier wants a favor from Tom so that he can pass his consignment. But there is a difference between a gift and a bribe, the intention. When the thought of doing something for the favor, it makes full process unethical. The ethical values are the two option whether they are true and correct morally or is based on individual benefit. In this case, Tom is interested in an expensive dinner and a boat tour. This should be noticed whether if he is accepting the supplier's invitation is just because to maintain personal relationships or he is interested in the offers in favor of return. The ethical situation according to societal guidelines is not to accept the invitation with a clear message.

Answer(b) According to the ethical guidelines Tom should reject the suppliers' invitation. This is because being honest with the organization is the ethical condition and accepting bribes either monetary or any kind of benefits is illegal. If he will accept once he will be considered to be disloyal to the company and may face consequences.

Answer(c) The rule of Practice, in this case, Tom is having a fidelity and autonomy ethics. The fidelity because he should be responsible for his position assigned by his manager on trust and autonomy because it depends on him to accept the situation whether he wants the benefit for his personal wish or reject the proposal. He is informed consent who is responsible to make the coerced decision whether to accept or reject the action.

Answer(d) In this case Nathan is facing an ethical dilemma of disclosing Bill's personal benefits by the supplier. The Bill is not even trying to make his mistakes correct. The Nathan is facing an ethical situation of exposing Bill, becoming a whistleblower so that no other unethical things should be carried on. If the suppliers are doing favors in any of the forms either monetary or non-monetary he wants something in return, he is not eligible or the best for the company otherwise there is no need for any kind of favoritism and benefits by the suppliers. Bill must be helping him in an illegal way, without thinking about the consequences.

Answer (e) Nathan needs to warn Bill and be a whistleblower before anyone else found the team guilty. Nathan needs to share with the superiors about Bill. Nathan knows the truth and hiding Bill's unethical habits may harm his whole team and the company.

Answer(f) The rule of Practice or the professional obligation in this case for Nathan is, to be honest, and a good principle of disclosing the truth and the professional obligation says that he is informed consent of exposing Bill' s activities by his own wish and concern. Nathan needs to realize and take the action soon, although there may be some risks but accepting and hiding the wrong thing is also not correct and loyal towards the company.