Question

Case Study: Personal Beliefs in the Workplace Don Shakow was a prominent professional who worked in Seattle and Massachusetts in U.S. This case study discusses the nature of Don Shakow’s professional and personal lives. When you read the case study, notice that Don had controversial personal opinions and choices. The heading of Don Shakow’s obituary reads, "Don Shakow’s moral beliefs put to test in the workplace." Although as an economist (rather than an engineer), Shakow’s commitments and expertise certainly overlapped those of engineers. Among other things, he served as an expert witness on the economics of rapid-transit and public energy proposals. In the mid-70s, he joined Mathematical Sciences Northwest to evaluate proposed power projects for Seattle City Light Company, the city’s electricity utility. His finding that regional energy needs were seriously over-estimated resulted in Seattle City Light withdrawing its support for two Washington public power supply system nuclear plants. Shakow’s former colleague, Frank Miller, commented that their eventual construction "resulted in the largest utility-bond default in U.S. history." Shakow supported many liberal political causes, such as organic farming, home grown food, and food cooperatives. He protested against the Vietnam War. He co-founded the Little Bread Co., which carried messages on its reader board, such as "We Can’t Support One Gov’t ‒ Let Alone Thieu" (A reference to the then premier of South Vietnam). No doubt a somewhat controversial figure throughout his activist life, he was characterized by the reporter, Carole Beers, as "that rare individual: he fully integrated his moral beliefs into his work life." Page 2 of 3 Discuss the difficulties of fully integrating one’s moral beliefs into one’s work life.

1. According to this case, what was the key thing Don Shakow was doing in his life? ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

2. Is it desirable to try to mix ones moral beliefs with work life? Support your answer with an example. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

3. Can one’s personal obligations conflict with the obligations that one has as a professional engineer or employee?

Support your answer with an example. _______________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________

4. If so, how should such a conflict be resolved?

Answer 1

Answer 1=Don Shakow was mainly promoting the ethical standards and moral values in each walk of life whether it is his personal life or the professional life, He always wanted to the on the right side of the issue that is supporting those things which were correct and morally justifiable irrespective what the situation demands

Answer 2 = yes, it is always better to implement the morals in the work-life as moral values lay down the guidelines and framework on which the individual has to make an ethical decision. For instance, being the engineer, if the person has to face a conflicting situation wherein developing a product that can cause the environment some harm can be managed by having an oral standpoint, and thus opposing such a product development will be termed as morally high ground.

Answer 3= yes, there may be a number of incidences where the personal obligations conflict with the professional obligation of the person. For instance, a person has to manage the employment-related obligation and the obligation related to the family. Similarly, there can be a conflict in these two terms when the person is asked to perform things such as signing an order to cut the trees, on the other hand, this person values the environment protection. This will create a clash between the professional obligation and personal obligations

Answer 4= In these situations, the person must judge what is best in the interest of the majority of the people. Depending on that the decision has to be taken.